Vann v. Marbury

100 Ala. 438

• Court: Supreme Court of Alabama
• Decided: November 15, 1893
• Status: Published

Opinion

STONE, C. J.

Many of the assignments of error are based on the objections of appellant to portions of the testimony offered by appellee. Without ruling specifically on the objections the Chancery Court rendered a decree on the merits in favor of appellee. We shall consider only the substantial controversy as shown by the record, and, ip doing so, will look alone to the legal testimony to determine whether or not it authorizes the decree from which the appeal is taken.

The controversy as it comes before us in this record is mainly one of fact and arises out of the following circumstances':. In December, 1886, Yann sold and conveyed a tract of land near Birmingham, Ala., to Harriett Moore, in consideration of the sum of $4,000.00, of which $1,833.33 was paid, cash, and for the balance Mrs. Moore and her husband executed and delivered their two joint notes for $1,333.33 each, both dated December 27, 1886, payable, respectively, at 12 and 24 months from date and secured by a mortgage on the land. The mortgage recites an indebtedness of $2,666, one half due December 27, 1887, and the^ other due December 27, 1888, and was duly recorded. On the 1st day of June, 1887, Yann transferred the first of said notes to Marbury as collateral security for an antecedent debt owing by the former to the latter.

It is claimed by appellee that notice of this transfer was given by his, Marbury’s, attorney to Mrs. Moore, at the time of the transfer, or shortly thereafter, by a letter addressed to her at Birmingham or Avondale (the witness being uncertain which), but stating that the envelope had his name printed théreon and that the letter was never returned to him.

Afterwards, to-wit, Oct. 24, 1887, Mrs. Moore believing she would not be able to meet the notes, and before either of them had matured, sold the property to the Woodlawn Cemetery Company for $4,158. Of this sum $358 was paid to her in cash and $3,800 in stock of said company ; $1,000 of the stock she retained and the remaining $2,800 of stock was, contemporaneously with its payment to her, transferred by her to Yann. Yann, Mrs. Moore, Erswell and Nash were present at the conclusion of the trade, the two latter being respectively president and secretary of said Woodlawn Cemetery Company. When the money and stock were paid, Yann agreed to go at once to the court-house and cancel the mortgage on the records. He also stated that the mortgage and notes were at his office, and requested Mrs. Moore to go with him from Erswell’s office to his office where he would deliver the papers to her. Mrs. Moore and Nash, both, went with Yann to his office, where he got the mortgage and one of the notes (the last note), and gave them up to Mrs. Moore, saying, that the other note (the one in controversy) was mislaid and that he would get it for her in a day or two. He gave Mrs. Moore a receipt against the last mentioned note, in which receipt it is recited that the note was then in the hands of W. C. Ward, but it does not appear that this receipt was shown to Nash or that he knew of this recital therein. Yann afterwards made various excuses for not delivering up the note. Mrs. Moore denies ever having received notice of the transfer of the note, and the Woodlawn Cemetery Company also denies notice that appellee held the note or claimed any interest in it, and also of all the facts that might put it on inquiry.

Yann did not in fact cancel the mortgage on the records for some months after the payment; he, on one occasion, told Mrs. Moore that he had done so, but she, finding the statement to be false, required him to go to the records with her and make the proper entry of satisfaction. He is not examined by either party as a witness.

The question argued by counsel as to whether or not the note transferred by Yann to Marbury is negotiable is not a material one for several reasons. In the first place it was transferred to Marbury as collateral security for an antecedent debt Yann owed him. The doctrine in this State is that the holder of negotiable paper as collateral security for a pre-existing debt is not a bona fide holder for value, nor entitled to protection against equities and defenses existing between prior parties, of which he had no notice, but that such paper is open in the hands of such holder to all the defenses which could have been made against it while in the hands of the original owner.—First Nat’l Bank v. Johnston, 97 Ala. 655.

