Clapp v. Trowbridge

Reed, J. i chattel defective : good aíto2: withaotuai notice. I. As the district court found that Clapp’s mortgage was fraudulent and void as against the creditors, we need not inquire as to its validity in other respects. The description contained in the other mortgage is as.follows: “Nine sixteen-inch Pekin plows, six Newton cultivators, one Farmers’ Friend corn-planter, one Bradley stalk-cutter, eleven Smith farm-wagons, four Ketchum farm-wagons, two fanning-mills, one stirring-plow.” The property involved in the action is ten Smith and Ketchum farm-wagons. That the record of the mortgage would not have [552] imparted constructive notice to subsequent purchasers or creditors is certainly true. But the court found that both defendant and the execution creditors had actual notice, before the levy, of the existence of the mortgage, and that plaintiffs were claiming the property under it. There was no special finding to that effect, it is true. But the general finding that plaintiffs are entitled to the possession of the property necessarily implies a finding of those facts, and there was evidence tending to prove them. Appellant contends that the evidence did not warrant such finding ; but it is sufficient to say, in answer to that position, that the finding is not without support, and, under the well-settled rule, we cannot interfere with it. The case, then, as to this question, depends upon whether, as between the parties to it, the mortgage is void for uncertainty. If A., being the owner of but one wagon, should execute a mortgage or bill of sale of a wagon to B., but not otherwise describing or identifying it in the instrument, there probably would be no doubt but it would be held to apply to the one he had in possession at the time of its execution. It would, as between the parties, be held to be a valid sale or mortgage of that particular article ; for it could not be presumed that it was the intention of the parties that the instrument should be without effect. And, as against.an adverse claimant who took with actual notice of the transaction, the grantee would have the same rights as against the grantor. If the instrument covered a less number of articles than the grantor had in possession, it may be that a different rule would obtain ; but there are respectable authorities holding that in that case the grantee would have the right of selection. Call v. Gray, 37 N. H. 428 ; Heyward's Case, 2 Coke, 37. In the present case it was shown that Loomis, when he gave the mortgage, had in possession but eleven Smith and four Ketchum wagons, and that those in controversy are of that number. The .case is the same, then, as though he had had but a single wagon, and the mortgage had covered but one. In cases in which we have held instruments of this character void, as against creditors or [553] subsequent purchasers, because of the uncertainty of description, the question was whether the record of the instrument was sufficient to impart constructive notice, and they aré not applicable to the question now before us. The instrument involved in Cummings v. Tovey, 39 Iowa, 195, contained a description quite as uncertain as the one in question, but the adverse claimant had actual notice of its existence and the rights claimed under it, and the claim of the grantee was sustained. parol evidence to aid. 2' ‘ ‘ II. Appellant assigns as error the ruling of the' district court admitting parol evidence to prove the number of wagons Loomis had in possession when the mortgage was given, and that those in question were of that number. If the controversy had been between plaintiff and Loomis, there could have been no. question as to the admissibility of the evidence. As defendant and the creditors had actual notice of plaintiff’s claim when the property was seized, they are in the same position Loomis would have occupied if he had been contesting plaintiffs’ right under the mortgage. 3 parties to wnhouteprejmiiee. III. Complaint is made of the action of the court in permitting Pomeroy and Pomeroy & Pierce to be mac"ie parties to the other action. But defendant suffered no prejudice from that action. It neither delayed nor affected the determination of the questions which he was interested in having determined. ' judgment'for IV. Appellant also contended that he was entitled to judgment against Clapp for the value of the property, or its return, ’on the finding that the mortgage under which he claimed was fraudulent. That would have been true if any part of the property had been delivered to Clapp under the writ of replevin; but, as stated above, the court found that no portion of it had been delivered to him, and that finding is sustained by the evidence. We find no ground for disturbing the judgment. Aeeibmed.