Moore v. Titman

44 Ill. 367
CourtIllinois Supreme Court
DecidedApril 15, 1867
StatusPublished
Cited by19 cases

This text of 44 Ill. 367 (Moore v. Titman) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Illinois Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Moore v. Titman, 44 Ill. 367 (Ill. 1867).

Opinion

Mr. Chief Justice Walker

delivered the opinion of the Court:

. This was, originally, a bill in chancery to foreclose a mortgage, brought by Titman against Moore, to the September Term, 1860, of the Circuit Court of Pulton county. The venue was subsequently changed to Peoria county. On a trial of the cause a decree of sale was pronounced at the May Term, 1861, and a sale was made by the master on the 12th day of July following, at which Titman became the purchaser. But, before the mortgage on which this decree and sale were had was given, one Joseph C. Hoagland had recovered a judgment against Moore in the Circuit Court of the United States, which was a prior lien on the mortgaged premises; and on the 4th day of February, 1861, the marshal made a deed to the assignee of the purchaser under the Hoagland judgment. On the 6th of June, 1862, Titman purchased this Hoagland title and received a deed therefor. Moore subsequently prosecuted a writ of error to reverse the decree of foreclosure therein, and, at the April Term, 1864, of this court it was reversed and the cause remanded. The case was subsequently redocketed in the Circuit Court, and at the April Term, 1865, complainant, Titman, filed an amended bill. At the June Term, 1865, Moore filed a cross-bill, claiming that the Hoagland title was purchased by Titman under an agreement with Moore that it should be conveyed to him upon his refunding the purchase money and interest, and that the time for redeeming from the sale under Titman’s decree should be indefinitely extended.

The bill further claims that Moore was to have, by the agreement, such reasonable time as he might desire for the payment of the money. Titman answered the cross-bill, denying the making of the agreement and setting up the statute of frauds.

It further appears that in the spring of 1863, Titman recovered possession of the land by an action of forcible detainer, and has ever since held the possession. A hearing was had on the original and supplemental bills of Titman, the cross-bill of Moore, the answers, replications and proofs, and the court rendered a decree dismissing the cross-bill, and declaring Titman entitled to the possession, rents and profits under the Hoagland title. Moore brings the record to this court and assigns various errors.

The relation which a mortgagor and mortgagee bear to each other partakes in some respects of several other estates, but in many particulars differs from every other character of title. As now considered, it is, as between the parties, a security for a debt, but, as between the mortgagee and a stranger, the former is regarded as the owner of the freehold. And, after the condition is broken, the mortgagee may enter and render his security productive by the perception of the rents and profits. But, like the owner of the freehold, the mortgagor is not required to account to the mortgagee for rents and profits while he remains in possession.

Like a trustee, a mortgagee cannot affect the rights of the mortgagor by purchasing the property at a sale for delinquent taxes accruing upon the premises. Chickering v. Failes, 26 Ill. 507. In that case it was also held, that the mortgagee, before a foreclosure, by paying the taxes and acquiring possession, could not set it up as a bar to a redemption. Nor could seven years’ possession and payment of taxes create the bar of the statute.

The mortgagee in possession would be allowed for necessary repairs of the property and would be bound to pay the taxes. He is, in such a case, like a trustee, entitled to be allowed for necessary expenditures to preserve the property, to be deducted from the account for rents and profits. He will also be allowed for doing that which is necessary for the protection of the title of the mortgagor. Sandon v. Hooper, 6 Beav. 248; Pelly v. Wathen, 7 Hare, 373. It has been repeatedly held, that if a mortgagee of a lease obtain a renewal, it will inure to the benefit of the mortgagor, he paying the mortgagee for his charges. As said by Lord Chancellor Nottingham, “ The mortgagee but grafts upon his stock, and it shall be for the mortgagor’s benefit.” Rushworth’s Case, Freem. 12; Luckin v. Rushworth, Finch, 392. Nor will the case be altered by the expiration of the lease before it is renewed. Rakestraw v. Brewer, 2 P. Wins. 510; Nesbett v. Fredenrick, 1 Ball & B. 29.

