Booth v. Barnum
Booth v. Barnum
Opinion of the Court
Were there nothing else in the case, than that the defendant Barnum, when he took his deed, had no actual notice of the deed to the plaintiffs, there could be no question ; because it is settled law, that when a deed is lodged for rec-with the town-clerk, it is constructive notice to all the world. This principle has been so long established, and it is so essential to the preservation of all the benefits of the registering act, that it can admit of no doubt. The deed of the plaintiffs was left at the town-clerk’s office for record, on the 19th of July; the deed to Barnum was made on the 20th. «Wide Slat. tit. 56. Lands, sect. 9. and the numerous decisions, passim, throughout our books of reports. Indeed, this point is not made, by the counsel for the defendant; but he insists, that these notes and debts, not being accurately described in the condition of the mortgage deed, ought not to be considered as creating any lien upon the land; and that consequently, there can be no foreclosure against a bona fide incumbrancer.
This Court has had occasion frequently to consider objections of this nature ; and, in no instance, has an objection been entitled to less weight than that which is now made. It is
Nor can I perceive any inconvenience to purchasers or creditors, when it is now considered everywhere as the settled doctrine in equity, that “ what is considered as sufficient to put a person on enquiry, is considered as conveying notice; for the law imputes to a person knowledge of a fact, of which the exercise of common prudence and ordinary diligence, mustN have apprised him.” Peters v. Goodrich, 3 Conn. Rep. 150. Sigourney v. Munn, 7 Conn. Rep. 333.
Now, apply that principle to the case before the Court. Could not the defendant, with entire ease, have ascertained from the facts disclosed in the condition, the amount of the indebtedness of Beers to the plaintiffs; and was not the notice such as ought to have put him on the enquiry l
] would advise the superior court, that the debts found are a lien on the property mortgaged.
Decree for plaintiffs.
The finding of the court specifies only two or three instances of dis-erepancy, and those as to sums alone ; but from a statement or schedule - exhibited by the defendant’s counsel, the correctness of which was not con. troverted, it appeared, that there were other inaccuracies in the description of the mortgage debts; none of more importance, however, than those upe. oified in the finding. R.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- Booth and others against Barnum and another
- Status
- Published