Graham v. Partee

DOWDELL, J. There is nothing in the suggestion in argument by counsel for appellees that the bill of exceptions was-signed out of time. It appears from the record that the bill was signed in vacation, but within the time fixed by the order of the court. No motion ivas made either before or at the time of the submission of the case to strike from the bill of exceptions, what purports to be a contract executed by Emma J. and A. M. Partee for want of a sufficient identification, and the cause having been regularly submitted on the merits, the insistence in argument to strike out the contract comes too • late. Moreover, it appears from the bill of exceptions that the contract as set forth was regularly introduced in evidence. The plaintiff in support of his right to recover the possession of the land sued for, introduced in evidence, as showing title in himself, two mortgages duly executed by the defendants, the first on the 21st day of February, 1900, to the American Freehold Land Mortgage Company of London, Limited; and the second to the Loan Company of Alabama, on the .... day of February, — 312 — 1900. He then introduced in evidence in order, the foreclosure proceedings had under the powers contained in the mortgages, showing the advertisement, sale, and the purchase by him at said sale, which were in all respects regular; the final affidavit of Emma J. Partee made in obtaining the loan for which the mortgage was given to secure; the receipt of the defendant for the amount of the loan; the contract of the defendants with the Loan Company of Alabama for securing for them the loan. The bill of exceptions then recites: “The plaintiff here introduced a deed executed by the American Freehold Land Mortgage Company of London, Limited, by Francis John Patton, its attorney in fact, also, the Loan Com-' pany of Alabama to Benjamin Graham, executed on the 2(>th day of August, 1901, conveying the S. W. Vj of Wee. (i, T. 9, south of Range 9 east of Huntsville, Meridian, and recorded,” etc., following this the deed is set out. The deed is signed, — “The American Freehold Land Mortgage Company of London, Limited. (Beal.) by Francis John Patton, attorney-in fact.” “Loan Company of Alabama. (Seal.) by W. R. Nelson, President.” The execution is duly attested and acknowledged. The bill of exceptions then recites: “'The plaintiff then introduced a power of attorney executed by the American Freehold Land Mortgage Company of London, Limited, on the 21st day of June, 1893, by E. Brodie Hoare, W. M. Ounninghame, Directors, Ernest A. Bullock, Secretary, to- Cornelius Cuyler, Benjamin Graham, and Francis John Patton in words and figures as follows, to-wit.” Here the power of attorney is set out, which is in the name of the American Freehold Land Mortgage Company of, London, Limited, a corporation duly organized and existing under and by virtue of the laws of Great Britain, and which in terms authorizes the execution of the power confided, by any one of the grantees named therein. The testimonial clause of the power of attorney is as follows, to-wit: “In witness whereof the American Freehold Land Mortgage Company of London, Limited, has caused its corporate seal to be affixed to these presents, and the same to be attested, it having no president, — 313 — by its chairman, and also by one other of its directors, and by its secretary, at the said city of London, this the 21st day of Jane, in the year one thousand eight hundred and ninety-three.” The names of E. Brodie lloare, W. M. Cnnninghame, Directors, and Ernest A. Bullock, Secretary, are subscribed to the instrument, with the seal attached bearing the impress, “The American Freehold Land Mortgage Company of London, Limited, Seal”, with additional attestation hv two witnesses. Accompanying and attached to the instrument is a certificate of the United States Consul General at London to the sworn statement óf E. Brodie lloare, taken before the Consul General, proving the official character of the juirties.signing the instrument, the genuineness of the seal, and that the same was affixed by the authority of the corporation; also, an acknowledgment in due form by the parties executing said instrument, taken by the United States Consul General at London, England, on the 21st day of June, 1893. In additipn to ail of this, there was, also, attached a certificate .by Ernest A. Bullock, Secretary, “that the foregoing is contained in the minutes of a meeting of the bpard of directors held at the office of the company the 21st day of June, 1893.— For the American Freehold Land Mortgage Company of London, Limited,” — signed, Ernest A. Bullock, Secretary. This instrument was duly recorded in the office of the judge, of probate of Cherokee county, Alabama. The defendant objected to the introduction in evidence of the said power of attorney, and for grounds of their objection assigned the following: “1st. Because the parties executing the said power of attorney showed no a.uthority and power to execute the same. 2d. Because said power was not executed by the president of the corporation; because said power was not executed by the corporation. 