Gaines v. Scales
Gaines v. Scales
Opinion of the Court
Opinion by
By the judgment of the circuit court it was determined that the-two partners, Rice & Carlisle, had the right to sell the personal property held and owned hy the firm, and that the title of the purchasers could not be questioned by the other partner nor the creditors of the firm, and hence appellant was protected as to the oxen, wagon, etc.
For the same reason they should have been protected in their purchase of the boiler and engine, the flour mill and bolt, the corn mill and the circular saw mill and all the fixtures attached to and belonging to the same. ■ By the mortgage executed by the firm to Archibold Goins, William Williams and Geo. Goins, on the 24th of October, 1865, these things- were all treated as personal property, wholly disconnected’from the realty, and under the mortgage could have been sold and removed even after the real estate had been consigned to a third party. It is always a question of fact, and in some instances of intention, whether or not structures, and more especially machinery used for manufacturing purposes are to be regarded as permanent fixtures. Here the party suing has demonstrated beyond doubt that the property mentioned in this mortgage was to remain, detached from1 the realty, and was not to lose its character as personalty.
The mortgage executed to William Scales- and Archibold Goins on the 6th of January, 1866, is in harmony with, this idea. In that conveyance the realty and the mills and machinery are treated as separate and distinct. In the mortgage to Chittenhelm, executed April 16, 1866, the wheat mill, smut mill and the screw connected therewith are alone embraced, the realty being excluded. It is
The judgment is reversed as to Geo. T. Gaines in personam- and as administrator of Oliver Gaines, deceased, and the cause remanded for further proceedings consistent with this opinion.
This opinion is. intended to apply to both the appeals prosecuted on this record.
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.