Deavitt v. Eldridge
Deavitt v. Eldridge
Opinion of the Court
The Beckwith Marl or Carbonate of Gime Co. executed a mortgage of its property to certain parties to secure said parties for any and all advances or endorsements before or thereafter to be made for the benefit of said company, and the petition in this cause is brought for the purpose of foreclosing that mortgage. The questions in issue relate to the extent to which each mortgagee, or his assign, is entitled to share in the mortgaged property. It appears, that, after the execution of the mortgage, the company issued certificates of its capital stock for three thousand dollars to defendant F. G. Bundy, one of the mortgagees, and placed the same in his hands as collateral security for a loan of a like amount by him- to the company; that he had the option to purchase the stock but never elected to do so; and that the stock is now of no value.
The orator insists that the sum found due from the company to Bundy is subject to an offset of the stock so delivered, and that Bundy is not entitled to any part of the mortgage
At the time the mortgage sought to be foreclosed was executed, the mortgaged property was subject to two prior mortgages which had not been fully paid, and defendants H. A. Blake and P. G. Bundy thereafter purchased one of the prior mortgages with their private funds, relying upon the mortgage security so purchased, and took an assignment of the same. Defendant Bundy, under like conditions purchased and took an assignment of the other mortgage. They claim that they must be paid the sums due upon the mortgages so purchased before the other creditors of the company are entitled to share in the proceeds of the mortgage security, while some of the parties to this action contend, that the position of Blake and Bundy in respect to the purchased mortgages is that of creditors who have advanced money at the request of, and for the benefit of, the company; that the mortgages so purchased are extinguished; and that Blake and Bundy can share in the security only in common with the other creditors. But we think the rights of Blake and Bundy under the prior mortgages are not thus limited. The finding that they purchased and took an assignment of the mortgages, relying upon the security purchased, and the absence of a finding that they did so at the request of, or for the benefit of, the company, and the fact that they were under no legal duty to pay the prior mortgages, precludes a holding that the transaction was an advancement of money to the company. Therefore, they are entitled to stand in the place of the parties of whom they purchased, and
The claims purchased by the orator of A. C. Randall, before the filing of his bill of complaint, were overdue at the time of the purchase, and were greater in amount than the claims in favor of the company and against A. C. Randall, and were subject to the deductions made by the court below. It is therefore unnecessary to consider whether the notes purchased by the orator of A. C. Randall, or Sias Randall, after the filing of the bill of complaint, were subject to an offset; nor is it necessary to consider who furnished to the company the money for which the notes were executed and delivered to A. C. Randall.
There is evidently a mistake in the decretal order. By it, the orator is allowed $3,302.90, less $365.89 due from A. C. Randall to the company. He should have been allowed $3,521.45, less $365.89, or a balance of $3,155.56. For the purpose of correcting this error, the decree must be reversed.
Reversed and remanded with mandate.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- Edward H. Deavitt v. L. J. Eldridge, Trustee
- Status
- Published