Meares v. . Butler

Eurches, J.: It is astonishing to see what amount of litigation can grow out of an insolvent Building and Loan Association. The first case that came before us, growing out of this association, was Strauss v. B. & L. Asso., 117 N. C., 308. In that case the Court .undertook to mark out the principles upon which the concern should be wound up and settled. And while the principles laid down in that case established the rules upon which the same should be settled, there are still troublesome questions arising all along the line. The last deliverance of this Court upon questions growing out of *208 the settlement of this insolvent, concern is Meares v. Duncan, at this Term. That case is only differentiated from this in one respect. In that case Mrs. -Duncan was the borrower and one of the incorporators. In this case Mrs. Butler was not the borrower, and was not one of the incorporators, but her husband was the incorporator and borrower, and she mortgaged her land as security for the payment. Sherrod v. Dixon, 120 N. C., 60. And while Mrs. Butler is under no personal obligation to the plaintiff association, by reason of her mortgage, she occupies the relation of surety to the extent of her mortgaged property. Sherrod v. Dixon, supra; Hinton v. Greenleaf, 113 N. C., 6; Smith v. B. & L. Asso., 119 N. C., 257; Hedrick v. Byerly, 119 N. C., 420. But these authorities only go to the extent of relieving the surety where the principal debtor is relieved, and to the extent of his relief. Or where the plaintiff has done something that releases the surety (or security) from the payment of the debt. Such as extending the time of payment without the consent of the surety or the lapse of time, under the plea of the statute of limitations, or a tender of payment, or where the creditor has done something that the surety has a right to plead as a defence, independent of the rights of the principal. In this case the principal is not entitled to this de-fence, as is shown in Meares v. Duncan, supra. If he was it would enure to the benefit of the wife’s security, as in Smith v. B. & L. A., supra. Nor is it a defence that the surety is entitled to plead and set up as a counter-claim, as she would have the right to plead the statute of limitations, or the extension of time or the tender of payment. It is not claimed that a greater rate of interest is charged in this case *209 than six per cent, hi or is it claimed that any payments made, whether as fines, fees or assessments, have not been allowed the defendants by plaintiff. But it is alleged by defendant that these payments when made, were upon a usurious contract, and that she (the surety) is entitled to set them up as counter-claims, under the Statute. In this she is mistaken. The statute does not so provide. The Code, Section 3836, provides that “In case a greater interest has been paid (than six per cent.) the person by luhom it has been paid, or his legal representative, may recover back, in an action of debt, twice the amount of interest paid.” (The italics are ours.) The case states that what has been paid on this debt was paid by the principal (C. T. Butler) and not by the wife. This right, whether by action or by way of counter-claim, is purely statutory. Roberts v. Insurance Co., 118 N. C., 429, and Mrs. Butler has no cause of action — could not sue the Association and recover for usurious interest not paid by her, and cannot recover by way of counter-claim, which is in effect a cross action. This case is distinguishable from Smith v. B. & L. Asso., supra. The principle question decided in that case was that a tender of payment had been made by the principal and refused, which released the surety though it did not release the principal debtor. That was a case where the creditor by his act had released the surety and which she had the right to plead independent of the principal, as she would the statute of limitations. The other was the recovery of double the amount of usurious interest by the husband who paid it. And of *210 course when lie recovered, this it enured to the benefit of his surety. There is no conflict in this opinion and that of Smith v. B. & L. Asso., supra. There is error in the judgment appealed from, in that it discharged the mortgage. The plaintiffs, upon the facts found, are entitled to a judgment of foreclosure of the mortgage for the satisfaction of their judgment. Error — reversed.