Loper v. Dickey

ANDERSON, C. J.,— (1-3) This is an action of ejectment, and the plaintiff and defendant each claim title through a common source, A. Loper. The defendant proved that A. Loper had parted with the title under [555] and by virtue of a certain mortgage to- John A. Richardson, Sr., in 1891. Therefore, if this mortgage has never been paid or satisfied, it operates to place the legal title to the land out of the said A. Loper or his heirs, and this plaintiff, as one of his heirs and as the vendee of the others, could not recover. The plaintiff contends, however, that as the mortgage was over 20 years old, when introduced in evidence, the law presumes that the same was satisfied. There is no doubt of the proposition that, if the mortgagee permits 20 years to elapse Avithout making an attempt to collect the mortgage debt, or to foreclose the mortgage, or get possession of the property, the law presumes that the mortgage was satisfied. — Gay v. Fleming, 187 Ala. 511, 62 South. 523, and cases there cited. But the proof in this case shows that there was a foreclosure of the mortgage, or at least an attempt to do so, before the expiration of 20 years, and whether the deed as executed in 1913, by the former administrators of the mortgagee, Avas or Avas not prima facie evidence of the recited foreclosure, matters not, as there was independent proof of at least an attempted foreclosure of the mortgage within 20 years by the administrator of the deceased mortgagee. Moreover, J. J. Richardson purchased from one of the administrators, who was also the claimed purchaser at the foreclosure sale, and went into- possession of the land shortly after the date of his deed in 1902, and remained in possession until succeeded by the defendant, who went into possession in 1909, within 20 years ,of the laAV day of the mortgage, and who- held under a recorded deed which recited the existence of the -mortgage and that the said defendant was claiming title under and by virtue of said mortgage. These facts were undisputed, and were sufficient to refute a presumption [556] of payment or satisfaction of tbe mortgage, and as said mortgage bad not been satisfied, tbe plaintiff and those under whom be claimed bad no' legal title to tbe land, and could not maintain this suit, whether the mortgage bad or bad not been regularly foreclosed and a deed made to tbe purchaser. — Gay v. Fleming, supra. Tbe trial, court did not err in giving tbe general charge for tbe defendant, and tbe judgment is affirmed. Affirmed. Mayfield, Somerville, and Gardner, JJ., concur.