State ex rel. Brown v. McFaul
State ex rel. Brown v. McFaul
Opinion of the Court
In July, 1900, Russell & Co., a corporation, began the foreclosure of a chattel mortgage executed by one Hardesty on a certain traction engine manufactured by the company. The foreclosure was commenced under the short form of procedure (§§ 5870 et seq, Bal. Code); and the plaintiff put into the hands of the sheriff of Whitman county the mortgage and notice, as required by such procedure, signed by attorneys for mortgagee.
Immediately thereafter the appellant followed Egan, and endeavored to take possession of the engine. A scuffle ensued between appellant and Egan over the possession, and defendant desisted from further efforts to retain possession of the engine, but removed therefrom three levers necessary for its operation. The defendant had full knowledge of the order made by the superior court at the time he endeavored to take possession of the engine. Upon affidavit showing the foregoing facts, the court issued an order that apqjellant show cause why he should not be punished for contempt for the violation of the order of the court. At the hearing the facts were found sub-.
Counsel for defendant maintain that, as no bond was executed by the mortgagor upon the issuance' of the order-directing the property to be returned to the owner, such order was void. We think not. The statute authorizes the court to make the order as an incident to the jurisdiction assumed by the court in the foreclosure. After the order was made by the court, removing the foreclosure of the chattel mortgage into the superior court, and directing the sheriff to return the possession of the personal property to the mortgagor, the subsequent interference of the defendant with the custody of the property wilfully was a violation of the order, and the conviction of contempt-must be affirmed.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- The State of Washington on the Relation of J. T. Brown v. M. B. McFaul
- Cited By
- 3 cases
- Status
- Published
- Syllabus
- CONTEMPT-DISOBEYING ORDER FOE REMOVAL OF CHATTEL MORTGAGE FORECLOSURE TO COURT. Where an order is made hy the court, removing the foreclosure of a chattel mortgage into the superior court, and directing the sheriff to return the possession of the property to its owner, the subsequent wilful interference by an agent of the mortgagee with the custody of the property was a violation of the order rendering him guilty of contempt; and the fact that no bond was given by the owner upon the issuance of the order directing the return of the property to him would not excuse compliance with the order, since the court is authorized, under the statute, to make the order as an incident to the jurisdiction assumed by it in the foreclosure proceedings.