Mobile & Cedar Point R. R. v. Talman & Ralstons

CHILTON, J. This bill was filed by George F. Taiman, Ashbel Ralston and Gerard Ralston against the Mobile and Cedar Point Rail Road Company, Miguel De Eslava, Alexis D. Durand, and Michael Portier, and*charges that on the 19th June, 1839, the Mobile and Cedar P. R. R. Co. being indebted to the American Life Insurance and Trust Co., a corporation situate in the State of Maryland, in the sum of $5,810 50, the better to secure the same, executed to said Trust Co., of that date, a mortgage, granting to said Company certain real estate in the city of Mobile, to secure the payment of said indebtedness, which was evidenced by note, due the 16th day of June, 1840. That Taiman is the assignee of said note note and mortgage, which remains unpaid, and the mortgage has become forfeit. A. and G. Ralston represent, that on the 16th July, 1836, the Mobile & C. P. R. R. Co., by resolution passed on the 14th July, 1836, authorized one Moore to pledge all the real and personal estate of said company, in procuring for said company by contract, iron, locomotives, tenders, cars, &c. That Moore applied to said A. and G. Ralston to furnish the iron, and offered to pledge the company’s real and personal estate for any advances they might make. That they (A. & G. Ralston) did agree to furnish the iron upon the pledge by Moore of all the real and personal estate of the company, and on the 31st August, 1836, said Moore, by virtue of a resolution of the corporation, and a letter from the president, secretary and treasurer thereof, requesting him to conclude the purchase, and authorizing him to pledge the estate of the company, entered into a written agreement, signed by him and A. and G. Ralston, by which the Ralstons as agents of the company, agreed to purchase and pay for a certain amount of rail road iron in England, and caused it to be insured and shipped to Mobile, and the Mobile and C. P. R. R. Co. agreed •' to pay to their said agents, the said A. and G. Ralston, or order, in cash, in Philadelphia, or equivalent thereto, at the rate of exchange on London, at which the Bank of the United States at Philadelphia may be then drawing, upon the arrival of the iron at Mobile. The bills for the same, including one per cent, banker’s commissions, and interest from the time of payment in England, up to the time — 481 — requisite to reimburse the same in London, at the rate of six per cent, per annum; together with a commission of five per cent, on the amount of the invoice, and charges for purchasing and shipping the said iron.” The agreement then states, “for the faithful performance of this contract on the part of the Mobile and C. P. R. R. Co., the said J. B. Moore, engineer for said company, pledges the real and personal estate of said company, as authorized to do by the instruction of F; Ravisies, president, A. J. Durand, secretary, and A. C. Hollinger, treasurer, committee appointed- on the 16th day of July, 1836, to purchase materials for said road, as per documents annexed. Dated at Philadelphia. (Signed,) . J. B. Moore, A. & G. Ralston.” The Ralstons then aver, that there is ■due to them, and unpaid from the company, on account of the purchase of iron under said contract, the sum of $7,000 and upwards, accruing under said contract. They charge, that in addition to the real estate embraced in the mortgage, which comprises a lot of about one acre, in the city of Mobile, the company owned at the time of the agreement", and which they alledge is subject to their equities, a tract of land, situate on Mon Louis Island; containing fourteen hundred acres, and which the bill particularly describes, besides another tract, which is described as containing sixteen hundred and fifty acres. These complainants (A. and G. Ralston) insist that the company were also possessed of a large portion of iron, -steam engines, cars, &c., which were pledged by said agreement. Complainants charge, that Miguel D. Eslava has converted said chattels, or a large portion thereof, to his own use, having a full knowledge of the complainants’ equities. That said company, using the name of the Mobile and New Orleans Rail Road Company, on the 9th January, 1840, conveyed all their before mentioned estate to Michael Portier, Miguel D. Eslava and Alexis D. Durand, with full power to sell and dispose of the same, the proceeds of the sale to be applied to the payment of certain debts due from the company to certain of the stockholders thereof. That these persons took the conveyance with a full knowledge of complain — 482 — ants’ equities, and that said conveyance was executed in subjection to their prior lien.' That Eslava also claims to hold a portion of said estate under a purchase at sheriff’s sale, but they charge his right is subordinate to theirs. The bill prays an account to be taken of the amount due on the mortgage of Taiman, and to A. and G. Ralston. That Talman’s mortgage be foreclosed by sale of the property — the surplus, after satisfying his demand, to be applied to the payment of Ralston’s