In the next place it no where appears from the record that the note was indorsed by Yann to Marbury so as to carry the legal title. Even negotiable paper assigned before maturity, unless payable to bearer, or indorsed, will be subject in the hands of the assignee, until the debtor is notified of the assignment, to the same equities as woirld have affected the party from whom it was received. The rule, in such cases, applicable to both non-negotiable and -negotiable paper has been well stated as follows: “When the written evidence of indebtedness is non-negotiable or overdue, indorsement will not obviate the necessity of notice ; but when negotiable paper requiring indorsement is assigned by delivery, notice has been held necessary to perfect the assignment.”—Wade on Notice, § 442.

It is true the testimony tends to show that the transfer of the note as collateral was in consideration of indulgence granted by Marbury to Yann on the debt for the security of which the note was so transferred, but the testimony does not show such a clear, definite and certain agreement either as to the terms or time of the forbearance as to constitute an independent consideration for the transfer which would give the transferree the rights of a bona fide holder for value without notice. Whether or not, therefore, the note in controversy was, or was not negotiable paper, the whole question is one of notice.

Did Mrs. Moore, before, or at the time of making payment of the note to Yann have notice of the transfer of tlie note to Marbury ? And did the Woodlawn Cemetery Company at tbe time or before making payment of the purchase money to Mrs. Moore and to Yann have notice of such transfer or of any fact sufficient to put it on inquiry ?

In the absence of notice to Mrs. Moore of the transfer of the note to Marbury the payment made by her to Yann would be a complete protection to her against this suit, notwithstanding the note was not produced and delivered up at the time of such payment.

In Hart v. Freeman, 42 Ala. 568, we said, “the maker of a promissory note, not negotiable, may pay the same to the payee after its maturity, even though the note be not produced and delivered up at che time of payment, provided the maker has had no notice of the indorsement or transfer of the note to a third person. And such payment would be a valid and competent defense against the note, should it afterwards appear and suit be brought thereon against the maker by another holder.” It was further held in that case that the burden of proof rests upon the plaintiff in the action, the defendant having proved the payment, to show that the defendant had notice of the transfer or indorsement before the payment was made. We can not perceive that the fact that payment of the note in controversy, was made before maturity, takes the case without the influence of the decision in Hart v. Freeman, supra.

The testimony in the record shows that both Mrs. Moore, the maker of the note, and the Woodlawn Cemetary Company deny all notice of the transfer of the note by Nann to Marbury. On the other hand, W. C. Ward, attorney for Marbury, testifies that he notified Mrs. Moore of the transfer of the note to Marbury at the time, or shortly after, it was made, by addressing her and her husband a letter through the post office at Birmingham or Avondale, (the latter according to the best of his recollection), and that the letter was never returned to him although, the envelope in which it was enclosed had his name and address thereon.

If we may take judicial cognizance of the postal regulation, or custom to return undelivered letters to sender, when there is a printed or written request to that effect and the address of the sender on the envelope, we can not consider this testimony as satisfactory or conclusive on the question of notice of the transfer of the note, in the face of Mrs. Moore’s positive denial of notice, and the further fact that the burden of proof rests upon the complainant to establish notice. In the first place' the witness does not state the postage was prepaid on his letter. In the second place it appears from Mrs. Moore’s testimony that she, at the time the letter was sent, received her letters from the Birmingham post office instead of at Avondale where she resided. In the third place, if it had been stated by Mr. "Ward that his letter was sent postage prepaid, and to the proper office,, it would simply have made out a prima facie case of notice, which is overcome by the positive and unequivocal denial of Mrs. Moore that she ever had notice of such transfer. We discover nothing in-the testimony which disentitles her to full credit as a witness, and in accepting her denial of having received notice we do not in any wdse discredit the testimony of Mr. Ward. The testimony of the two can be reconciled upon the theory that Mr. Ward’s letter went to the post office at Avondale where Mrs. Moore was not accustomed to receive her letters, or that the letter was not prepaid or was lost in the Birmingham post office or delivered to some person who failed to hand it to her.

Appellee further insists, however, that both Mrs. Moore and the Woodlawn Cemetery Company were either notified of the transfer of the note or acquired knowledge of facts sufficient to put them on inquiry at the time the payment by Mrs. Moore was made and the purchase by the Woodlawn Cemetery was concluded; -that the receipt itself, given by Yann to Mrs. Moore on that occasion recited that the note in controversy was then in the hands of W. C. Ward.

