Brisbane v. Stoughton
Brisbane v. Stoughton
Opinion of the Court
It is claimed in the present case, that the defendant, Stoughton, has a right to redeem the premises in controversy ; and it is further claimed, that although in some former stage of these proceedings that right might have been resisted, yet it is now too late, because, it is said, no question touching the right to redeem is before the-Court on this appeal.
The case is in this Court, by appeal from a decree of the Superior Court of Cincinnati. The Court therein affirms that the sale made by Davis B. Lawler,- under the power of attorney, as set forth in the answer of George Graham to the cross bill of James M. Stoughton, did not divest Stoughton of his equity of redemption, but that he was entitled to redeem, on paying the mortgage debt; and accordingly, the Court decreed that Stoughton ' should be allowed to redeem the premises, and that Graham
Considering the case then as properly appealed, the question is to be decided by the Court, whether the power of sale executed by O’Brien, the mortgagor, to Davis B. Lawler, be a valid power; and if so, whether the subsequent sale and conveyance by Lawler, to Graham, were in accordance with that power, and were otherwise unobjectionable, so as to pass the title in fee to Graham.
- The mortgage to Matthew Lawler, and the power to Davis B. Lawler, were executed on the same day; and were, as is obvious from the instruments themselves, intended to secure the sum of $3000, and provide for its prompt payment when due. There can be no dispute, but that this power uses language entirely suited to the purpose for which it appears to have been designed. The words are: “ and in case default shall be made in the payment of the said sum of three thousand dollars, on the said 29th day of May, 1833, I do hereby authorize and empower the said Davis B. Lawler, his executors and administrators, absolutely to sell, dispose of and convey, at public auction, the same hereditaments and premises, to the best bidder, and make and execute to the purchaser thereof a
But if the power of attorney was at the time of its execution a valid authority to sell and convey, what has since occurred te defeat or destroy it ? The bare delay to proceed for a year, could have no effect to impair any right once secured, nor can we perceive how an agreement, even upon a consideration, to delay for a given time, can be construed into an obligation to delay indefinitely,.or for any time longer then that agreed upon, or in any way into a waiver of the power. There is no release of the power, nothing, from all that appears, that was ever designed by the parties to operate as a release. On the contrary, action under the power was only suspended for a certain fixed period. The time agreed upon for delay passed, the money was still left unpaid, and then, after advertising the time and place of sale, as was necessary and proper under the power, the premises were at length sold to the highest bidder. Nothing
Decree accordingly.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- William H. Brisbane v. James M. Stoughton and another
- Cited By
- 1 case
- Status
- Published