Wendt v. Diemer
Wendt v. Diemer
Opinion of the Court
The opinion of the court was delivered by
This action was brought in the court below by John Diemer against the plaintiffs in error to reform a promissory note, for judgment thereon, and for the foreclosure of areal-estate mortgage. The petition contained two causes of action, one alleging mutual mistake in the execution of the note, the other setting out the note, and praying judgment thereon for the amount due and for the foreclosure of the mortgage. F. O. Wendt and M. J. Wendt, on Sep
“$700. Norton, Kan., September 25, 1893.
“ On or before the 25th day of September, 1898, I, or we, or either of us, for value received, promise to pay John Diemer seven hundred dollars, at Clayton, Kan., with interest at eight per cent, per annum from date until paid. All signers to this note are principals. No extension of payment with or without our knowledge, by receipt of interest or otherwise, shall release us, or either of us, from the obligations of payment. The makers each waive presentation for payment, protest and notice of non-payment of this note.”
The defendants filed a demurrer, which was overruled. Afterward defendants answered, denying generally and specifically each and every allegation except the execution and delivery of the note and mortgage. A trial was had before the court, which resulted in findings and judgment for plaintiff in the sum of $892.95. A motion for a new trial was overruled, and the defendants, as plaintiffs in. error, present the case to this court for review.
The questions presented by the assignments of error and record may be very properly considered in three subdivisions:.
First. Did the court properly overrule the demurrer to the petition? The plaintiff alleged, among other things, that at the time of the execution and delivery of the note it was agreed between the plaintiff and defendants that the interest to become due qpon the principal indebtedness should be paid annually ; that it was the intention of all parties to the note that it should be drawn so as to read “with interest payable annually ” ; that by mutual mistake of the parties and by mistake of the scrivener there was inserted the clause “ with interest at the rate of eight per cent.
Second. Did the court err in the admission of incompetent, irrelevant and immaterial evidence? At the time the note and mortgage were reduced to writing, there were present John Diemer, F. O. Wendt, M. J. Wendt, and one Townslee, all of whom took some part in the statement of the contract, in the execution thereof., or in drawing the papers. Just what relation Townslee sustained to the parties or to the contract is not apparent, except that he seemed to be interested in the statement of the contract and in the execution of the papers. John Diemer in his testimony was permitted to refer to Townslee’s statements made at the time of the execution of the papers. Brown, the party who drew the papers, was allowed to state what Townslee said during the
Third. Did' the court err in its findings of fact and conclusions of law? The court found that all of the allegations in the first and second causes of action were true; that there was a mutual mistake in the execution of the note as set "out, at the time of the execution thereof; that it was the intention of the parties that the note should be written so as to read, “interest payable annually.” The court further found the defendants were in default in the payment of two instalments of interest, due September 25,1895, and September 25, 1896, and that under the provisions of the note and mortgage the whole, amount of the indebtedness was due and payable; and rendered judgment that the note be reformed so as to read: “Interest payable annually,” and that John Diemer recover judgment against the defendants for the sum of $892.95, with interest at eight per cent., and for the foreclosure of the mortgage and sale of the mortgaged premises. There is some testimony
“This grant is intended as a mortgage to secure the payment of (the indebtedness is here described), and this conveyance shall be void if such payments be made as herein specified. But if default be made in such payment or any part thereof or the interest due thereon, or if the taxes and assessments of every nature which are by law made due and payable are not paid when the same become due, as above provided, then it shall be lawful for the said party of the second part ... to sell the premises hereby granted ... in the manner prescribed by law, and out of the moneys arising from such sale to retain the amount due for principal and interest, and the overplus, if any there be, shall be paid on demand . to the parties of the first part.”
There is no provision in the mortgage to the effect that a default in the payment of interest should result in the maturity of the original indebtedness.
The finding of the amount due is not supported by the evidence. The judgment of foreclosure is' contrary to law, except to the extent of two instalments of interest due.
The court erred in overruling the motion for a new trial. The judgment is reversed and the cause remanded, with direction to the trial court to grant a new trial, and for further proceedings not inconsistent with the views herein expressed.
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.