claim. That the other estate of the company be sold, the equity of redemption of all parties be foreclosed and barred, and that Eslava bring into court the sums he may have received from sales made of said personal estate ; that the same be paid on Ralstons’ demand. By a resolution of the company, a copy of which is exhibited with the bill, it appears, the persons who wrote the letter to said Moore, requesting him to procure the materials, &c. for the road, were appointed a committee to procure said materials, with power to make an agent or agents, to effect the object proposed. The deed of trust under which the defendants below claimed, was executed to Michael Portier, Miguel D. Eslava and Alexis D. Durand, the 9th January, 1840, and purports to have been done by resolution of the board, entered into the day previous to its execution, which recited that the company, having failed to negotiate a loan, by virtue of a previous resolution, to meet the exigencies .of the company, did, on the 7th July, 1887, resolve that the real and personal estate then belonging to it, should be pledged to indemnify and save harmless, such of the stockholders as should, from time to time, lend their names to the company, for the purpose of raising money for its use. That in virtue ■ of this last resolution, F. Ravisies and Alexis D, Durand, on the 10th July, 1837, executed their note, payable to, and indorsed by M. D. Eslava, for $3,000, which was negotiated in the Branch of the Bank of the State of Alabama at Mobile, and the proceeds applied to pay off the debts of the company. Another note, made about the same time, was negotiated and applied in the same, manner, made by E. De Vandell and Du-rand, and indorsed by M. Portier, for $200. A third note discounted at the Bank of Mobile, and the proceeds in like — 483 — manner applied, was made by M. Portier, payable to, and in-' dorsed by S. H. Garrow, and further indorsed by Durand, Joseph Hall and M. D. Eslava, for $5,000. A fourth note, made by Eslava, and indorsed by Isaac H. Erwin and A. S. Dumee, discounted at the Planters’ &' Merchants’ Bank of Mobile, dated 28th July, 1737, and due at ninety days, was applied to the payment of the company’s debts. The resolution further recites, that F. Ravisies, being president of the company on the 22d August, 1837, drew a draft on the company, and accepted it as president thereof, in favor of, and indorsed by Eslava, and also indorsed by Durand, payable at New York, the 15th March, 1838, and purchased by Geo. Poe, jr. and the proceeds thereof ($5,000) applied to the extinguishment of the debts of the company. These demands not having been settled by the company, it was ordered that this deed of trust be, and the same was accordingly given, to secure, and save said parties harmless, c^c. Pending the suit, at the spring ter'm, 1844, the death of Durand was suggested, and a scire facias issued to Julius Delchamps, his executor, which was duly executed the 4th February, 1845. In April, 1845, an order of the court was made by consent, appointing Adrian S. Dumee, trustee under the deed to Portier, Eslava and Durand, to act in the place of Durand, deceased, and to represent the trust in this cause. In April, 1846, the bill was taken for confessed against Portier and Eslava, on personal service. In December, 1846, Messrs. Stewart & Easton came into court and entered an appearance for all the defendants, except M. D. Eslava. Afterwards, on the 6th April, 1847, a decree pro confesso was entered against the rail road company, Eslava, Portier and Dumee, the entry reciting, that “ the mortgage and notes being produced and proved, are, with the bill, referred to the master to ascertain, and report the amount due, and to state" the amount between the parties. The master having reported as due to Taiman, on the 1st January, 1847, the sum of $4,528 40, and to the Messrs. Ralstons, on the 31st December, 1843, $7,832 04, upon which had been paid, April 22, 1844, the sum of $4,041 20; and on the 29th May, 1845, $681 11, with interest on the respective items up to 8th April, 1847. The chancellor then confirmed the report, — 484 — and decreed finally, that unless the defendants should pay into court the amount so ascertained by the master, by the 1st May following, the register should proceed to sell the property described in the complainants’ bill, and mortgages and exhibits, or so much thereof as may be necessary to satisfy the complainants’ debts, with interest and cost of suit, to be sold at the court house in Mobile county, at public auction, between the usual hours of sheriffs’ sales, due and legal notice thereof being given by publication, &c.; “and out of the proceeds of such sale, he will pay and satisfy the complainants’ debts, in the order pointed out in the bill, with interest, and the costs of suit, and any balance that may remain, he will bring into court to abide its future order. At the same time, a petition for a re-hearing was filed, by which M. Portier avers, “ that he has a meritorious defence to the bill, which from circumstances, he was not able to present before the decree was made; that the execution of the decree would be highly injurious to him; that he is advised the bill is defective, and bad on demurrer, and that the court should dismiss it for want of equity, upon being advised as to the defects appearing on its face, &c. The court refused to open, or set aside the decree. It does not appear that any process of subpoena was ever served upon Alexis D. Durand, or that Dumee had been made a party, otherwise than by the order appointing him trustee in place of Durand. The defendants, having brought the case to this court by writ of error, now insist that the decree is erroneous: Because— 1. The bill is multifarious. 