Rish v. Jackson
Rish v. Jackson
Opinion of the Court
The opinion of the Court was delivered by
The testimony in this case is full of conflicting statements, but there are some facts not disputed.
It is not disputed that Mr. S. R. Smith owned several engines and boilers and gave to the plaintiff a note secured by a bill of sale of these engines and boilers; that the bill of sale was duly recorded; that subsequent to the execution and *165 recording of the bill of sale Mr. Smith sold an engine and boiler to the defendant. The plaintiff brought suit in claim and delivery for the engine and boiler sold to the defendant. The defendant by his answer made: (a) A general denial; (b) alleged that, if the bill of sale was ever executed, there was only a small balance due; (c) a plea of estoppel; (d) asked for an application of the two-fund doctrine, i. e., to require the plaintiff first to seize and apply the unsold machinery to his debt before taking the property that had been sold, to wit, the property in dispute. There are fifteen exceptions, but appellant states that they raise four questions.
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If the plaintiff was not estopped to set up his mortgage, and there was anything due, then the plaintiff was entitled to a judgment for the possession.
3. Did his Honor charge on the facts when he charged:
3 “You can dismiss the testimony of any witness if you see,fit or you can believe the testimony of any witness. It is within your province to eliminate that which you think you are justified in eliminating.”
That was certainly not an invasion of the province of the jury.
4. Did his Honor err when he refused to charge without modification, the following request:
4 “If the jury find that it was understood between the defendant and Smith that defendant would pay plaintiff the purchase price of these two pieces of machinery on the Rish mortgage, and they find that he has not done that, their verdict should be for the plaintiff.”
This was error. Of course, if the defendant agreed to pay the plaintiff’s (Rish’s) mortgage, then he knew of its existence, and there was no necessity for Rish to notify the defendant of the existence of a mortgage he had agreed to pay, and there was no ground for estoppel, and this was the only defense applicable here.
The judgment is reversed.
Footnote. — Knowledge or reliance of other party as an element of estoppel, see notes in 48 L. R. A. (N. S.) 766-778.
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.