Stewart v. Davenport

120 S.W.2d 496
CourtCourt of Appeals of Texas
DecidedSeptember 23, 1938
DocketNos. 13844, 13846.
StatusPublished

This text of 120 S.W.2d 496 (Stewart v. Davenport) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals of Texas primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Stewart v. Davenport, 120 S.W.2d 496 (Tex. Ct. App. 1938).

Opinion

BROWN, Justice.

The first mentioned cause brings before us an application for a writ of prohibition predicated upon whatever rights the relator, has by reason of the judgment obtained by him in the second mentioned cause, which is before us on appeal from a judgment on the merits. The two causes were by us consolidated.

Respondents, A. R. Lowrimore and wife, ’secured a judgment, in the District Court for the 91st Judicial District of Eastland County, on June 24th, 1933, against Mrs. Lessie Jones Sanders, for personal injuries, in the sum of $15,000, and immediately on same date obtained an abstract of such judgment which was duly filed for record at about 9 :55 A. M. and was recorded prior to 10:30 A. M.

On the 23rd day of June, 1933, Mrs. Lessie Jones Sanders, joined by her husband, executed a deed for the purpose of conveying to the grantee, Annie Strane, three certain tracts of land situated in the town of Ranger, in Eastland County. The consideration is recited to be a “promissory vendor’s lien flote” in the sum of $25,000, of even date with the deed, and payable on or before five years after date', at Eastland, Texas, with interest at the rate of five per cent per annum from date. This deed was filed for record .June 24th, 1933, at 9:50 A. M. and recorded June 27th, at 3:35 P. M. On the said 24th day of June, 1933, immediately after the aforesaid deed was filed for record, A. R. Lowrimore and wife filed suit in the 91st District Court of Eastland County against Lessie Jones Sanders and her husband, and Annie Strane, a feme sole, setting forth the facts above stated, attacking the said deed, as having been executed to defraud such plaintiffs, and to establish and enforce their judgment lien against the said tracts of land as against the Sanders and Annie Strane.

They immediately filed a lis pendens notice, filing same at 2:45 P. M. on said day, and same was recorded at 4:45 P. M. Service of citation was had upon Mr. and Mrs. Sanders, but Annie Strane could not be found, although several citations were issued and service sought.

It appears that the Sanders, on June 23rd, 1936, three years after the aforesaid note was executed by Annie Strane, assigned such note to relator, A. F. Stewart, and on the same day Annie Strane executed a new note, in the sum of $25,000, payable to A. F. Stewart in five annual installments, beginning with June 23rd, 1937. The renewal note is made payable at Fort Worth, Tar-rant County, Texas, while the original note was made payable in Eastland County.

The original note was made payable “on or before five years after date.” Its maturity date, at the option of the maker, was June 23rd, 1938. The renewal note, being payable in yearly installments, finally matures June 23rd, 1941, excepting for the fact that it contains an accelerating maturity clause, which gave the owner and holder the right to declare the entire note due, upon default in the payment of any annual installment of interest or principal.

This new note thus purported to give relator the right to declare the whole of the debt due after June 23rd, 1937, if Annie Strane defaulted in the payment of either the principal installment, or interest installment, that fell due on June 23rd, 1937.

Here we find a new and material burden cast upon the maker. She has bound herself *498 to pay the whole debt, immediately after she defaults in respect to installment of principal or interest, on June 23rd, 1937, while under the original note, she had until June 23rd, 1938, in which to pay the principal sum.

It is significant that the renewal note serves to release the original payees, and that no written extension agreement between Annie Strane and relator Stewart was executed and placed of record in East-land County, where the lands are situated.

On January 27th, 1938, relator brought suit in the 96th District Court of Tarrant County, against Annie Strane, Loss Woods, Sheriff of Eastland County, and Mr. and Mrs. Lowrimore. The allegations of the pleading set forth the execution of the renewal note, the acquisition of the original note, the provisions of the new note, and the default upon the part of the maker in the payments due June 23rd, 1937. Relator seeks to establish his debt and to foreclose his lien. The allegations which concern Mr. and Mrs. Lowrimore are as follows:

“9. Plaintiff would show the court that the defendants, A. R. Lowrimore and wife, Mrs. A. R. Lowrimore, are claiming some right, title and interest in or to said premises under and by virtue of a judgment rendered in a certain cause pending in the 91st District Court of Eastland County, Texas, entitled “A. R. Lowrimore et ux vs. Lessie Jones Sanders et vir”, as more fully appears from the minutes of said court. That the lien owned by the plaintiffs as hereinabove described is superior, to any right, title, or interest claimed by the defendants, A. R. Lowrimore and wife, Mrs. A. R. Lowrimore.
‘TO. Plaintiff would further show the court that on the 10th day of December, 1937, the defendants, A. R. Lowrimore and wife, Mrs. A. R. Lowrimore, caused an execution to be issued in the above described cause, and levied upon the real estate hereinabove described, and the defendant Loss Woods in his capacity as Sheriff of ■ Eastland County, Texas, has published notice of said sale, as required by law, and is now threatening to and will sell said real estate above described at execution sale on the 1st day of February, 1938, unless restrained from doing so by order of this honorable court.
“11. Plaintiff would show the court that said lands above described in said deed and vendor’s lien note is wholly insufficient for the purpose of satisfying plaintiff’s said note and lién, and at the present time does not have a reasonable cash market value of more than $15,000.00. That there is no equity in said property over and above plaintiff’s lien for which said judgment may be satisfied, and if said execution sale is consummated, plaintiff will suffer an irreparable injury by reason thereof, for which he has no full, adequate and complete remedy at law.”

The prayer is as follows:

“Wherefore, plaintiff prays the court that defendant be cited to appear and answer this petition, and that he have judgment for his interest, attorneys’ fees, and costs of suit, and for the foreclosure of his lien on the above described land and premises, and that the same be decreed to be sold according to law; that the sheriff or other officer executing said sale shall place the purchaser of said property sold under said order of sale, in possession thereof, within thirty days after the date of sale.
“Plaintiff further prays that this honorable court issue a temporary restraining order enjoining the defendant Loss Woods as Sheriff of Eastland County, Texas, from selling said property at execution sale on the 1st day of February, 1938, or at any other time prior to final hearing of this cause, and for such other and further relief, both general and special, in law and in equity, to which he may show himself entitled.”

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Bluebook (online)
120 S.W.2d 496, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/stewart-v-davenport-texapp-1938.