2. The allegations of the bill are too indistinct, and uncertain, to justify the decree. 3. The court erred in rendering a decree pro confesso against A. S. Dumee, when he had not been made a party defendant, by any allegation of the bill. 4. That no decree should have been rendered, without a decree pro confesso against Delchamps, on whom process had been served as the executor of Durand. 5. That the decree is uncertain — it does not ascertain what property shall be sold — who has it, nor how much of it. — 485 — 6. The decree omits the value of the property converted by Eslava to his own use, and makes no disposition of it. 7. The decree determines that the claims of complainants are paramount to the deed of trust under which the plaintiffs in error claim, when, it is insisted, the face of the bill shows the contrary. 8. The decree does not ascertain the amount to be paid, nor establish the rate of interest to be calculated. 9. The decree is against the Mobile- and Cedar Point Rail Road Company, whereas the style of the company has been altered by an act of the legislature to that of the President and Directors of the Mobile and New Orleans Rail Road Company. We will notice these assignments in their order; and 1. We regard the bill as not obnoxious to the objection of multifariousness. The Ralstons assert a lien on all the property, while Taiman only claims a portion. It is conceded by the bill, that the lien of the latter is to be preferred, but the Ralstons will take the surplus, if their claims succeed, so that in respect to the lot on which Talman’s mortgage creates a lien, the complainants have a common interest, and the defendants claim the whole. The principle involved is not unlike the point decided in Donalson’s ex’r v. Pope & Posey, 13 Ala. Rep. 752. See also Wendell v. Wendell, 3 Paige, 509. If, however, the objection were available, it cannot be made for the first time in this court. It is a matter of form, not usually affecting the merits of the decree, and is always discouraged by the courts, when it tends to impede, rather than promote, the ends of justice. Kennedy’s heirs v. Kennedy’s ex’rs, 2 Ala. Rep. 571; Chapman v. Chunn, 5 Ala. Rep. 397; McGowan et al. v. Br. B’k of Mobile, 7 Ala. Rep. 823-8; 1 Dan. Ch. Pr. 350, and authorities in note 2; Sto. Eq. Pl. & 544, and notes. It must be pointed out by demurrer, or is considered as waived. Welborne et al. v. Tiller et al. 10 Ala. Rep. 310. 2. It is certainly true, as an elementary principle of equity pleading, that the plaintiff must show clearly, by his bill, that he has a right to the thing demanded, or such an interest in the subject matter of complaint, as gives him aright to institute a suit concerning it. 1 Dan. Ch. Pr. 360; Story’s Eq, — 486 — Pl. § 23; McKinley et al. v. Irvine, 13 Ala. Rep. 693. It is supposed by the plaintiffs’ counsel, the averments in the bill as to Talman’s title, are not in conformity to this rule. The bill, after charging the indebtedness of the Mobile and Cedar Point R. R. Co., to the American Life Insurance and Trust Co., and the execution of a note and mortgage to secure the payment of that indebtedness, states, “ that he (Taiman) is the assignee of the said American Life Insurance and Trust Co., of the said indenture of mortgage, and the said promissory note, and entitled to all their rights and remedies, therein and thereupon,” and an exhibit is made of the mortgage, which is made part of the bill. This averment of title is sufficient. The defendants are fully advised of the facts constituting the claim, or title of the plaintiff — he derives his title from the mortgagee directly by assignment. The case of McKinley v. Irvine does not in the slightest degree militate against this proposition. In that case, the plaintiff derived his title to three shares of stock by purchase from the heirs and distributees of one James Montgomery, deceased. That title was put in issue. He then attempted to sustain his bill, by proof of a title derived from James Montgomery by his vendors, not as heirs and distributees, but by virtue of the will of said Montgomery, as devisees. This title, we held, was not put in - issue by the pleadings; that proof of a will was without the issue, and the plaintiff could not recover-upon a title not averred. The ease at bar is wholly dissimilar. It is however said, that