Taylor v. First National Bank of Snow Hill

ClaeesoN, J. (1) On 18 September, 1918, B. W. Pate and wife executed and delivered to plaintiff, J. P. Taylor, a note for $7,000 balance of purchase money on land and secured same by a mortgage made on the land. This mortgage was filed for registration on 17 April, 1920 and recorded in the register of deeds office for Greene County, N. C., in Book 125, p. 452. (2) On 24 March, 1919, B. W. Pate and wife executed and delivered a note, and secured same by a mortgage on the same land, to H. F. Edwards, administrator, for $1,541.16. This mortgage was filed for registration and recorded on 25 March, 1919, in the register of deeds office for Greene County, N. C., in Book 116, p. 289. (3) The First National Bank of Snow Hill, the defendant in this action, on 7 April, 1919, purchased the H. F. Edwards, administrator, note, secured by. mortgage before mentioned, paying him the sum of $1,636.70. (4) On 20 December, 1920, B. W. Pate, who was indebted to the said defendant, the First National Bank of Snow Hill, in certain amounts, to secure said indebtedness of $3,364.13, made two notes secured by deed in trust, (his wife joining in) one for the Edwards debt including interest $1,710.16, and the other the unsecured bank debt for the sum of $3,364.13. This deed in trust was immediately filed for record in the office of the register of deeds for Greene County and recorded in Book 131, p. 204. To the above facts the parties are agreed, but on the record plaintiff contends that certain facts and circumstances show a settlement between the parties of the Edwards debt. That the bank took a deed in trust from B. W. Pate and wife and included in it a note for $1,710.16, the *176 Edwards debt, secured by prior mortgage, and delivered tbe prior mortgage to the mortgagor. That the bank record cask journal of 21 December, 1920, is as follows: “No. 3920 — $1,636.70 and 5994 shows tbe new note from same party— from Mr. B. W. Pate — $1,710.16. Tbe cashier, at tbe time, of tbe defendant bank, testified, in part: “Tbe bank records offered in evidence show tbe Edwards note paid at $1,636.70 and show a new note given by B. W. Pate and put in record of that date as a bill receivable. Our records show tbe old note paid and a new loan of tbe same date to tbe party giving tbe renewal. In taking renewals, we retain the original note; we do not cancel tbe old note, but run it through tbe records in order to take tbe renewal into account. “Q. If a person owed you a note maturing today and be went in and renewed it, bow would you handle it ? Answer: On tbe debit side of tbe journal as a loan made, and on tbe credit side as a loan paid.” There were other facts and circumstances substantiating plaintiff’s contention. On tbe other band, defendant contends that tbe facts and circumstances show that there was no settlement as to tbe Edwards debt. That tbe note secured by tbe mortgage was never delivered to Pate tbe mortgagor. That Pate who made tbe note to Edwards, that defendant bank purchased, and who owed tbe. debt testified: “Q. Was there any agreement they would cancel and surrender that note to you? Answer: No, sir.” There were other facts and circumstances substantiating defendant’s contention. At tbe close of plaintiff’s evidence, “defendant moved for judgment as of nonsuit and declared tbe First National Bank tbe bolder of tbe first mortgage and tbe motion allowed,” and tbe plaintiff duly excepted and assigned error. We will treat tbe nonsuit merely as declaring that what is known as tbe “Edwards note and mortgage” a first lien. From tbe record we think tbe court below was in error in granting tbe nonsuit. The evidence was conflicting. Tbe matter should have been left to tbe jury to determine tbe intention of tbe parties. Joyner v. Stancill, 108 N. C., 153; Terry v. Robbins, 128 N. C., 140; Dawson v. Thigpen, 137 N. C., 462; Bank v. Knox, 187 N. C., 565; Saleeby v. Brown, ante, 138. In Bank v. Hall, 174 N. C., 477, Brown, J., said: “It is well settled that a renewal note is not payment of tbe original indebtedness unless so intended. 7 Cyc., 877; Kidder v. McIlhenny, 81 N. C., 123; Hyman v. Deverux, 63 N. C., 624; Wilkes v. Miller, 156 N. C., 428.” *177 In the present case, the note is retained by the bank and the mortgage surrendered to the mortgagor. Under the facts and circumstances of this case, the conflicting evidence should be passed on by a jury to determine what was the intention of the parties. It is said in 1 Jones on Mortgages (6 ed.), see. 926: “Whether a new note shall be treated and have effect between the parties as a payment of a former one for which it is submitted, will depend upon the purpose and understanding of the parties to the transaction; but not only will the intention of the parties be determined by the express agreement of the parties, but, in the absence of this, by the circumstances attending the transaction from which such intention may be inferred. ... In the absence of any express agreement and of any circumstances showing intention, the renewal of the note does not affect the security. The burden is upon the mortgagor to show the existence of an agreement that the mortgage lien should be released upon the execution of the new note, and not upon the mortgagee to show an agreement that the mortgage should continue as a security for the debt covered by the new note.” Ibid., sec. 929. Again, “The taking of further security for the mortgage debt, whether it be by a second mortgage upon the same land, or real or personal security upon other property, is generally no waiver of the original mortgage.” Dawson v. Thigpen, supra, p. 470. 19 E. C. L., part sec. 222: “And the doctrine is well settled by authority in relation to mortgages that if the amount due thereon is paid, the intent of the parties in making the payment, whether to extinguish or keep alive the security, will ordinarily govern. As a general rule, a mere change in the form of the evidence of indebtedness will not operate to discharge a mortgage given to secure a debt, unless it is apparent that the parties so intended.” For the reasons given, the judgment below is Eeversed.