Case ID: iowa_112/html/0702-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "Given, C. J.", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

H. A. Chipman v. George Weiny and Greer Mills & Co., Appellants.
    1 Conversion: construction of mortgage. In an action by a mortgagor’s vendee for conversion by tbe mortgagee of 21 bogs, sold after mortgage given on 300 bogs on vendor’s premises, “being all tbe bogs that I bave,” tbe jury was rightly instructed to find for tbe plaintiff if when tbe mortgage was given there were 300 bogs, in addition to such 21, on mortgagor’s premises, to which tbe mortgage might apply, since tbe terms of tbe mortgage did not cover bogs on the premises in excess of 300.
    2 Appeal: review of conflict of fact: Findings. Where the evidence conflicted as to whether there were 300 or 321 bogs on a certain farm at a certain time, a finding that there were more than 304 will not be reversed on appeal.
    
      Appeal from Van Burén District Court. — Hon. M. A. Roberts, Judge.
    Wednesday, January 16, 1901.
    
      Action to recover $300 damages for the wrongful taking and converting of 20 brood sows, the property of the plaintiff, by purchase from Alonzo Cox. Defendants answered, claiming the hogs under a chattel mortgage from Alonzo Cox to Greer, Mills & Co. Verdict and judgment, for plaintiff for $242.16. Defendants appeal.
    
    Affirmed.
    
      Mitchell & Sloan for appellants.
    
      TI. A. Chipman for appellee.
   Given, C. J.

I. On the ninth day of December, 1897' Alonzo Cox executed to Greer, Mills & Co. a chattel mortgage on “the following cattle and hogs and chattels, to-wit.”" Here follow several descriptions of cattle, and then,. “200 hogs, average 120 pounds; 100 pigs, shoats, average 75 lbs.; also 4,000 bushels of corn in crib- and shock;” and the description concludes as follows: “Being all of the feeding cáttle three years old and hogs and chattels of that kind that I have. And it is hereby covenanted and stated as a fact that all of said cattle and hogs and chat- • tels are owned by the party of the first part, and are free and clear of all incumbrances of every kind and character; that. said cattle and hogs and chattels are now in perfect health and in good condition, and in undisputed possession of said first party, on the premises of said party; being southwest fourth of Sec. No. 21, in Tp. No. 68, range'No. 9, in Van Burén county, state of Iowa.” This mortgage was filed for - record December.9, 1897. On December 20, 1897,’ Alonzo Cox sold to the plaintiff “twenty brood sows and one boar, now on the farm of James W. Lapsley, in Sec. 21, Tp. 68, range 9,” evidenced by a bill of sale. On December 28, 1897, defendant Weiny, as sheriff, by virtue of said chattel mortgage, took possession of the 20 brood sows and other property. On January 4, 1898, plaintiff served notice of' ownership of the brood sows on the sheriff; whereupon he ■ •demanded and received an indemnifying bond from Greer, Mills & Go., and proceeded to sell tbe property under the .mortgage. The chattel mortgage was executed and recorded 11 days prior to the purchase of the brood sows by the plaintiff, and the contention is whether the appellant’s mortgage ■covers the 20 brood sows, and this question the court submitted to the jury, and instructed as follows; “In determining said question of identity, you should take into con.sideration the description of the hogs and pigs as contained in said mortgage (Exhibit 1) ; and you will also consider all the evidence in the case tending to show what- property was by the parties to said mortgage intended to be included therein. You will inquire and determine whether or not the sows .in question were on the farm of said Alonzo Cox at the time said mortgage was executed, and, if so, whether or not there were, in addition to said sows, other hogs belonging to said Cox to the number of 300, to which said mortgage might more reasonably be applied on said farm at said time. If you find the latter fact, then you shordd find for plaintiff. But if you find that the total number of hogs, including said .sows in question, on said Alonzo Cox’s place at said time, did not exceed the number included in said mortgage, then you would be justified in finding that said mortgage did include .said sows, and your verdict should be for the defendant.”

Appellants complain of this instruction. They insist that the words, “being all of the feeding cattle three years old .and hogs and chattels of that kind I have,” cover all the hogs Cox owned and had on the premises described, even though the number exceeded the 300. They do not insist that all would be covered if the excess was considerable over 300, but that if the excess is not more than might be accounted for by a mistake in counting all should be included. Appellants’ •counsel say: “The real question is, did appellants’ mortgage cover the twenty-four brood sows ?” To determine this, it must be ascertained whether it was so intended by the parties to the mortgage. The description is of “200 hogs, average 120 pounds; 100 pigs, shoats, average 15 lbs.; * * * being all * * * that hind I have * * * in undisputed possession of said party, on the premises of said party,” • — describing the premises. No one can say from this description alone whether or not it was intended to include these sows. To determine this, it must be ascertained whether or not they were on the premises described at the time the mortgage was given, and, if so, whether they were required to make the number mentioned. These are inquiries which the mortgage indicates, and as to which, under the uniform rulings of this court, evidence is admissible. See notes to section 2906 of the Code, under “Sufficiency of Description.” It was for the jury to determine whether the parties intended to include these sows in the mortgage, and it was for the ■court to say whether the description was sufficient to impart notice of such an intention to third persons.

Appellants contend that because of the words, “being all * * * hogs and chattels of that hind that I have,” they .are not limited to 300 hogs, and that if there had been a few more the mortgage would cover them. Those words are limited to all that he had on the premises described, and certainly would not include hogs had elsewhere. The mortgage is upon 200 hogs and 100 pigs, and there was no error in instructing the jury to inquire whether the sows were on the premises of Cox, and whether there were 300 hogs in addition to the sows on said farm to which the mortgage might apply. The question of intention was rightfully and properly submitted to the jury, and the instruction showed that the court held the description sufficient to include the sows, if that intention existed. Appellants, assuming this instruction to be erroneous, complained generally of all instructions, but we fail to discover any error in them.

II. At the request of the defendants, the court submitted the following special interrogatories, both of which tbe jury answered in tbe affirmative: “(1) Do you find that there were more than 303 or 304 bogs owned by Alonzo Cox and in bis possession on bis farm on tbe southwest {■ of Sec. 21, township 68, range 9, on tbe day tbe mortgage was given \ (2) Do you find that tbe 20 sows in question , in this case were in tbe possession of Alonzo Cox on his farm, tbe southwest of Sec. 21, township 68, range 9, and owned by him at tbe time tbe mortgage in question was given?” Appellants insist that tbe first special finding should have been set aside as being against tbe evidence-. There was a conflict in tbe evidence as to tbe number of bogs-on said premises on tbe day tbe mortgage was given, and we-cannot say that tbe jury was not warranted in answering as it did. — Aeeirmed.