Seymour v. Darrow

31 Vt. 122

• Court: Supreme Court of Vermont
• Decided: July 15, 1858
• Status: Published

Opinions

Redfield, Ch. J.

This is a bill to foreclose the equity of redemption in land, mortgaged to the plaintiff by the defendant M. S. Darrow, February 25, 1851. The defendant, Brainerd, had a mortgage upon the same premises, or part of the same, from M. S. Darrow, dated January 31, 1854. The only question in the case was in regard to the validity and extent of the plaintiffs mortgage as against Brainerd. The plaintiff’s mortgage was expressed upon the registry in these words : “ All the notes and 'agreements I now owe, or have with him, and others jointly and severally have with him ; also, if I pay a note of one thous- and dollars of this date, to the Franklin County Bank, signed with me and another, as surety by said Seymour.” It appeared in proof that in making the registry, the words “ or I,” were omitted at the end of the first line and between “ him” “ and others.”

It appeared in proof, also, that at the time of the execution of this mortgage, which was recorded on the 17th of March, 1851, the plaintiff held another mortgage against M. S. Darrow, dated August 27, 1850, which was not recorded until after Brainerd’s mortgage. This unrecorded mortgage described two promissory notes of two hundred and thirty dollars each, falling due March 14-, 1851, signed by M. S. Darrow and J. F. Darrow, also a promissory note of the same date with the deed, for one thousand dollars, (signed also by M. S. and J. F. Darrow,) collateral and to secure the plaintiff any note, demand, agreement or liability which he then owed the plaintiff, or he and J. F. Darrow owed or had with the plaintiff in any form whatever, or any-future note or liability the plaintiff should thereafter assume on behalf of M. S. Darrow, or of him and J. F. Darrow, in the most extended terms. The notes above described the plaintiff held at the time of the execution of the mortgage of February 25, 1851. The one thousand dollar note, which was described in the mortgage of 1850, the plaintiff has ever since retained, and between the date of- the mortgage of 1851, and that of Brainerd’s mortgage, lie had. assumed ancl paid a considerable sum coming within the terms of the condition of the note, and assumed in faith of its being secured by that note and the mortgage of the 25th of February, 1851. The two notes for two hundred and thirty dollars each had been given up to M. S. Darrow, and another note executed for the amount due upon them, between the date of February 25 and January 31, 1854, which is still due to the plaintiff.

The chancellor made a decree for the amount due upon this last note, and the amount assumed and paid by the plaintiff according to the terms of the condition of the note of one thousand dollars. There was an indorsement upon this last note, showing that the one thousand dollar note to the Franklin County Bank, described in the mortgage of 1851, had been paid by M. S. Darrow, and that the plaintiff had no claim on account of it.

I. The first question in regard to the balance due upon the two two hundred and thirty dollar notes, is not one upon which there is any difference of opinion among the judges who heard the case. It is perfectly well settled that the change of securities is no discharge of the mortgage, unless that was the intention of the parties, or unless securities of a lower grade are merged in those of a higher one. This subject is discussed at length in Dana v. Binney, 7 Vt. 493 and in McDonald v. McDonald, 16 Vt. 630, and Dunshee v. Parmalee, 19 Vt. 172. The rule upon this subject, is thus held, in those cases : When a note, secured by a mortgage, is given up and a new note given for the amount due upon it, the mortgage security is not thereby released, either as to the mortgagor or subsequent incumbrancers, in the absence of any agreement or understanding, that the transaction should have that effect. And in regard to the ease of taking security of a higher grade, as a specialty for a simple contract, it is probable that a court of equity would, even in that case, relieve the parties from the legal consequence of the merger, when it could be done without injustice to other parties. Slocum v. Catlin, 22 Vt. 137. This case, then, stands the same as if the original notes had been kept on foot. 1 Hilliard on Mort. vol. 1, p. 449, and; cases there cited. This very accurate writer says : “ The genebah. rule is that nothing but actual payment of the debt or an exn&ss release will operate as a discharge of a mortgage. The lien lasts as long as the debt. So far has this principle been carried, that where indorsers and sureties have taken indemnity by way of mortgage for the first guaranty, it has been held to extend to every change of the form of the guaranty, and even when the original paper has been changed for other paper many times, and different names upon the subsequent paper, and for different sums, provided only the same debt in substance continued unpaid, and this where the mortgage only extended to the first guaranty.” 1 Hilliard on Mortgages 449, 450, 451. And this change does not affect the security as to Iona fide subsequent incumbrancers or levying creditors. Pomroy v. Rice, 16 Pick. 22. Hilliard on Mort., supra.

