Barnes v. Crockett
Barnes v. Crockett
Opinion of the Court
In an action brought in the Circuit Court of Shawnee County to foreclose a mortgage on certain property in the city of Topeka, the plaintiff in error, T. B. Barnes, and the defendant in error, S. M. Crockett, were made parties defendant. On a cross-petition filed therein, Crockett sought to foreclose, as a mortgage, a deed of conveyance executed by Barnes to him on property included in the plaintiff’s mortgage, alleging that said deed was executed as and for a mortgage to secure the payment of a certain indebtedness by Barnes to Crockett. Upon the trial of the case it was admitted that, at the time said deed was executed, Barnes was indebted in the sum alleged, and that it was the intention of said parties to secure the same by said conveyance. But on the part of Barnes it was claimed that, if such indebtedness was not paid wfithin a year, said deed was to be held and taken as an absolute and unconditional conveyance to Crockett.
The main question for the determination of the
"The court does further find that the deed set out in the answer of the defendant S. M. Crockett was given as and for security of an existing indebtedness of $516, due from the defendant T. B. Barnes to the defendant S. M. Crockett, and that there is now due from the defendant T. B. Barnes to the defendant S. M. Crockett the sum of $608, and that said amount is a lien on said premises subject to the lien of the plaintiff herein.”
On such finding, a personal money judgment was rendered against Barnes in favor of Crockett, and the premises were ordered to be sold for the satisfaction thereof. The plaintiff in error assigns error upon such finding and judgment.
It is well established that a deed, absolute on its face, may be shown to have been intended as a mortgage for the security of a debt. And when it appears, by direct evidence or from the facts and circumstances of the transaction, that such was the mutual understanding and.agreement of the parties, the court will give to such instrument the effect intended. McNamara v. Culver, 22 Kan. 661; Bennett v. Wolverton, 24 id. 284; McDonald & Co. v. Kellogg, 30 id. 170; Reeder v. Gorsuch, 55 id. 553.
The case was tried in the court below upon oral and other evidence which was to some extent conflicting. The main facts upon which the decision turned were, however, undisputed ; it being admitted by the plaintiff in error, the grantor, that the deed was exe
The judgment will be affirmed.
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.