A careful review of the testimony fails to satisfy us that this contention is supported by the proof. On the contrary Mrs. Moore swears “Yann did not say my note was out when he made the trade but said so when he delivered my paper. When I delivered the deed to Erswell, Yann did not tell me that the note was out. The note was handed me in Yann’s office. I never heard him say. anything in presence of Erswell about the note being out, and nothing in, that of Nash except in his office.” Nash in his testimony shows that the money and stock were paid to Mrs. Moore and the deed delivered by her to Erswell in his office before Mrs. Moore, Nash and Yann went to the latter’s office, and we think it appears this was all done on the faith of Yann’s statement that the notes and Mortgage were in his office. Nash says, “Mr. Erswell, Mr. Yann, Mrs. Moore and myself were the parties present at Mr. Erswell’s office wben tbe payment was made. The notes and mortgage were- at Mr. Yann’s office, so be said at tbe time. I went up to Mr. Yann’s office with Mrs. Moore wben sbe received one note and tbe mortgage I think; she also received a receipt for the other note which be said was then misplaced but be would surrender it in a day or so. Later on be made various statements as to tbe note,” &c. And again on cross-examination be says, “I was present wben Mrs. Moore executed tbe deed to the W. C. Co. Mrs. Moore was paid $358.00 cash, and $3,800 in stock, and sbe paid Yann $2,800.00 stock, the W. C. Go. paid him nothing. After the stock had been transferred to Vann by Mrs. Moore sbe demanded the notes from Yann and sbe went up to Yann’s office to get them, but she only received one and a receipt for tbe other. He said that note was then misplaced and promised to deliver it to her in a day or so; am quite sure be did not say it was in Ward’s bands or any other person’s bands at that time.”

Erswell is also examined and corroborates Nash as to tbe conclusion of tbe trade at Ers well’s office, and tbe statement then made by Yann that tbe notes were at bis office, and tbe fact that Yann, Mrs. Moore and Nash left Ers well’s office to go to Yann’s office. We cannot discover from the testimony that Nash read tbe receipt given by Yann to Mrs. Moore, for tbe note in controversy, or that Nash there learned any fact which would have put him on inquiry unless it was tbe one fact that the note here in suit, was not actually produced and surrendered.

So far as the Woodlawn Cemetery Company is concerned, it not appearing that tbe receipt showing that tbe note was then in Ward’s bands was shown to Nash, we think tbe statements made by Yann, in the hearing of Nash, both at that time and at Erswell’s office that tbe note was mislaid and would be surrendered in a day or two, disarmed all suspicion on Nash’s part- that tbe note had been transferred. Indeed, if inquiry bad- been excited, of whom would be have made it ? He could not have gone out into tbe community generally to make such inquiry: He could have gone to no one except to tbe mortgagor and mortgagee, and and it is apparent that inquiry of either of them would have been unavailing, in tbe light of the testimony iñ this record. And so far as Mrs. Moore is concerned it may be said that tbe statements of Yann to her before and accompanying tbe delivery of the receipt for tbe note, might justly be said to have disarmed any suspicion which, without such statements, the recital in the receipt that the note was in Ward’s hands ought to have excited in her mind.—Brown v. Blydenburg, 7 N. Y. 142-146.

It is to he observed this receipt does not recite that the note had been transferred to Ward, but that it was in his hands. If this recital stood alone it may be it was sufficient to put Mrs. Moore on inquiry and that she would be chargeable with notice of all facts inquiry from Ward would have elicited; but in connection with Yann’s statements at the time of the payment and, also, accompanying tbe delivery of the receipt the most natural inference Mrs. Moore could have drawn from such recital in the receipt would have been that the note was in Ward’s hands not as transferee but as agent for Yann and that it had been mislaid.

We see no escape from the conclusion that Yann’s declarations and conduct were intended, and naturally bad the effect, to quiet suspicion and prevent inquiry by Mrs. Moore and the officers of the Woodlawn Cemetery Company, and sufficiently excused their failure to demand the production and surrender of the note.—Brown v. Blydenburg, supra; 1 Jones on Mort. § 791; Van Kennen v. Corkins, 6 N. Y. Sup. Ct. Rep. 355.