In this view the two notes for two hundred and thirty dollars each, are in terms described in the condition of the mortgage of February 25, 1851, upon which this bill is predicated. The words of the deed are, “ all the notes I now owe, or have with, him.” No terms more explicitly embracing those notes could be conceived of. Unless then, the amount or description of the securities intended to be included in the mortgage, is required to be specified in the condition, nothing more specific could be expected. And that idea seems now entirely abandoned. Indeed, since the decisions in regard to the right of the parties to change the form of the security to an indefinite extent, and even to unite the debt, secured by the mortgage, with others not so secured, without affecting the validity of the security, even as to subsequent Iona fide incumbrancers, there could be no possible importance in giving any definite description of the present form of the debt intended to be secured, since it might undergo any number of mutations without impairing the security. And as to the mortgage stating the amount of the debt or its upward limit, as some of the cases have insisted was indispensable, it seems now to be regarded of no importance. For if the mortgage were to limit the amount of the security, as not exceeding two thousand dollars or two hundred thousand dollars in all, either of which sums might be adopted with equal propriety, when the sum really intended to be secured was less than fifty dollars, it is obvious it could afford no security against possible fraud. The remarks of the court in Bourne v. Littlefield, 29 Me. 302, are strikingly true in regard to the present state of the law, upon this subject; “ When the rule is once established, that the mortgage debt will remain secured, after a change in the evidence of its existence, it becomes apparent that it would be wholly unsafe to rely in any case upon the statement of the amount in the mortgage.” There can be then, as we all think, no question but that the notes then in existence were sufficiently described in the condition of the mortgage, and having been merely changed, but the debt not paid, the orator must be regarded as clearly entitled to a decree of foreclosure for the amount remaining due upon them.

II. The other question in the case, which seems more difficult in form, will be found, upon examination, not to involve different principles from the first question discussed. It being admitted that it is not requisite that the mortgage itself should contain a description of the form of the debt intended to be secured, but that subsequent purchasers and incumbrancers, as well as creditors, must look beyond the deed, and make reasonable inquiry in regard to the existence and amount of the debts intended to be secured, the only question is, whether the deed, if it contains any attempt at description of the debt, so describes it as to put those interested upon the hopeful course of inquiry; that is, in substance, whether as far as it goes, it points to the debts, and does not tend to put any one upon a false inquiry. For since it has been decided in this State that an absolute deed, if intended to secure a debt or duty, and given and held for that purpose, is a valid mortgage, not only as to existing debts, but also as to subsequent advances and liabilities assumed on behalf of the grantor, by the grantee, Gibson v. Seymour, 4 Vt. 518, (and the case has never been qualified or questioned, in this State, but has been constantly acted upon for the last twenty-five years), it could not with much plausibility be claimed that any expressed condition in a mortgage could defeat the security, unless it had a tendency to mislead those interested.

The condition in this mortgage, as recorded, most unquestionably included all notes and agreements between the plaintiff and M. S. Darrow, or where they were parties with other parties. Unless we give the language this signification, it either has no meaning, or an absurd one. No serious question has been or can be made, that this is the fair construction of the' language used. This one thousand dollar note with its extended condition, if it be a note or agreement, and it surely can be nothing else, was in terms included in the condition of the mortgage, as really .and as truly as the two other notes of which we have spoken. Why, then, shall not the plaintiff be entitled to his foreclosure for the amount which he has assumed and paid under this note ?

Something was attempted to be made otjt of the fact of the mortgage of 1850 being found in M. S. Darrow’s hands, as if it might have been surrendered as cancelled, and thus virtually prove this one thousand dollar note extinguished, which by its terms was only to remain a continuing security for future liability incurred, until the “ mortgage securing it was cancelled.” But it seems to us the proof shows very fully that this mortgage was never surrendered to M. S. Darrow with any such intent. Seymour so swears explicitly, and Darrow never made any such claim, but surrendered it to Seymour’s brother without objection, admitting in effect, that he had no right to retain it.

