Aulick v. Reed

JUDGE HAZELRIGG delivered the opinion of the court. Appellee, Reed, seeks to set aside a mortgage executed by his debtor, Teegarden, to appellant, Aulick, on the-ground that it was made in contemplation of insolvency, and with the design to prefer one or more creditors, to the exclusion in whole or in part of appellee and other creditors. The mortgage is exhibited with the petition, and récites that in consideration of $2,000 the mortgagor conveys certain lands to Aulick, and, further, that “the grantor, Teegarden, has this day executed to the grantee a note for two thousand dollars, due one year thereafter.” Whether any money was furnished the mortgagor simultaneously with the execution of the instrument is not made to appear in the writing, and its recitations are entirely consistent with the fact, if it be a fact, that the debt |thus secured was a pre-existing debt. At the appearance |term of the court, no answers being in, the cause, on motion of the plaintiff by his attorney, “was ordered to be submitted as to the defendant, Aulick.” On the succeeding day, July 467 14, 1896, on motion of Aulick’s attorney, “the orders submitting the cause as to him are set aside;” and thereupon “the defendant Auliek, by his attorney, produced and filed his answer.” On the succeeding day, July 15th, on motion of the plaintiff’s attorney it was “ordered that this cause be submitted as to the defendant, F. M. Teegarden.” Ignoring the answer of Auliek, and without further submission of the case, after the order of submission as to him had been set aside, the court, on July 17th, proceeded to set aside the mortgage and direct a sale of the land to pay the debt of Teegarden. It is insisted for appellee that this course was proper, because the answer of Auliek was evasive, and insufficient in law to support a defense. But it seems to us, irrespective of that question, and we shall consider it presently — the- defendant, Auliek, under the practice prevailing in this State, having appeared, and without objection filed his answer, after getting an order submitting the case as to him set aside, was entitled to some notice that the case was to be taken by the court on submission. There was neither a motion to resubmit, nor a submission in fact; and under our practice it would seem clear that the defendant was taken unawares, and has not had his day in court. As to the answer, we regard it insufficient. Its sole averments, consist in a denial that the mortgage to Auliek “was made in contemplation, of insolvency, or with the design to prefer one or more creditors.” It seems to us that the plaintiff having by his pleadings presented a state of case which, under the sweeping terms of the statute, operated as a transfer and assignment of all the property and effects of the debtor for the benefit of all his creditors, it was incumbent on the mortgagee, in order to avail himself of the exceptions provided for in the statute, to aver that 468 Ms mortgage was “executed in good faith to secure a debt or liability created simultaneously with such mortgage.” He is not supposed to know whether the mortgagor made the conveyance in contemplation of insolvency, but he does know whether his debt thus attempted to be secured was a pre-existing one, or whether the mortgage was executed in good faith to secure a debt created when the instrument was executed. It is true, he denies in the answer that the mortgage was executed with the design to prefer. Still, as matter of fact, it may have been a preference, so far as any facts are stated showing the contrary. But, for reasons given, the judgment is reversed for proceedings consistent herewith.