the plaintiff should have averred the assignment was by writing, and we are referred to 1 Daniel’s Pr. 419, 420. The authority merely affirms, that where a thing is originally created by statute, and required to be in writing, it must then be stated, with all the circumstances required to render it valid. Such, for example, as a title to lands claimed by devise, (which, by the common law, was not valid,) must be alledged to have been, devised by writing, which is the only form the statute recognizes as valid. But it is a well settled rule, both at law and in equity, that where the act averred might originally have been done at the common law by parol, and the statute requires it to be in writing, the form of pleading it is not affected by the stat — 487 — ute, but remains the same as before the -passage of the act. 1 Dan. Ch. Pr. 416; Stephens’s Pl. 313. Now, as an equitable interest in a chose in action, as well as the legal title to real estate, could pass at the common law without writing, it follows, that to aver an assignment of the note and mortgage by the payee and mortgagee to the plaintiff, is sufficient. If the statute requires writing, then the party must in his proof, ■ exhibit a compliance with its requisitions, if such proof be demanded by the opposing party. In the case before us, the defendants, by their default after personal service, admit the assignment by the payee and the .mortgagee, of the note and mortgage, and that the complainant thereby acquired all the rights and remedies which originally vested in the said American Life Insurance and Trust Company. Having been tendered the opportunity of raising all questions respecting the legality or formality of the assignment, and failing to do so, but permitting the decree to pass without objection, it is too late for the defendants to say, it may be, the assignment was irregular, or informal; it may want the seal of the corporation to render it valid, &c. 5 Ala. Rep. 173. 3. There was no necessity for amending the bill making Du mee a party in the place of Durand, who had died. He was admitted, upon the motion of Portier and Eslava, the two surviving trustees in the deed of trust to them by.the rail road company, “ to act with them, and to represent the trust fund before the court in this case, as a defendant.” The record shows this order was made by consent, and any irregularity, which might otherwise render the appointment erroneous, is consequently waived. 4 Por. 245. Having appeared by counsel, and failing to answer within the time prescribed by the rules of court, there was no error-in taking the bill for confessed against Dumee. 4. The bill prays that Durand may be made a party defendant. No process was ever served upon him, and although ‘ a scire facias was issued, and was served on Delchamps, as his executor, no other steps were taken to make him a party, and it is very clear, that under such circumstances, he cannot be regarded as a party to the bill. 1 Dan. Ch. Pr. 341. It is true, that upon the decease of a sole trustee, his.interest passes to his executor, and if suit be instituted by such trus — 488 — tee, it should be revived in the name of the executor. Mauldin, Montague & Co. v. Armistead, ex’r, 14 Ala. Rep. 702. In this case, two of the trustees survive, and the deed authorizes the company to substitute a trustee in the event of the death, or refusal to act, of those appointed.^ Upon Durand’s death, Dumee was, as we have said, appointed trustee in his place, not, it is true, by a formal resolution of the company, but by its consent in court, which consent operates as an estoppel, so far as respects his appointment. The deed transfers to the trustees, and their successors, the exclusive management of the property conveyed, and they must be regarded as representing the interest of the cestui que trusts. Such being the case, the decision in Walker et al. v. Miller & Co. 11 Ala. Rep. 1086, is in point to show, that the cestui que trusts need not be made parties. Durand was not made a party as cestui que trust, but as trustee, and his place has been supplied by the substitution of Dumee. There was, then, no error in failing to revive against his executor. 5. We come next to consider the objections to the decree, as presented by the five remaining assignments of error. And before taking them up seriatim, let us determine the right of the Ralstons (so strongly contested by the counsel for the plaintiff in error) to any decree foreclosing what is termed by their counsel, their equitable mortgage. It is proper, in the first place, to remark, that the term “pledge,” as used in the charter of the rail road company, as well as the resolutions passed by it, and the agreement entered into by its agent, Moore, should not be construed in its technical sense, as a mere right to deposit its effects in pawn for the security of its creditors, but should be understood in the more enlarged sense, of conferring the power to create liens upon its estate, both real and personal, for the security of demands which should exist