The question with which we have mainly to deal, in this case, is not whether the mortgage can be enforced as to this note against Mr. and Mrs. Moore, or whether they are liable personally to Marbury on the note, but whether the note is enforceable in this suit as a lien on the land as against the Woodlawn Cemetery Company, the purchaser of the land. Its attorney examined the title and found no encumbrance except the mortgage from Mrs. Moore and her husband to Yann securing the two notes. So far as the record showed, therefore, Yann was the proper party to whom payment of the mortgage debt should be made and who had the right to cancel the mortgage. In Ogle v. Turpin 102 Ill. 148 it is said: “There is no presumption of law that the payee of notes secured by mortgage has transferred the notes before purchasing the equity of redemption from the mortgagor, and a person taking a mortgage from the payee will not be held chargeable with notice that the notes secured in the first mortgage, although not due, have been assigned, but he may rely upon the record as showing title in his mortgagor.” This we think to be the correct rule, except where the mortgage shows upon its face the negotiable character of the notes it secures, in which event it might be encumbent on a subsequent purchaser to inquire as to whether the notes have been assigned.—Keohane v. Smith, 97 Ill. 156; 1 Jones on Mortg. § 814.

The mortgage before us does not describe the notes or otherwise indicate their character’. In the absence of proof of notice to the "Woodlawn Cemetery Company of the transfer of the note to Marbury, or of facts sufficient to put it on inquiry, the principles which govern the respective rights of Marbury and said Company in this controversy may be briefly stated as follows : By the transfer of the note from Yann to Marbury, under the circumstances above shown, the latter acquired an interest in the mortgage security which he was entitled to assert as against both the mortgagor and the mortgagee so long as the security subsisted. This being so, the cancellation of the mortgage on the records by Yann, it cannot be doubted, was a fraud upon the rights of Marbury and the latter’s rights remained unaffected as against all parties participating in, or cognizant of, the fraud.

But as between Marbury and the "Woodláwn Cemetery Company the question here presented is whether Marbury’s rights are such that they can be asserted against a bona fide purchaser from the mortgagor, who without notice of the claim of Marbury has parted with its money relying upon the payment and cancellation of the only claim upon the land disclosed by the record, and which payment was made to, and cancellation made by, the party whom the record showed to be the proper party for such purposes.

As we have said the transfer of the note vested in Mar-bury no legal title to the land but simply an equity. The legal title to the conditional estate in the land remained in Yann as fully after the transieras before. This legal title, it may be, he held in trust for Marbury to the extent of the note held by the latter, but it was a trust not appearing from the mortgage itself, or by any record, but a latent trust which could not affect the rights of bona fide purchasers who, in ignorance of its existence, relied on the acts and declarations of the mortgagee within the scope of his apparent powers as legal owner of the mortgage; and any such acts of the mortgagee as would work an estoppel as against him, would be equally effective against the holder of a latent equity arising from contract with the mortgagee.— Ex’t’rs of Swartz v. Leist, 13 Ohio St. 419.

Without discussing the question further our conclusion is that Marbury, being a holder of the note as collateral security for an antecedent debt, and the mortgage failing to show that the note was negotiable, and the payment of the entire mortgage debt having been made by Mrs. Moore, and the purchase made by the Woodlawn Cemetery Company, without notice by either of the transfer of the note, and in reliance upon the fact that the payment was made to, and the surrender of the mortgage by, the party whom the record showed was the proper party, and who then represented himself as the owner of the note and that it was temporarily mislaid, such payment and purchase defeat the right of the transferee, Marbury, to subject the land to the payment of the note, notwithstanding the failure of Mrs. Moore and the officers of the Woodlawn Cemetery Company to require the production and surrender of the note at the time of such payment and purchase.

The decree of the Chancery Court is not in accordance with our conclusion. It is, therefore, reversed and a decree will be here rendered denying relief to the complainant in the court below and dismissing the bill of complaint.

Beversed and rendered.