Bovey-Shute Lumber Co. v. Dodge Elevator Co.
Bovey-Shute Lumber Co. v. Dodge Elevator Co.
Concurring Opinion
I concur in the result.
Opinion of the Court
This is an action by the mortgagee for conversion of grain covered in a chattel mortgage upon the crop of 1915. A verdict was rendered for the plaintiff. From a judgment entered pursuant thereto, and from an order denying judgment non obstante or in the al
In 1913 one Mrs. Helgerson was the owner of 280 acres of farm land in Ward county. On March 13, 1913, pursuant to a mortgage foreclosure sale, a sheriff’s certificate of sale was issued to the Second National Bank of Minot. Before the year of redemption expired some arrangement was made between Mrs. Helgerson and the bank by which she was granted the right to make a sale of the premises. Pursuant thereto, and pursuant to an agreement with one Holm, on September 2, 1914, the bank on September 2, 1914, executed a contract for a deed to said Holm and received from him a note and mortgage for $3,000 on other lands as security. In this contract there was no reservation of title to the crops to be raised on the premises in the year 1915. On the same day the bank wrote Mrs. Helgerson that sale had been made, through her efforts, of this land to Holm for $6,400, and that one half of the 1914 crop belonged to her providing that the threshing and twine bill was paid, and the first payment of $1,500 and interest to be paid by Holm on December 1, 1913, was so paid. It is not disputed nor claimed by the appellant herein that settlement was not made for the threshing and twine bill and other payments specified. On January 24, 1915, one John Christianson wrote Mrs. Helgerson for the purpose of renting the land in the year 1915. Pursuant to such negotiations said Christianson did enter and take possession of the land as a cropper for the year 1915, pursuant to the usual croppers’ plan upon shares. Mrs. Helgerson agreed to erect a frame house and barn upon the premises for the use of such cropper. She accordingly so did, procuring the lumber therefor from the plaintiff herein. To secure payment of the same she gave to the plaintiff on March 30, 1915, a note for $308.05 and a chattel mortgage covering the house and frame barn so built, and her one-half interest in the crops to be grown, on the lands during the year 1915. The note became due September 15, 1915. The chattel mortgage was duly filed July 21, 1915. The cropper secured seed grain from Mrs. Helgerson, and seeded and raised a crop of wheat and oats upon the land.
On May 17, 1915, a written croppers’ contract was made between said Christianson and said Holm, pursuant to the arrangements made
Mrs. Iielgerson testified that when this grain was being hauled she advised the agent of the defendant that one half of the crop belonged to her, and that she had given security to the plaintiff for the lumber furnished upon such grain. That she advised such agent not to sell such grain without her consent. The agent of the plaintiff also testified that he saw the agent of the defendant about the time that the first load of grain was hauled to the elevator. That the defendant was advised concerning the chattel mortgage upon such grain and that the plaintiff would look to the elevator to protect it; that a few days later he saw the agent again; that settlement had not been made then for the grain, it not having all been hauled in; that he made demand for the grain or the money. In carrying on the threshing operations Mrs. Helgerson arranged for and got help. On October 28, 1915, Mrs. Helgerson and said Holm made a written agreement which provided for settlement of their property rights and transferred to Holm from Mrs. Helgerson her right and interest in the crop of 1915, with the provision, however, that the proceeds of the crop should be applied on the indebtedness of Mrs. Helgerson owing to said Holm, and on a certain $500 note owing by the parties to the Second National Bank. 'After this time the crop was threshed. On December 18, 1915, the defendant made settlement for such crop by paying Holm on certain storage tickets some $619. There is testimony in the record given by Mr. Holm that he took this contract for the use and benefit of Mrs. Helgerson and in trust for her; that he did it to help her get her title back; that he did not figure on keeping the land and intended to give it back to her.
The defendant has made nineteen specifications of error challenging the rulings of the trial court in the admission of evidence, its instructions to the jury, and its action in denying the plaintiff’s motions. These specifications are principally concerned with the contentions of the appellant herein, that upon the record, as a matter of law, Mrs. Helgerson was not the owner of the land; that, therefore, she was not the owner of the crop and could not give a valid mortgage thereupon; that
This is particularly so when it is considered that no reservation of title to the crop of 1915 was made in the contract given to Holm. The record further shows ample notice to the defendant, of plaintiff’s rights in, and its demands for, this grain. The judgment and order of the trial court is in all things affirmed, with costs to the respondent.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- BOVEY-SHUTE LUMBER COMPANY v. DODGE ELEVATOR COMPANY
- Status
- Published