And the indorsement upon this deed, expressly confirming it, as late as November, 1852, shows very conclusively that it was intended to be kept on foot after the execution of that of 1851. The inquiry naturally arises why the parties should desire to keep these two mortgages on foot, for the same general object, to secure the plaintiff when M. S. Darrow owed him, and when he had indorsed for him. But it seems to us this is not difficult to conjecture. The plaintiff seems to have been Darrow’s confidential friend and indorser to some extent. It was the object of both to keep the plaintiff wholly secure, but to do it in a manner not to excite suspicions against the solvency or credit of Darrow. The mortgage of 1850, as the proof shows, was made to be used in case of emergency, in lieu of an attachment. But lest even this expedient might fail through some accident, the mortgage of 1851 was made still more general, so as, if possible, to answer the purpose of security, and at the same time not jeopard the credit of Darrow. To this end it was made in general terms. And the deed of 1850 was intended to be still retained to be used as before, if a rupture of Darrow’s affairs should occur, so as to save all question in regard to the general nature of that already recorded.

It may be said this manifests a disposition in the parties to keep off' the registry the facts -which might be important to other creditors or purchasers. That is always so, as far as the thing is allowable. And it was upon this ground that some of the early cases upon this subject undertook to maintain the rule, that the mortgage should specify the nature of the debt intended to be secured. Pettibone v. Griswold, 4 Conn. 158. And in many of the States, express statutes require that in case of mortgages, the defeasance shall be registered. Hence an absolute deed given to secure a debt is held fraudulent and inoperative as against subsequent incumbrances. Dey v. Dunham, 2 Johns. Ch. 182; James v. Johnson, 6 Johns. Ch. 432. But these cases have not been followed in this State, as we have before shown. And the case of Pettibone v. Griswold, is certainly not now regarded as law in Connecticut. All that is now required there is that the debt should be described with such convenient certainty as the case admits of. Stoughton v. Pasco, 5 Conn. 442; Hart v. Chalker, 14 Conn. 79; Merrills v. Swift, 18 id. 257; Sandford v. Wheeler, 13 id. 165; Lewes v. De Forest, 20 id. 427; Mix v. Cowles, id. 420. See also, Helman v. Teeple, Saxton’s R. 232 ; 1 Hilliard on Mort. 285-297.

It has in some of the States been held that the debt must either be described in the condition, so that its identity can be traced, or some intimation given where such information may be obtained upon inquiry. Garber v. Henry, 6 Watts 57; Gardner v. Webber, 17 Pick. 414; Commercial Bank v. Cunningham, 24 Pick. 274; James v. Johnson, 6 Johns. Ch. 429.

But it is obvious from what has already been shown, that this is not now regarded as the sound rule upon the subject. All that is now required is that the extent of the mortgage should be described in general terms, “ as all I now owe, or may hereafter owe the mortgagee.” This is expressly decided in this State in McDaniels v. Colvin, 16 Vt. 300; and this is undoubtedly the generally recognized rule upon this subject. Those interested must then make their inquiries in the proper quarter. We all concur in this, else we could not regard the first two notes as properly secured by the mortgage.

But this is all which is required, to include the debts assumed under the one thousand dollar note. The condition includes this as much as the notes, which created a present indebtedness. And the very form of the condition naturally indicates something beyond a present debt. It is “ all the notes and agreements I now owe, or have with him.” Thus showing that the security went beyond present mdebtecbiess, but not beyond some existing agreement between the parties, showing at once what the agreement probably was, that is to secure either a mere inchoate liability, like that of suretyship, or else some future advance or guaranty, and also, when it might be found in the usual place of looking-for agreements, in the hands of the party to be benefited by them.

No case can be found where any distinction was made between a mortgage to secure future advances and present indebtedness ; or at all events no such distinction is regarded as sound, in regard to the validity of a mortgage security, by any recent decision. The case of McDaniels v. Colvin certainly shows a description of the debt far more indefinite than the present, “ also what I may owe him on book,” which the court construed as extending to an indefinite extent in futwo, or until express notice of some subsequent incumbrances or interest, the holder of such mortgage not being bound to watch the registry for subsequent conveyances, in order to limit his credit under this condition. And this case in principle is in strict conformity with the recent and authoritative determination upon the subject. Shirras v. Caig, 7 Cranch 34, Marshall, Ch. J.; Treescott v. King, 6 Barb. 346; Stuyvesant v. Hall, 2 Barb. Ch. 151.

