Best v. Gunther
Best v. Gunther
Opinion of the Court
The following opinion was filed June 23, 1905:
The question presented is whether the recording of the instrument signed by Mary T. Gunther, purporting to revoke the power granted to her husband to convey her lands, operated to terminate this agency. The common law required that a revocation of such authority be brought to the personal notice of the agent. Kelly v. Phelps, 57 Wis. 425, 15 N. W. 385; Walker v. Denison, 86 Ill. 142. It is not claimed that, at the time he executed the mortgage here involved, Arthur W. Gunther had been actually notified that his authority under the letter of attorney had been revoked, nor is it claimed that plaintiff had actual notice that the defendant Mary T. Gunther had taken any steps to revoke it. It is urged that the statutes providing that letters of attorney and other instruments containing a power to convey lands as agents or attorneys for the owner may be recorded in the
, The context of secs. 2237, 2246, Stats. 1898, providing that letters of attorney and other instruments containing powers to convey lands may be recorded as therein prescribed, and when- so recorded shall not be deemed revoked by any act of the party who executed them unless the instrument of revocation be also recorded in the same office, contains nothing to
By the Court.• — Judgment affirmed.
A motion for a rehearing was denied, and the following-opinion filed October 3, 1905 :
Dissenting Opinion
(dissenting). I disagreed with the decision of this case at the time it was made, but through some-inadvertence I failed to state the fact at the time the decision was announced. On this motion I feel at liberty to briefly and respectfully state my views of the law applicable to the
Obviously tbe power of attorney in question was not coupled with an interest, as indicated in tbe case last mentioned. The statute prescribes how all conveyances of lands within this state or any interest therein should be executed. Sec. 2216, Stats. 1898. Mrs. Gunther was expressly authorized by tbe statute to “convey her lands in this state or any interest therein” by her “separate deed.” Sec. 2221, Stats. 1898. So tbe statute authorized her “by letter of attorney, executed and acknowledged in tbe manner” therein prescribed, to authorize her attorney to convey any interest in any of her real estate. Sec. 2223, Stats. 1898. So it authorized her alone to execute and acknowledge “every such conveyance and letter of attorney” of or relating to her real estate. Sec. 2224, 'Stats. 1898.
The important question is whether, prior to receiving tbe note and mortgage, tbe plaintiff bad constructive notice that tbe power of attorney under wbicb Arthur W. Gunther assumed to act in making them had in fact been revoked. The
“No letter of attorney or other instrument containing a power to convey lands, when executed, acknowledged and recorded as provided in this chapter, shall be deemed to be revoked by any act of the party by whom it was executed unless the instrument containing such revocation be also recorded in the same office in which the instrument containing the power was recorded.” Sec. 2246, Stats. 1898.
The obvious meaning of this section, to my mind, is tbat such power of attorney “shall be deemed to be revoked” in case “such revocation be also recorded in the same office in which” the power of attorney is recorded. But it is said that “a letter of attorney and an instrument revoking the authority conferred thereby are not included within the terms used in” ch. 100, Stats. 1898. The statute declares that:
“Every conveyance of real estate within this state . . . which shall not be recorded as provided by law shall be void as-against any subsequent purchaser in good faith and for a valuable consideration of the same real estate or any portion thereof whose conveyance shall first be duly recorded.” Sec.. 2241, Stats. 1898.
Another section declares that:
“The term ‘conveyance,’ as used in this chapter, shall be construed to embrace every instrument in writing by which any estate or interest in real estate is created, aliened, mortgaged or assigned or by which the title to any real estate may he affected in law or equity, except wills and leases for a term not exceeding three years.” Sec. 2242, Stats. 1898.
Certainly the power of attorney was an “instrument in writing by which” an “interest in real estate” was authorized to be “created, aliened, mortgaged or assigned, or by which the title to” Mrs. Gunther’s real estate might “be affected in.
“Authority to execute a deed must be given by deed.” 2 Jones, Eeal Prop. Conv. § 1021. A mortgage thus purporting to be executed by a stranger to tbe title is on its face a mere nullity. Had tbe mortgage in question been so executed by Arthur W. Gunther before tbe power of attorney bad been revoked, still it would have been valid only by virtue of tbe power of attorney. Tbe power of attorney, therefore, would have been an essential part of such conveyance by way of mortgage. Tbe sole object of tbe power of attorney was to affect tbe title to land; and hence, as indicated, tbe Statutes fully provide for its being executed and recorded in tbe chapter “Affecting Title to Land.” Tbe same is true of tbe revocation of tbe power as appears from tbe statutes quoted.
Tbe only object of recording such instruments is to notify persons subsequently dealing with tbe attorney or agent as to tbe extent of bis power or want of power. Thus it was held in New York at an early day, under similar statutes to tbe •sections here involved, that:
“A party dealing with an agent or attorney is bound to know tbe extent of bis power, and is bound to inspect tbe instrument conferring it, especially where there is but one transaction between them. ... If, however, a power to convey is recorded, an instrument of revocation also recorded in tbe same county appears to be sufficient notice.” Williams v. Birbeck, 1 Hoff. Ch. 359.
To tbe same effect is tbe decision in Arnold v. Stevenson, 2 Nev. 234, 239, where that case is cited approvingly. True, tbe statute of Nevada is slightly different from ours in its wording; but in my judgment it is tbe same in substance. The text-writers seem to agree that tbe recording of such revocation pursuant to tbe requirement of a statute is constructive notice to all persons subseqrtently dealing with tbe attorney or agent. Thus it is said by Mr. Jones that:
*527 “It is provided by statute in nearly all tbe states, tbougb in somewhat varying terms, that a power of attorney to convey real estate must be executed, acknowledged, and recorded in tbe same manner that conveyances are. In several states a power of attorney to convey is not deemed to be revoked until tbe instrument of revocation is deposited for record in tbe same office in wbicb tbe power is recorded.” 2 Jones, Eeal Prop. Conv. § 1022, citing statutes in many states.
Another writer says:
“In some states the revocation of a power is required to be •deposited for record in tbe proper office; and, where tbe revocation is recorded according to tbe statute, tbe authority is terminated although tbe agent has no actual notice.” 1 Am. ■& Eng. Ency. of Law (2d ed.) 1221.
Eeferring to such statutes Mr. Mecbem says:
“These statutes commonly provide also that any instrument revoking such a power shall or may be recorded in tbe same office, and make such recording in either case constructive notice of the facts which the record discloses. "Where such statutes prevail, the recording of a revocation of the agent’s authority is notice to all who may subsequently have occasion to deal with him; and, where the statute is imperative, the revocation cannot be given effect in any other way, unless by express notice.” Mechem, Agency, § 229.
The rule seems to be universal that “the death of the principal terminates a power to convey, and a deed made by the attorney after such death is void even if he was ignorant of the fact of the death; though, if the power be coupled with an interest, it survives and may be executed after the death of the donor.” 2 Jones, Eeal Prop. Conv. § 1037.
Reference
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