Mosely v. Garrett

24 Ky. 212, 1 J.J. Marsh. 212, 1829 Ky. LEXIS 249
CourtCourt of Appeals of Kentucky
DecidedApril 15, 1829
StatusPublished

This text of 24 Ky. 212 (Mosely v. Garrett) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals of Kentucky primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Mosely v. Garrett, 24 Ky. 212, 1 J.J. Marsh. 212, 1829 Ky. LEXIS 249 (Ky. Ct. App. 1829).

Opinion

Judge Underwood

delivered the opinion of the Court.

Mosely, the plain tiff in error, filed his bill in the Montgomery circuit court, against Ashton Garrett, David Trimble, Peter R. Garrett and John Peebles, for the purpose of foreclosing a mortgage, executed on the 25th of September, 1817, by said Ashton, to the complainants, said David, said Peter R. and said John. No depositions were taken, and the cause was finally disposed of upon bill* answers and exhibits, The mortgage shows that the mortgagees were about, to become sureties or endorsers for the mortgagor, on a negotiably note or notes, and for the purpose of indemnifying the mortgagees against loss, the mortgagor conveyed to them a house and lot in Mountslerling, whereon he then lived, all the interest of the mortgagor in the firm of Trimble and Garrett, and [213]*213sundry slaves. The mortgage uses this language, that the mortgagees “are about to endorse, on a negotiable note or notes, for the said Ashton Garrett, and to continue the endorsement until the first note and all its renewals are paid up.” The bill charges that the mortgagees endorsed a negotiable note, which was discounted by the Bank of the United States, the money-drawn by the mortgagor and by him applied to the use of the firm of Trimble and Garrett, (which consisted of-David Trimble and Ashton Garrett, the mortgagor) and that it was borrowed for that purpose. ' That Trimble refused to re-endorse the renewals of the original note, and told Garrett, the mortgagor, he must get other endorsers, as to him, which fact the complainant alleges was unknown to him until he renewed the pote. That the mortgagor got Eli Shortridge to eni dorse, in the place of Trimble. That Peter R. Garrett, having removed from the state, the complainant Shortridge and Peebles continued to endorse until the mortgagor was unable to renew the note further; whereupon the bank brought suit and recovered judgment. That execution was levied on pari of the mortgaged property, which sold for more than $1,300, leaving a balance due of $500 or $600, which the complainant would have to pay, owing to the insolvency of the other parties, against whom judgment had been rendered. It may here be remarked, that the exhibits show that the complainant, on the 28th February, 1823, replevied the balance of the debt, amounting to $¡565 68.

The bill proceeds and charges that the house and lot mentioned in the mortgage, remained unsold, that the legal title was in Trimble, who bad sold the same to, the mortgagor, who held by written contract, and that Trimble had not been paid the purchase money, as the complainant had recently been, informed; that Trimble drew the mortgage, and at the time it was signed, sealed and delivered to him, the complainant and the other mortgagees, did not communicate or make known any claim or lien he had on said lot, for the purchase money or any thing else, and- assured the complainant, at the time, there was no dangerin endorsing the note. The foregoing are all the allegations of the bill necessary to b,e considered, so far as the house [214]*214and lot is brought in question, which the complainant is endeavoring to subject to the payment of the balance the debt due.

coarté of^e

The answer of Trimble contains the following averments and admissions: Pie admits that the complainant, himself, Peter R. Garrett and Peebles endorsed a note for Ashton Garrett’s accommodation, afterwards negotiated at the United States branch Bank at Lexington, before which, said Ashton executed the mortgage in th'e bill mentioned, to secure his endorsers against loss, in consequence of their endorsement on that note, and all subsequent endorsements made to renew it. He admits that the mortgage was given on the day of its date, and that on the tlth of September, 1816, he had executed his bond to the mortgagor for the sale and conveyance of the house and lot, in the mortgage and bill mentioned; that he received three notes for the purchase money; that he retained alien on the house and lot and intends to hold it until the purchase money is fully paid. Pie admits that he holds the legal title to the house and lot and avers that the purchase money has not been paid'. He admits that he drew the mortgage, denies that he failed to communicate the fact that he held a lien.on the house and lot; on the contrary he states that lie did communicate it to the complainant, and informed him that his, Trimbles lien, would have precedence. He admits that after one or two renewals of the no.te in bank, he withdrew his name and refused to continue as endorser, and charges that the negroes mortgaged were worth the sum due on the note. He says he believes that the money was all or nearly all, paid over into the firm of Trimble and Garrett, and avers that about the same time, he paid over to the firm about $¡3,500. He states that the co-partnership of Trimble and Garrett was dissolved, by' mutual consent, on the 10th of September, 1818, and the goods on hand equally divided, each partner taking half. He states, in answer to the allegations of the bill, on this subject, that Amos Davis was appointed receiver for the firm, to collect debts due it after the dissolution of the partneyship, and states his belief that the debts due the firm, collected by himself and Davis, have been paid over in discharge of debts owing by ffie firm. He states that the partnership was a losing [215]*215corteen), and that it is largely indebted tó him. He does not disclose the amount of debts due the firm, collected by him, although called on to discover amount. He does not deny the allegations that the money was borrowed by Garrett for the purposes of the firm, unless the statement that he endorsed for Garrett’s accommodation is to be taken as a denial. He does not deny the allegation that he assured the complainant that there was no danger in endorsing the note, but says, “he always supposed that said endorsements were made by the complainant, at the request of said Garrett, and to oblige him, and not this defendant, and tbat the object of any conversation between him, (to-wit, the complainant) and this defendant, was to consult about the mortgage,” &c. These allegations, resting in the knowledge of Trimble, if not denied, must be regarded as admitted.

W}iej,a a}) al., legation rests in theknowdo not deny it, it must be considered as a nu e . Decree of the courtbeI°w. Iftehderbave a probase money, and the purchaser j^d^upona* bill, by mortgagee, to ^^bo’ultf decree a sale, andappropriate th® P™‘ discharge the lien of the and taortgage. a Perso1}. or having (be legal title to real property, stand by and 3ertthmort°" |&gid orsold, and do not assert bis the mort^arn gagee or purohaser, be is, considered as waiving his lien.

[215]*215Under the foregoing view of the bill and answer, the question arises, what decree ought the court to have pronounced relative to the house and lot, and the defendant Trimble? The court below dismissed the bill as to Trimble, and gave him his costs.

This, in our opinion, was erroneous. If Trimble had a lien on the house and lot,'for the purchase money, superior to that of the complainant, then the court should have decreed a sale of the house and lot, to satisfy the amount due Trimble, and if there was any balance left, after paying the purchase money, that balance should have been appropriated in pursuance of the mortgage. It could not be told whether there would be such balance or not, until the property was Sold.

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13 Ky. 52 (Court of Appeals of Kentucky, 1823)

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Bluebook (online)
24 Ky. 212, 1 J.J. Marsh. 212, 1829 Ky. LEXIS 249, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/mosely-v-garrett-kyctapp-1829.