Todd v. Davis

MabstoN, J: The action in this case was ejectment. The cause was tried by the court, who found that the father of defendant in error, who was plaintiff in the court below, was the original owner of the premises in question; that in July, 1836, he conveyed the premises to one Lackor, who on the same day mortgaged them back to secure payment of the purchase money; that default having been made in the payment of this mortgage, Davis, the mortgagee, proceeded to foreclose the same, and afterwards entered into possession of the premises “both as mortgagee and purchaser;” that defendant in error had acquired all the interest which his father-had in the premises, save a one-ninth interest in one of his sisters, and that the possession of the defendants below was [161] not adverse so as to bar the right of plaintiff to recover; and’judgment was rendered accordingly. It seems to bo conceded that the proceedings to foreclose the mortgage referred to were defective, although the court declined to find upon this question, not considering it material. And it is insisted, therefore, that the ancestor of plaintiff could not have taken possession of the premises “both as mortgagee and purchaser,” as found by the court, and that such a finding is inconsistent. Admitting, however, the proceedings to foreclose to have been defective,, they would in no way impair or affect the validity of the mortgage or the rights of the mortgagee thereunder. The mortgagee could enter into possession as purchaser, and, in case the proceedings afterward proved defective, could claim all the rights of a mortgagee in possession under -his mortgage. Could then the mortgagee, or those claiming through him, in this casé, afterwards maintain ejectment for the premises against a third party having no title thereto? If he acquired title at the mortgage sale there could be no question. If not, then as mortgagee we think he would be entitled to* recover. This question was disposed of in Mundy v. Monroe, 1 Mich., 68, where it was held that the act of 1843, inhibiting actions of ejectment by mortgagees before their title had become adsolute upon foreclosure of the premises, was unconstitutional and void as to mortgages in existence at the time of its passage, and it was also there held that the mortgagee after default was entitled to and could maintain ejectment to recover possession of the mortgaged premises. All the other questions discussed in this court by counsel for plaintiffs in error, so far as material to be considered under the above view, relate to the correctness of the special findings of the court below, and the conclusions of law thereon. There was evidence tending to sustain each of these findings, and we are not at liberty to examine into [162] tbe evidence to test tbe correctness of tbe findings. Tbe conclusions are fully sustained by tbe findings. There being no error in the record, tbe judgment must be affirmed, with costs of both courts, and tbe record remanded. Tbe other Justices concurred.