It has also been held, that a mortgagee is, like a trustee, prevented from purchasing at his sale of the premises, under a power contained in the deed, so as to bar the equity of redemption. Benham v. Rowe, 2 California, 387; Slee v. Manhattan Co., 1 Paige, 48; Dobson v. Racey, 4 Selden, 216; Hoyt v. Mortruse, 16 N. Y. 231. And where a prior incumbrancer, bona fide, purchases a subsequent incumbrance, he will be entitled to what is due upon it. Morret v. Paske, 2 Atk. 54; Darcy v. Hall, 1 Vern. 49; Beamley v. Holland, 5 Ves. 620, note. But it has been held to be otherwise, if he purchase with notice of an intervening security. Long v. Clopton, 1 vern. 464. And where a person stands in any fiduciary relation toward the owner of the estate, he will, as against another incumbrancer, be allowed only what he paid for it, since any purchase by him of an incumbrance at a lower price than the amount due upon it, is for the benefit of the estate. Morret v. Paske, 2 Atk. 54.

It will sufficiently appear from these authorities, while the relation of trustee and cestui que trust may not be created by the execution of the mortgage, as between the mortgagor and mortgagee, still they are not on the same footing as strangers to the estate. There are many acts which third parties might perform, and thus acquire interests in the estate of the mortgaged property, the performance of which by either party to the deed would give him no new absolute right as against the other. Their relation to each other in reference to the property is such, that in many things their acts are held to be performed for the benefit of the estate, and to preserve the security.

It is not necessary to hold in this case that the relation of trustee and cestui que trust existed between appellant and appellee. The latter held a mortgage on the premises in controversy executed by appellant. This mortgage had become due, and a decree of foreclosure had been rendered, the property sold, and the right of redemption by the mortgagor was within about six weeks of expiring when this purchase was made by appellee of the outstanding title then held by Hoagland. At the time this purchase was made appellant might still have redeemed from the sale under appellee’s decree. And it is clear that the purchase was made by appellee with the consent of appellant, and. it seems to be equally clear that' appellant was to have further time to redeem from appellee’s sale, and to refund him the money he then paid to Hoagland to extinguish his title.

We do not deem it necessary to review the evidence in this case, because, although there are some minor differences between the witnesses, it is evident, even from the evidence furnished by the appellee, that the purchase of Hoagland’s title by appellee was through the suggestion of appellant, and that they cooperated in its purchase, with the understanding that appellant should have a,n extension of the time to redeem, and should have the same right to redeem the Hoagland title as his own mortgage to appellee. The witnesses differ as to how long the time should be extended, but that it was to be extended there can be no doubt.

Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI

Related

American National Bank & Trust Co. v. Morgan
18 N.E.2d 741 (Appellate Court of Illinois, 1939)
Integrity Trust Co. v. St. Rita B. & L. Assn.
171 A. 283 (Superior Court of Pennsylvania, 1933)
Dillon v. Dyer
258 Ill. App. 144 (Appellate Court of Illinois, 1930)
Anderson v. Frederickson
252 Ill. App. 281 (Appellate Court of Illinois, 1929)
Taylor v. Osman
239 Ill. App. 569 (Appellate Court of Illinois, 1926)
Reardon v. Taft
235 Ill. App. 75 (Appellate Court of Illinois, 1924)
Savings & Loan Soc. v. Davidson
97 F. 696 (Ninth Circuit, 1899)
Cross v. Will County National Bank
52 N.E. 322 (Illinois Supreme Court, 1898)
Sperry v. Stinson
1 Ill. Cir. Ct. 288 (Illinois Circuit Court, 1895)
Forlouf v. Bowlin
29 Ill. App. 471 (Appellate Court of Illinois, 1888)
Ragor v. Lomax
22 Ill. App. 628 (Appellate Court of Illinois, 1887)
Holterhoff v. Mead
29 N.W. 675 (Supreme Court of Minnesota, 1886)
Hall v. Westcott
5 A. 629 (Supreme Court of Rhode Island, 1886)
Martin v. Swofford
59 Miss. 328 (Mississippi Supreme Court, 1881)
Spratt v. Price
18 Fla. 289 (Supreme Court of Florida, 1881)
Jones v. Ramsey
3 Ill. App. 303 (Appellate Court of Illinois, 1878)
Mosier v. Norton
83 Ill. 519 (Illinois Supreme Court, 1876)
O'Halloran v. Fitzgerald
71 Ill. 53 (Illinois Supreme Court, 1873)
Roberts v. Fleming
53 Ill. 196 (Illinois Supreme Court, 1870)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
44 Ill. 367, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/moore-v-titman-ill-1867.