Mitchell v. Wellman

CLOPTON, J On January 2, 1883, the complainants and their wives executed to defendant an absolute conveyance of the land in controversy, in consideration of eight hundred dollars; and the defendant cotemporaneously executed a separate instrument, granting complainants the right to re-purchase at any time before January 1, 1884, by the payment of twelve hnndred dollars, containing a covenant to convey on payment being made. The complainants, having failed to make payment within the time specified, bring the bill to have the two instruments declared a mortgage, and to redeem. When the contestation is, whether the parties, though making an absolute conveyance, contemplated an unconditional sale or a mortgage, the party asserting that a mortgage was intended, must show such intention and understanding of both parties by clear and convincing evidence. But, when it is admitted or shown that the transaction is not an unconditional sale, there being the right to re-purchase, or an agreement to reconvey on specified conditions, expressed either in the deed, or by separate instrument; and the controversy is, whether a conditional sale or a mortgage is intended, the same stringency of proof is not required; and if the intention is in doubt, equity leans in favor of considering it a mortgage, as most generally accomplishing complete justice to both parties — McNeill v. Norsworthy, 39 Ala., 136; Turner v. Wilkinson,72 Ala., 361. The rnle laid down by the chancellor — -that the evidence must be clear and convincing, even strong and stringent — is too exacting and rigorous, in a case where the question is whether a conditional sale or a mortgage was intended. The deed, by itself, is absolute in form. The separate instrument recites the purchase of the land from the grantor, [20] agrees to allow a repurchase, and to convey on payment of the amount, within the time stipulated. The conveyance and the separate instrument, having been cotemporaneously executed, and being parts of the same transaction, must be construed as one. Thus construed, they import a sale with condition to repurchase. Eiland v. Radford, 7 Ala., 724; MeKinstry v. Conly, 12 Ala., 678. Persons capable of contracting may make a contract for the sale and purchase of land, with a reservation to the vendor of a right to repurchase at a fixed price, and within a specified time. Conway v. Alexander, 7 Cr., 218. The covenant to reconvey may be a circumstance, considered in connection with other circumstances, going to show, but not in itself sufficient to show, that the parties intended a mortgage. Something more than a reservation of a right to repurchase and an agreement to réconvey must be shown. Each transaction must depend, in a great measure, on its particular circumstances. .The ascertainment of the intention of the parties readily suggests itself as the proper mode to determine whether the contract is a mortgage or a conditional sale. As the intention may be made to appear, the court will carry it into effect. That the grantor, intended and considered the conveyance as a mortgage, is not sufficient; such must be likewise the intention and understanding of the grantee. West v. Hendrix, 28 Ala., 226; Peeples v. Stolla, 57 Ala., 53. The intention may be collected from the extrinsic circumstances, and the internal evidence afforded by the papers. Without underrating what may be considered minor tests, the criterion most generally regarded as of controlling significance, is a continued debt, which the grantor is liable to pay, whether it be an uncancelled antecedent debt, or one presently contracted. If there be a subsisting liability, the payment or discharge of which is in fact the payment stipulated in the reservation of the right to repurchase, the transaction is in reality a mortgage, whatever form the papers may assume. Rut, if there is no existing liability or indebtedness under any circumstances, there is nothing on which to found a mortgage. West v. Hendrix, supra. The investigation, therefore, is resolved into an inquiry, whether the relation of debtor and creditor existed before, or at the time of the transaction, which is continued ; or, if not, whether the transaction commenced in a negotiation for a loan of money, or for other purpose, whereby a liability is created, which the vendor is bound to discharge in the future? All other circumstances and considerations are ancillary to this primary inquiry. The connection between the parties, except as to a small antecedent debt, commenced with this transaction. There is a conflict between the evidence of complainants and of the de [21] fendant, in respect to the manner in which the transaction began ; whether in. a negotiation for a loan, or for a purchase. The force of the testimony of complainants and their wives is greatly impaired by the contradictions as to material matters by other witnesses. In view of this conflict, the correct version of the transaction may be satisfactorily ascertained by the consideration of the evidence of the disinterested witnesses, as it may corroborate, or contradict, and illustrate. The complainants had previously purchased the lot from the Elyton Land Company, and borrowed money to pay for it from Mrs. Linn, who had a lien thereon as security for the money thus advanced. She was pressing for payment. It is a circumstance of some significance that, at the time of the transaction between the parties, the lot was in the hands of a real estate agent for sale, in whose hands it had been previously placed by complainants ; and who had failed to sell it at nine hundred dollars, the price fixed by them. In this state of affairs, the negotiations between the parties commenced. As appears from the evidence of the subscribing witnesses, who were also the attorneys who drafted the papers, the complainants and the defendant came to their office, stated to them the terms of the trade as agreed on, and directed them to draw the necessary papers. A few hours afterwards, the defendant and the complainants, with their wives, returned to the office. The papers were read to them, and their character and effect, and-the rights of the parties under them, fully explained. No claim was made that a mortgage was intended. The complainants expressed themselves satisfied with the papers as explained ; said they contained the terms of the trade as agreed on, and thereupon they were respectively executed by the parties. The complainants spoke of the transaction afterwards as a sale, to other witnesses. One of them was indebted to defendant about ninety-six dollars, for goods previously purchased, which it was agreed should be taken in payment for the lot, pro tanto. The notes evidencing the debt were surrendered. A part of the purchase-money was left in the hands of defendant, a portion of which was taken up in goods; and when the balance was paid to one of the complainants, in March, subsequently, he executed a receipt “as balance in full of- payment of eight hundred dollars for house and lot.” By the agreement, the complainants were to have the use and possession, at a nominal rental, until January 1, 1884, at which time their right to repurchase expired, as a part of the consideration paid, and defendant gave them a written lease for this purpose. This rebuts any inference that might otherwise be drawn from an unexplained, continuing possession, and tends to show that complainants recognized the transaction as a sale, and consented to [22] hold under the defendant as his tenants. After January 1, 1884, they promised to pay rent, and made a small partial payment; and on a subsequent demand to pay rent or vacate the lot, they vacated it without objection or claim. We do not think that the evidence shows any marked disparity between the value of the property and the price paid. It would be too tedious, and an unnecessary and unprofitable extension of this opinion, to consider the evidence, which is somewhat voluminons, in all its details. We have attended generally to the salient facts, which we ascertain to be established. On a full and careful examination, we conclude that the transaction did not commence in a proposition to borrow money, that the writings express the full terms of the agreement, and that the transaction is a sale with condition to repurchase. There was no subsisting or continuing debt, which the vendors were bound to pay at any future time. — Peeples v. Stolla, supra; Eiland v. Radford, supra. Affirmed.