Wilkinson v. Doyle

Welch, J. This was a bill file 3 by appellee, claiming that she was the owner of the northwest quarter of the southwest quarter of section 36, of township 28, N., R. 13, west of the 2d P. M., in Iroquois county. That she bought the same of Edward Hnrlbut, and that Hnrlbut bought from Thomas I. ■Martin; that there is a mortgage upon the records on said land for $390, given bv Martin et ux to E. Sandford, and by Sandford assigned to Mary Hoge, and by her assigned to appellant; that ot the said $3u0, $15 is usury; and she asks that she may be allowed to redeem by paying only the alleged $285 with six per cent, interest, deducting payments already made. The answer denies any usury and claims that even if the contract were usurious appellee could not take advantage of it, because Iiurlbut, as grantee of Martin, agreed, as part of the purchase money for the property, to pay the full amount of the mortgage and all the interest at ten percent, due thereon, according to the terms of the same, and that the full amount of the principal and interest then due on said note was deducted by Martin from the said purchase money. The circuit court found that the mortgage was usurious, and decreed that appellee could redeem by paying $285 and interest at six per cent, after deducting the payments; from which decree appellant appeals. Cross-error to dismiss appeal — motion to dismiss appeal overruled. The same two questions that arose in the case of Simon Flanders and E. Sandford v. Appellee, decided at this term, are presented in this case: first, was the transaction usurious; second, can appellee take advantage of such usury. We are satisfied from the evidence in this case that the loan was made by Smdford to Martin, and that the loan was usurious — he paying to Martin $285 and taking a note and mortgage for $399, and that there was no error in the circuit court so finding. The note and mortgage in this suit are similar to the other note and mortgage described in the deed of Martin etux to Iiurlbut, and in the deed from Iiurlbut to the appellee, referred to in the case of Flanders et al. v. Appellee, supra. And we are of the opinion that appellee can not take advantage of such usury, for the same reasons and upon the same authorities referred to in that case. We hold that the decree in this case allowing appellee to redeem on the payment of the sum of $285, with six per cent, interest, after deducting credits, is erroneous. The decree should have been that the appellee should be allowed to redeem upon the bringing and tendering into court for the appellant the amount found due upon said note and mortgage according to their terms, after deducting all just credits, and this amount appellee should be required to bring in and tender by a day to be fixed by the court, the interest to be computed to the day of payment and that she also pay the costs; and that in default on her part, the bill will be dismissed at her costs. For the errors herein indicated this cause is reversed and remanded, with directions to enter a decree in conformity with this opinion. Reversed and remanded.