Button v. Rathbone, Sard & Co.
Button v. Rathbone, Sard & Co.
Opinion of the Court
There does not seem to be any serious controversy between the parties in relation to the facts in this case. Indeed nearly all the facts were alleged in plaintiff’s complaint and all the facts were proved by the plaintiff’s witnesses, either upon direct or cross-examination. When these proofs had been made the plaintiff rested and the defendant moved for a nonsuit which was denied and defendant excepted. Thereupon the defendant was proceeding to ask. some further question of Tully, the mortgagor, in relation: to his possession of the mortgaged goods and his pecuniary condition, when objection to the evidence was made by plaintiff and the court stated “ that under the case of Jones v. Graham, 77 N. Y. 628, the defendant was not entitled to controvert plaintiff’s title under his chattel mortgage and the case as it now stands.” Defendant’s counsel excepted to this view of the court.
The defendant then stated that under the ruling he would offer no further evidence and again moved for a nonsuit, which was denied and defendant excepted.
The defendant then asked to go to the jury, which was denied, and defendant excepted. The court then directed a verdict for the plaintiff, to which the defendant excepted.
It seems to me that the court below was, owing to the fault of counsel in trying the case, under a partial misappre
The defendant had ceased to be a creditor of the mortgagor on the 13th of June, and then, as it claims, became a purchaser of these goods in good faith from the mortgagor.
The price or consideration paid for the goods was the credit upon and the cancellation of the debt of the mortgagor, and an extension of time and reduction of amount for the remainder of the debt. This was done between the defendant and Tully without any knowledge upon the part of the defendant of plaintiff’s mortgage, and immediately thereafter the defendant took full and complete possession of the goods, and in a few days thereafter removed them to Albany. The sale by the mortgagor was upon good consideration, viz., the satisfaction and cancellation of his debt. If the mortgagor, Tully, had attempted or claimed the right to retake possession of the goods from the defendant, the purchase by the defendant would have been an effectual answer to the claim. If the defendant had brought an action against the mortgagor to recover his debt, this sale and credit would have afforded a perfect defense to the action.
It was never held that a debtor might not pay and dis
Applying this principle to this case shows that the defendant’s rights, from the time of the sale and purchase and the delivery of the goods and the giving of the credit in pursuance of the agreement, rested upon the title it acquired under the bill of sale. Youngs v. Lee, 12 N. Y. 551-554; Purchase v. Mattison, 16 N. Y. Supr. 3 Bos. 310; White v. The Springfield Bank, 3 Sand. 222.
There are several cases holding that as between a person claiming under an unfiled or void chattel mortgage and a purchaser in good faith in possession of the property covered by the mortgage, the latter will prevail. Weeks v. Zimmerman, 23 N. Y. State Rep. 56.
The case of Powers v. Freeman, 2 Lans. 127, is in har_ mony with these views and illustrates the leading features of this case. The question there was between the mortgagee of an unfiled mortgage, valid in any other respect, and a subsequent purchaser in good faith. The purchaser was ignorant of the existence of the mortgage, and the consideration of the purchase was the application of the price towards the payment and satisfaction of a precedent debt past due. In that case the action was brought by the purchaser against the mortgagee, who had taken possession of the property under his unfiled mortgage, and it was held
The defendant having acquired title to and possession of the chattels involved in this action, without notice or knowledge of the plaintiff’s unfiled chattel mortgage, was in a position to challenge its validity.
The court erred in refusing to permit the defendant to show the mortgage was fraudulent, for which error the judgment should be reversed and a new trial granted.
Vann, Parker and Brown, JJ., concur.
Judgment reversed and new trial granted, costs to abide event.
All concur in the result, except Bradley and Haight, JJ., not sitting.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- Nelson S. Button v. Rathbone, Sard & Co.
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