Hardaway v. Semmes

A. J. WALKER, C. J. Mortgages of personal property are by statute inoperative “against creditors and purchasers without notice,” until they are recorded; unless the property is brought into this State subject to the incumbrance, and then four months are allowed for its registration. — Code, 1291. If the property conveyed has a fixed situs within the State at the date of the conveyance, the mortgage falls within the influence of the law, although one or both of the parties may reside in another State. The language of the statute is broad enough to comprehend a mortgage of personalty within the State, the parties being non-residents, and it is not distinguishable as to the policy of its registration from mortgages between residents. There is, therefore, no reason for excepting the mortgage in this casé from the operation of the statute, on account of the non-residence of the parties. The testimony clearly proves, that the slave in controversy had a fixed situs in this State at the date of the mortgage, and had had for some months before. The mortgage was, therefore, inoperative as to that slave against creditors and purchasers without notice, until it was registered. The statute, in declaring a mortgage inoperative against creditors until it is registered, dates its effective existence as to them from the registration. A creditor, acquiring a lien before that time, has a claim 'superior to that of the mortgage, and against him the mortgage has had, in the estimation of the law, no existence. Such is not only the clear import of the law, but this court has fully settled that as the effect of a statute involving a kindred question. — Gordon v. Mead, 12 Ala. 247; Wallis v. Rhea & Ross, 10 Ala. 451; De Vendell v. Hamilton, 27 ib. 156; Pollard v. Cocke, 19 ib. 188; Ohio Life Ins. & Trust Co. v. Ledyard, 8 ib. 866; Daniells v. Sorrelles, 9 ib. 436. The word “ creditors” is not to be taken with a qualification, and understood to mean'“judgment creditors.” The decision that the phrase, “ bona-fide creditors,” occurring in the redemption statute, means judgment creditors, [660] is grounded upon reasoning altogether foreign to the question here. —Thomason v. Scales, 12 Ala. 309. We regard the evidence as sufficiently establishing the correctness and consideration of at least one of the debts,, for which the defendant attached the mortgaged slave. That debt is more than sufficient to cover the entire value of the slave, or the proceeds of his sale. It is-, therefore, unnecessary to discuss the question as to the proof of any other debt. The defendant’s attachment, having been levied- upon the slave before the mortgage was delivered to thé probate judge in this State for registration, is entitled to a priority of satisfaction over the mortgage. The points decided being conclusive of this case, we need not consider any ©f the other questions argued by counsel. The decree of the chancellor is reversed, and a decree must be here rendered dismissing the bill) and the complainant must pay the costs, both of this court, and the court below.