against it. It is manifest, the company could not have carried out their enterprize, if the property were required to be delivered over to those who might advance money for the purpose of erecting the road; so that the idea of a pledge, technically so called, which requires a delivery, is opposed to the object and design, both of — 489 — the company in obtaining loans, and of the legislature in conferring power to secure their re-payment. It is insisted, that the claim of the Ralstons is not sufficient to warrant a decree in their favor; that the agreement entered into by Moore, as the agent for the company, is not a mortgage ; that it is not sealed. It is most certainly not a technical mortgage, which must convey the land from the debtor to the creditor, as a pledge and security for the payment of a sum of money borrowed, and. which contains a proviso that the conveyance is to be void on the payment of the money, and interest, on a certain day. But a court of equity will look to the intention of the parties, to be gathered from the instrument, rather than to its form, and will give effect to that intention, if lawful, and it may do so without interfering with paramount equities. The resolution of the board of directors, appointing a committee to negotiate for the iron, &c. for the benefit of the rail road company, fully authorized that committee to appoint an agent to contract for the articles specified in the resolution, and to pledge the real and personal estate of the company, for the fulfilment of the contract. This the agent in good faith did, and on the assurance of his written pledge, of all the personal and real estate belonging to the company, the Messrs. Ralstons furnished the iron to construct the road. The company received the iron under this agreement, without objection, so far as we are advised by the record, to the acts of its agent, Moore. Having availed itself of the benefit of the contract, it would be repugnant to the plainest dictates of justice, to permit it now to say, the contract is invalid — it wants the formality of a seal — it purports to be a pledge, and is void, without delivery — the agent transcended his authority, in vesting in the Ralstons too great a latitude, as to the price to be paid for the. articles, &c. Without intimating that any of these objections could have been successfully urged at any time against the validity of this contract, it is most certain, that the company must be deemed to have waived them, when, after a knowledge of the negotiation, the articles contracted for, and secured by the pledge, were received and used by the corporation. This would seem necessarily to result, unless indeed corporate bo — 490 — dies are not bound by the same legal and moral obligations which are imposed upon individuals — a proposition which we are by no means prepared to admit. But it is insisted, this agreement of the company with the Ralstons cannot be decreed an equitable mortgage, because it is not sufficiently specific, being of all the property, both real and personal, of the corporation. This objection does not per se render the agreement invalid. A sweeping conveyance of all one’s estate, is certainly a badge of fraud, but in this case, no fraud is alledged. The same may be said respecting the uncertainty as to the amount to be secured by the deed, and that the security is for advances to be made in futuro. The doctrine is well settled, that a mortgage may provide for future advances. Mr. Justice Story, in delivering the opinion of the court in Conrad v. the Atlantic Insurance Company, 1 Peters’s Rep. 448, says, “ mortgages may as well be given to secure future advances and contingent debts, as those which already exist, and are certain and due. The only question which arises in. such cases, is, the bona fides of the transaction.” So in England, it has been repeatedly held, that an equitable mortgage created by deposit of title deeds, may be extended so as to cover further advances. See the cases referred to in 3 Powell on Mort. 1056. See also, as to what will constitute an equitable mortgage, the case of Stewart v. Toulmin, decided in 1822, in which the Vice Chancellor of England held that a written instrument, promising to pay a sum of money, with interest, “ out of the estate of William Hall,” and signed by the parties entitled to the estate, created an equitable mortgage upon the real estate of W. H., after the personalty had been exhausted. Vide 3 Powell Mort. 1049, b. So also, agreements to mortgage may be implied from defective assurances between debtor and creditor, lender and borrower. Dale v. Smithwich, 2 Ver. 151; Card v. Jaffray, 2 Sch. & Lef. 374, cited, 3 Powell on Mortg. 