3d. Because said power of attorney dpes not. show that it was executed by any one authorized to do so by the said American Freehold Land Mortgage Company of London, Limited; because the name of said corporation is not. signed to said power of attorney.” The court sustained the objection, and the plaintiff duly excepted to the ruling of the court. On the foregoing state — 314 — of the evidence as to title, the defendants not offering any, the court at the request of the defendants in writing, gave the general charge in their favor, and to which action the plaintiff excepted. The defendant’s objection to evidence was confined to the power of attorney offered by the plaintiff, and on the- specifice grounds as stated. After the exclusion by the court of the power of attorney on defendant’s objection, there was left in evidence before the jury, the two mortgages executed by the defendants, the foreclosure proceedings, and the deed executed to the plaintiff under the foreclosure, which was jointly executed by the Loan Company of Alabama, by its president, with the American Freehold Land Mortgage Company. It is true that the Loan Company mortgage is a second mortgage, and that the Freehold Land Mortgage Company mortgage is superior, but the defendants are estopped to set up the defense of superior outstanding title. — Jones on Mortgages, (2d ed.) § 719; The mortgagors cannot dispute the title which they conveyed by their mortgage to the Loan Company, and this title, the Loan Company conveyed by its deed to the plaintiff. As showing title in the plaintiff upon which to base, a recovery of the possession of the land against the defendants, mortgagors, this was sufficient. — Jones v. Reese, 65 Ala. 134. See also Lang v. Stansell, 106 Ala. 389; Tew v. Henderson, 116 Ala. 545. The court erred in giving the general charge for the defendants, and should have given it for the plaintiff as requested. But as the question of the proper execution of the power of attorney by the American Freehold Land Mortgage Company to the person who executed the foreclosure deed to the plaintiff on behalf of the Freehold Company, is now presented and will doubtless arise on another trial, we will now consider and pass upon the same. That the power of attorney as set out in the record is not the act of the individuals executing it, but that of the corporation, is, we think, quite clear. It purports on its face, both in the statement at the beginning, and in the testimonial clause, to he the act of the American Freehold Land Mortgage Company of London, Limited. The — 315 — attesting clause shows al-so that the corporation had no such officer as a president, and that the execution was by its chairman, and one other of its directors, and by its secretary. The corporate seal is also attached and is used as the signature of the corporation. In the case of American Savings & Loan Association, v. Smith, 122 Ala. 505, it was said in an opinion by the present Chief Justice: “The• testimonial to the instrument reciting that The said party of the first part (the Oxana Building Association) hereunto sets its hand and seal the day and year first above written by its president, B. F. Sawyer, who is fully authorized to execute this mortgage,” had the corporate seal been attached the presumption would have been that the president had the authority to execute the conveyance, and the seal itself would have been prima facie evidence that it ivas affixed by proper authority,” citing Thorington v. Gould, 59 Ala. 465; Jinwright v. Nelson, 105 Ala. 405. In the case last above cited, it was said: “When the corporate seal appears to be fixed to an instrument, and the signatures of the proper officers are proved, (which is shown in the present case), courts presume that the officers had the au-Ihority which they exercised, and the seal itself is prima facie evidence that it was affixed by proper authority.” It ivas also said in this case, on page 404, preceding the above quotation, that “the name of the corporation must be subscribed or signed to the conveyance, and it must be subscribed or signed by an officer or an agent having authority in writing.” Citing, Standifer v. Swan, 78 Ala. 88; Swan v. Gaston, 87 Ala. 569; and § 1789 on the Code of 1886, which is the same as section 982 of present Code of 1896. This last quotation from Jinwright v. Nelson, and the cases there cited of Standifer v. Swann and Swann v. Gaston, are relied on by appellees here in support of the ruling of the court below. In Swann v. Gaston, supra, the instrument in question Avas signed “by