Templeton v. Bockler

144 P. 405, 73 Or. 494, 1914 Ore. LEXIS 135
Oregon Supreme Court·Decided November 24, 1914·Published·Cited by 36 cases

Opinion

Mr. Justice Ramsey

delivered the opinion of the court.

In September, 1908, the plaintiff owned, in Eastern Oregon, a farm, 3,800 head of sheep, and other personal property. The farm was encumbered with a mortgage for about $12,500. These sheep were in two bands, and the defendant held a mortgage on one band for $5,000 and interest, and the Bank of Heppner held a mortgage on the other band for $4,000 and interest. The plaintiff owed other debts amounting to from $1,200 to $2,400 that were not secured. His total indebtedness, including interest, was approximately $24,000. The price of sheep was at that time low, and the plaintiff was financially embarassed, and threatened with a suit to foreclose the mortgage on his farm. The defendant is possessed of financial means, and has had experience in the sheep business. The plaintiff applied to him for assistance in the fall of 1908. The defendant took up the mortgage for $4,000 and interest held by the Bank of Heppner, and on November 9, 1909, the plaintiff executed to him a new chattel [497] mortgage on all of the plaintiff’s said sheep for the amount of the mortgage that he had on part of said sheep, and also for the amount of the mortgage that the Bank of Heppner held as stated supra, the new mortgage being executed for $10,085, that being the total amount of said two mortgages, with accrued interest. This new mortgage was executed in lieu of the other two mortgages, and it bore interest at the rate of ten per cent per annum. The complaint sets out substantially the facts stated supra. The complaint alleges, in substance, also:

“That on or about December 20, 1908, the plaintiff, being in debt as above stated, it was mutually agreed by and between the plaintiff and the defendant, that the defendant would assist the plaintiff in the running and handling of said sheep until the same should be marketable, and that thereafter and as soon as said sheep should become marketable the said defendant, as trustee for plaintiff, would sell and dispose of said sheep, together with the wool to be shorn therefrom, in the spring of 1909, for the best sum obtainable therefor, and that the proceeds derived therefrom should, by the defendant as said trustee, be applied as follows: First to the payment of the running expenses of said sheep; second, to the payment of the amount due on said promissory note to defendant; third, to the payment of the said unsecured claims hereinbefore mentioned, and reasonable compensation to the defendant for such services. That it was expressly understood and agreed by and between the plaintiff and defendant at said time that after making the payments as above set forth the defendant was to account to plaintiff for any sums of money then remaining in his hands from the sale of said sheep, and pay such sums over to plaintiff. That thereafter and during the year of 1909, the defendant, as such trustee, and agent of the plaintiff, took into his possession the whole of said personal property, together with 55 tons of hay, which plaintiff delivered to defendant under the terms and [498] conditions of said agreement and sold and disposed of the whole thereof, together with the wool shorn from said sheep during the spring of 1909, and received therefor the total sum of about' $22,000, the exact amount of which plaintiff is unable to state. That out of the funds so received the said defendant has paid said promissory note, the running expenses of said sheep and a part of the said unsecured claims. That the whole amount so paid out by defendant does not exceed in the aggregate more than $14,000, and that reasonable compensation for the defendant’s service as such trustee and agent is the sum of $500, and that after applying the moneys received from said sale in accordance with said agreement there remained in the possession of defendant the sum of- about $6,500, which sum was immediately due and owing from defendant to plaintiff. That the defendant, in violation of the terms of his said trust, and with the intent and for the purpose of defrauding the plaintiff, has and does wrongfully and unlawfully retain and convert to his own use the whole of said sum, except the sum of $600 thereof, paid to plaintiff by defendant since the said sale, and prior to the commencement of this suit. That plaintiff is unable to allege the exact amount of money received by defendant for said personal property, or the exact amounts by him paid out on the indebtedness of plaintiff and as running expenses of said sheep, for the reason that the defendant has, at all times since the sale of said personal property, failed and refused to render to plaintiff an account thereof,” etc.

The defendant demurred to the complaint, alleging that it does not state facts sufficient to constitute a cause of suit, or to entitle the plaintiff any relief. The demurrer was overruled. The answer denied much of the complaint, but admitted parts thereof, and set up new matter. The answer alleges, substantially,' the following as the chief defense:

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Templeton v. Bockler, 144 P. 405, 73 Or. 494, 1914 Ore. LEXIS 135 (Or. 1914).

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