1050, a. We conclude, from the general principles of equity applicable to such defective conveyances or contracts, when the design of the parties is manifest, as also from the foregoing authorities, and the decisions of this court, which hold that inaccuracy of description, either as to. the debts secured, or — 491 — property conveyed, does not invalidate the deed providing for the security of creditors, but merely furnishes an argument of fraud against them, that the contract before us should have the effect of an equitable mortgage against the company, and those who purchase with a'knowledge of the existence of such lien. This knowledge is directly Charged against the plaintiffs in error by the bill, and admitted by their default. See the authorities of this court, cited on brief of defendants’ counsel. See also, Robinson and Caldwell v. Mauldin, Montague & Co. 11 Ala. Rep. 980-1. It is true, as insisted on by the counsel for the plaintiff in error, that the capital stock of a corporation is pledged for the payment of its debts; that is, it is regarded as a trust fund, upon the faith of which the company obtains credit, and may be subjected in a proper case in a court of equity, where the rights of all the creditors will be protected, who choose to come in and participate in the litigation. Ang. & Am. on Corp. 475, et seq.; Vore v. Grant, 15 Mass. Rep. 505; Wood v. Dummer, 3 Mason’s C. C. R. 308. In the case last cited, Judge Story says, “the bill holders and other creditors, he -considered had the first claims upon it; and the stockholders had no right, until all the other creditors were satisfied.” He further held, that the trust fund might be followed into the hands of any person having notice of the trust, and that the ■stockholders, both in law and fact, must be considered as having the most ample notice. But it does not result from this, that the corporation may not execute a trust deed, or mortgage. It is laid down as a general rule, without exception, that corporations at this day are capable of making every species of deed. Ang. & Am. 153. So in Allen v. the Montgomery R. R. Co. 11 Ala. Rep. 437, this court held, that although a corporation, by a special provision in its charter, is empowered to mortgage its effects, for a particular purpose, this will not be construed as taking away or abridging its general power to execute mortgages for the security of creditors ; and that case also shows, that an insolvent corporation may execute a valid mortgage, or trust assignment of all its effects, to secure the payment of certain bonds, to be afterwards issued for the purpose of raising money for the uses of the company, and that the Iona fide holders of such — 492 — bonds, who had become such before other creditors had acquired a lien, were to be protected, and preferred to such creditors. The sixth head note of the case from which we have quoted, would indicate a different conclusion. This results from a typographical error; the word inoperative, being misprinted, “ imperative,” which entirely changes the sense. It is furthermore insisted, that the agreement entered into between the Ralstons, and Moore, as the agent of the company, does not ascertain the debt. The property to be purchased, and paid for by the Messrs. R’s, was described, and not knowing what it would cost, the amount could not have been more specifically stated, but being contingent as to amount, could not constitute an objection to a security by mortgage. See 1 Peters’s Rep. 448, supra. Neither is it an available objection, that no time is fixed for redemption. In all such cases, the law affixes a reasonable time. We are also of opinion, the averments of the bill are sufficient, as to a compliance on the part of the Ralstons with the contract, and the amount they expended in the purchase of the iron. They charge, “ that there is now due to them from the company, the sum of $7,000 and upwards, accruing to them under the contract, and that they proceeded to purchase the iron, and furnished it to the company according to the stipulations of the contract, having advanced the money therefor, &e. 6. Having ascertained that the agreement entered into with the Ralstons, must, according to the established doctrine of the court of equity, have the effect of an equitable mortgage, we proceed with the objections to the decree, in the order proposed. It is insisted, that the decree is uncertain : that it does not ascertain what property shall be sold — who has it in possession, nor how much of it shall be exposed to sale; that it does not ascertain the amount to be paid, nor establish the rule of interest to be computed. We think the decree is utterly wanting in that precision and certainty, so necessary in the final judgments of judicial tribunals, which are to furnish guides and protection to the ministerial officers of the court, who may be charged with their execution, and which ascertain the rights, and fix the liabilities of the respective parties to the proceedings upon which they are rendered. — 493 — In the first place, it is with some difficulty that we ascertain who the parties really before the court as defendants are, and upon whom the decree is to operate. The decree itself does not advise us. Again: the register reports a certain sum due to Taiman on the first January, 1847, and another sum due to the Ralstons on the 31st December, 1843, with two credits bearing subsequent