J. C. Stanton, general superintendent and attorney in fact.” It does not appear that any seal of the corporation AA'as attached. The court said: “There being no evidence of any written authority from the governing body of the company, for which Stanton purported to — 316 — act as agent, to execute the deed., it conveyed no legal title or estate to the defendant.” Citing Standifer Swann, 78 Ala. 88. In this last case, as in 87 Ala., the instrument in question purported to be signed by the Railroad Company, “by J. C. Stanton, general superintendent and attorney in fact.” No corporate seal was attached, so far as it appears from the report of the case. This court there said, speaking through Somerville, J.: “In this State, all conveyances for the alienation of lands are required to be written or printed on parchment or paper, and must be signed at their foot by the grantor, or contracting party, and if the conveyance is made by an agent, he is required by the statute to have 'a written authority,’” citing section 2145 of the Code of 1876, which is the same as section 982 of the present Code. * * “It is manifest that no body corporate can appoint an agent to convey lands, except by the vote of its directors, «•r other managing board, in whom the power to sell may be reposed by charter, or by general law. The defendants have failed to produce any corporate proceedings, or minutes, si)owing the appointment of Stanton as agent of the railroad company, with authority to sell and convey the lands. This was the best and only legal evidence of. such authority, and in the absence of it, the deed from Stanton would be no evidence of title, but only color of title,” etc. It is to be observed, that in these two cases no corporate seal was affixed to the instrument, and there was no evidence otherwise of authority in the agent. Nothing is said as to the necessity of subscribing the name of the corporation to the instrument, in order to give it validity. In the case of Savannah & Memphis Railroad Co. v. Lancaster, 62 Ala. 555, the deed in the statement at the beginning purported to be by the Railroad Company, and the testimonial clause was as follows: “In witness whereof, the said party of the first part; has caused its corporate seal to be hereto affixed, and these presents to be signed by its President, Samuel G. Jones, and its Secretary Samuel E. Hall, in the presence of James M. Muldon and William D. Dunn, who subscribed their names thereto as witnesses on the — 317 — (lav and year first above Avritten.” Signed — “Samuel G. Jones, President, (Seal.)” “Samuel E. Hall, Secretary, (Seal.)’-' The name of the corporation Avas not subscribed or signed to the instrument. The failure to do so Avas urged by counsel in argument against the-validity of the deed, citing the statute requiring conveyances to be signed “at the foot” by the contracting party. This court speaking through Manning, J., said: “The sections of the Code Avhich require conveyances to be ‘signed at their foot by the contracting party o-r his agent having a AA’ritten authority, and dispense Avith seals to them,’ cannot Imre been intended to embrace eonA’cynnces by corporations, which, being unable to Avrite and have signatures of their oavu, have always executed such instruments by causing their seals to be affixed to them. To have a seal for such purposes has not only been the uniform usage of these bodies politic, but the right ‘to use a common seal, and to alter the same at pleasure,’ is expressly conceded to them by our statute.” The deed Avas held to have been well executed. “A deed by a corporation is in proper form if expressed to be by the corporation, naming it, by their agent, naming him, and concluding, ‘In witness AA’hereof, they,’ naming the company, ‘by their agent, having hereunto set their seal, and the said agent hath hereunto subscribed his name.’ ” — -4 Thompson’s Com. on Corporations, § 5090, and note 3; Flint v. Clinton, 12 N. H. 430; 2 Cook on Stockholders & Corporation Law, § 722 p. 153, note 1. “In like manner the folloAving Avas Avell executed, as a deed of a corporation: 'In testimony AA’hereof, said party of the first part, have caused these presents, and their common seal to be hereto affixed. A. B. President,’ and a corporate seal.” Note 3 of above citation. In Thorington v. Gould, 59 Ala. 468, it is said: “Courts are to presume that officers did not exceed their authority, and the seal itself is prima facie evidence that it was affixed by proper authority.” Our conclusion is, that the instrument creating the poAver of attorney, which Avas excluded from evidence, was sufficiently executed, and the failure to subscribe the name of the com318 puny, and this is the principle objection insisted on, did not render it. inadmissible in evidence. Tlie judgment veil] be reversed and the cause remanded. Reversed and remanded.