It would be wonderful if a general description of one species of contract, as promissory notes, should be held perfectly valid, and another, as a contract of indemnity against present or future indorsements, should be regarded insufficient. And it would be still more remarkable that a contract of indemnity, against the consequences of indorsement already made, should be held well described in the condition of a mortgage, by general terms, but that a contract to indemnify against future indorsements should be specifically described, in order to be valid, when both contracts must equally look to a future time for the fixing of the debt. The truth is, no such distinction can be maintained upon princh pie, or with any fair show of plausibility.

So that whatever fair argument there may be against allowing the plaintiff a foreclosure upon his notes, which did constitute a present indebtedness, upon the ground they were not specifically described, there is none whatever in favor of making any distinction between the description of the first notes and the one thousand dollar note. No merely practical and unprofessional man would ever regard any such discrimination as tenable. It is very obvious front the proof in the case, that the defendant Brainerd never acted upon any such distinction, and his counsel did not, at the time, advise him of the practicability of any such division of the plaintiff’s claim under the mortgage. It is very manifest that the view, which then occupied their minds, was the one made in the early Connecticut cases, between those notes, which were specifically described, and those which were not. Mr. Brainerd says, his anxiety was to know if the one thousand dollar note, which is specifically described in the condition of the mortgage upon the registry, were still subsisting. He urged Hoyt to examine the plaintiff’s papers with that view, and when assured that this note had been paid by Darrow, “ he felt secure.” Hoyt looked beyond that somewhat. And in fact it is very obvious that Hoyt saw the one thousand dollar note now in question, and that he obtained his information, in regard to the other one thousand dollar note being paid by Darrow, from the indorsement upon the back of this note. So that had he really known the law at the time, that the mortgage was a valid security for the performance of al agreements between the parties, he would have fallen at once into the proper channel for finding al the information he required, from the plaintiff’s papers. The requisite information in regard to the one thousand dollar note was more accessible, in fact, than in regard to the other notes, which had been changed.

But Brainerd was in law bound to inquire of the plaintiff, and the fact that he was not at the time at home could make no difference. The plaintiff is not bound to remain always at home in order to give the requisite information in regard to his mortgages. Nor is lie to lose liis security because the person, with whom he leaves his papers for the time, does not happen to know all that the plaintiff knew in regard to them. No such thing has been claimed in the case, nor could it be with the least plausibility.

But it is apparent that the defendant Brainerd did not seek any information except of Darrow, who was certainly not the proper party to make such inquiry of, in regard to any matter referred to in the condition of the plaintiff’s mortgage, until after he had taken Ms mortgage, and not then, except in regard to the note specifically described. He evidently took the security upon a random note given by Darrow, because it was all he could get in a scramble.

III. But when this case is viewed in connection with the case of Gibson v. Seymour, already referred to, where it is distinctly announced by Chief Justice Williams, in the opinion of the court, that an absolute deed intended as a security for future indorsements, to be made by the grantor for the benefit of the grantee, is a valid security against all the world, it seems impossible to doubt in regard to the result to which we should come. We have shown, we think, very satisfactorily, that the condition in this mortgage did describe the indemnity in a general way, and clearly indicates its existence, and where it might be found. But at all events it could not surely be claimed, that it was more indefinite, or more exposed to the substitution of fictitious claims than if the entire condition had rested in parol without writing.

We conclude therefore, that it is impossible to distinguish fairly between the two classes of claims set up under this mortgage, both being described in a general way in the deed, and the requisite information readily attainable if sought in good faith,' and in the proper manner ; that it is impossible to reject either, in consistency with the well established rule of law deductible from the decided cases upon the subject, and that in this State the cases have really gone much further than it is necessary to go, in determining the present case in favor of the orators.

We might add that the present case is not one where any loss has been sustained by the defendant Brainerd in consequence of the established rule of law upon the subject. We have no occasion then, in consequence of any supposed hardship of this case, to qualify the former decisions upon the subject. But when we contemplate tlie consequences of rejecting tlie whole or a portion of the plaintiff’s claims clearly secured by a mortgage lien upon the land in controversy, in conformity with the well established decisions of the State for a quarter of a century, we feel the injustice of any attempt to qualify such decisions, and we might say farther, that if no such decision had been made by this court, it seems to us we could scarcely have a case where reason and justice more loudly called for the promulgation of such a rule, than the one now in judgment.

The decree of the chancellor is affirmed, and the case remanded to the court of chancery to carry the same into effect.