dates, and that these sums must draw interest to the time of making his report, (10th April, 1847.) But at what rate are they to draw interest ? This remains to be ascertained by proof, as the record furnishes no data for computing the amount. One of the agreements was made in Philadelphia; the other we know not where, but are left to infer, in New York, as the corporation to which made, existed id that State. -We cannot judicially know the rate of interest of these States, nor are we aided by the late act of the legislature, to which we are referred, and tho table compiled by the Secretary-of State, in accordance thereto. The act makes the table of the rate of interest of the several States prima facie evidence of the rate to be computed upon contracts, &c.; but this evidence may be controverted, and it may be shown that a rate different from that certified to, obtained at the time the contract was made. The decree leaves the matter in this condition, and orders that “defendants” pay the amount so reported, into the hands of the register of the court, by the first day of May then next, or on their failure, the register should “proceed to sell the property described in the complainants’ bill, and mortgages and exhibits, or so much thereof as shall be necessary to satisfy the complainants’ debts, and interest, and costs of suit,” &c. The bill, after describing three tracts of real estate as owned by the company at the time of the execution of the equitable mortgage to the complainants, (Ralstons,) avers, that the company was also possessed of large quantities of iron of various descriptions, steam engines, locomotives, cars, and various other chattels, which were pledged by said contract. That Miguel D. Eslava had converted the said chattels, or a large portion of them, to his own use, by selling the same and receiving the proceeds thereof.” How many of the steam engines, of the locomotives and cars — what portion of the iron, &c. is the register ordered by the decree to — 494 — sel-1 ? 'The decree says all the property described by the bill. But a large portion of the personal property has been sold, and the proceeds received, and the property in the hands, perhaps, of bona fide innocent purchasers. Shall the register take the property-out of their possession, when they have had no opportunity-of being heard in defence of their rights? This he must do, if he would comply with the-decree. We need not, 'however, extend these remarks. It is most manifest, the decree cannot be sustained. In Gayle v. Singleton, 1 Stew. Rep. 566, it is said, a decree -ordering the sale of property in the-hands of heirs, must specify and identify it. In that case, the decree was to be levied of the personal -estate of M. G., deceased, in the hands of his administrators and heirs: held insufficient. So also, a final decree for money must specify the sum, and not leave it to be ascertained 'by a commissioner. Clark v. Ball, 4 Dana, 16. In McCartney et al. v. Calhoun et al. 11 Ala. Rep. 120, this court reversed the decree -of the chancellor, which referred it to -the master to ascertain what sum each defendant should 'pay, and after their non-payment of the sums demanded, to issue execution. The reason assigned is, the defendants would have no opportunity of excepting to his -report ,• so in -this case, the master -must find the -rate of interest, and if he err, the parties could have -no opportunity of excepting. 7. As 'this -case will .‘have to be sent back, an opinion upon the other points raised in the argument, which we have not ■already decided, may be unimportant, inasmuch as the case may assume a different aspect, when the respective claims of the parties are fully presented. We would, however, observe, that we cannot well conceive how the defendants helo-w can be injured by the preference conceded by the Ralston’s to 'Talman’-s -mortgage. If both mortgages take precedence of •theirs, it is a matter of perfect indifference to them, which is first satisfied. Perhaps it would be premature to express a -definite opinion as to the character of the mortgage -made to -the plaintiffs in error. It is however younger than either of the -others, and must be 'postponed to them, unless there be equitable grounds for referring it back to the time the stockholders — 495 — loaned their names to raise funds' for the company, and thus, to overreach the liens of the defendants in error. From the facts contained in the record before us, we feel perfectly satisfied, that such preference cannot be given to it in the. present aspect of the case, and it may well be questioned whether, under any state of facts, this effect can be given to- it. And whether the stockholders are not estopped by the acts of their agents, from setting- up their mortgage to defeat or override the lien which the company created for the benefit of the complainants below. Our conclusion is, that bhe decree of the chancellor in the particulars mentioned above, is erroneous. It is therefore, reversed, and the cause must be' remanded, for further proceedings.