Case Name: Newman vs. Tymeson and others
Court: Wisconsin Supreme Court
Jurisdiction: Wisconsin
Decision Date: 1860-01-02
Citations: 13 Wis. 172
Docket Number: 
Parties: Newman vs. Tymeson and others.
Judges: 
Reporter: Wisconsin Reports
Volume: 13
Pages: 172–175

Head Matter:
Newman vs. Tymeson and others.
^ *s a sufficient description of property in a chattel mortgage, to refer to a schedule attached to another mortgage, of a date mentioned, made by the same mortgagor to another person named.
The public is charged with notice of such mortgage, when filed in the proper office, if the mortgage and schedule to which reference is made, are also on file in the same office, open to inspection.
It is not necessary that the second mortgage should state that the mortgage whose schedule is thus referred to, is on file.
The second mortgagee, whose mortgage declares that he may at any time take possession of the property, is entitled to possession as against all the world, except the first mortgagee whose debt remains unpaid, and may maintain an action for any taking of it which is not in pursuance of the first mortgage, but in defiance of his right.
The interests of the first and second mortgagees are distinct, and they must sue separately for injuries to their several interests.
APPEAL from tbe Circuit Court for Kenosha County.
Joseph Newman gave a mortgage to one Henry B. Marsh, upon certain personal property described in a schedule attached. He afterwards, on the same day, made a mortgage to the plaintiff, James Newman, upon property described as being “the personal property specified in the schedule attached to a chattel mortgage this day given by me to Henry B. Marsh, after the said Marsh’s debt is paid, if any property or money shall remain after it is paid.” These mortgages were filed in the proper office on the day they were made, the mortgage to Marsh being filed first. The mortgage to the plaintiff authorized him to take possession of the property at any time he chose. The defendant Tymeson, as sheriff of the county, by the direction of the other defendants, seized and sold the property described in said schedule, under attachment proceedings in favor of the other defendants against - Joseph Newman. This action was brought by James Newman to recover damages for such taking, and to a complaint stating the above facts, and that the debt secured by the plaintiff’s mortgage remained unpaid, the defendant demurred, upon the ground that it did not state facts sufficient to constitute a cause of action, and also for defect of parties plaintiff. The circuit court sustained the demurrer for the cause first mentioned, holding that tbe reference in tbe mortgage given to tbe plaintiff, to tbe schedule attached to tbe mortgage given to Marsh, void for uncertainty; and that tbe fact that Marsh’s mortgage was filed in tbe proper clerk’s office before tbe mortgage to tbe plaintiff was filed, could not avail tbe plaintiff, because no reference was made in tbe mortgage to him, to a mortgage on file. Judgment for tbe defendants.
J. J. Pettit, for tbe appellant,
in support of tbe complaint cited 0. & H.’s notes to 1 Phil. Ev., 1420 — 1425 ; 4 Wend., 374; 18 Johns., 107; 17 id., 29; 5 Pick, 34, 395; 3 Fairf., 346-9 ; 2 Bibb, 610; 3 Dana, 21; 10 Pick, 228; 1 Hill, 602 ’3 ; 6 Wis., 71; 12 N. R, 127 ; 6 Wend., 103; 18 id., 157 ; 21 id., 300; 17 N. Y., 580, 1 Caines, 493 ; 6 Wis., 630 — 4; 7 id., 244, 566 ; 1 N. H., 353 ; 6 Cow., 250 ; 7 id., 85; 2 Chand., 160; 3 Wis., 234; 14 N. Y., 22.
O. S. & F. H. Head, for respondent,
insisted that tbe description by reference to tbe mortgage to Marsh, was too vague to convey to tbe plaintiff any interest as against creditors. Tbe amount of that mortgage was not given, nor was it stated where tbe same was or would be filed, nor any data given by which tbe property could be identified. Tbe plaintiff’s debt was not due, and be was not entitled to tbe possession of tbe property until be had demanded it of the mortgagor. No such demand is alleged. There is nothing to show that tbe debt due to Marsh has been paid, and be is therefore a necessary party plaintiff.
January 2.

Opinion:
By the Court,
DixoN, O. J.
The chattel mortgage executed by Joseph Hewman to the appellant, was not void for uncertainty. It has ever been considered a sufficient description of the property conveyed by a deed or other instrument, to refer in it to another deed or writing, which is accurately pointed out, and which contains a proper description, and say that such is tbe property sold or intended soto be. Such a conveyance is not ambiguous or uncertain, because tbe means of ascertaining tbe true intention of tbe parties are clearly indicated on tbe face of it. Coats vs. Taft, [12 Wis., 388]. As between tbe parties, tbe statute in no way affects or interferes with tbe application of this rule to mort- §a§es ^^els. ^ does prescribe tbeir form or tbe manner in which they shall be executed, but leaves those things to be determined upon the principles of the common law. Its object is to provide a public place in which they may be filed for the inspection and information of third persons who may be interested, and to declare the effect of such filing as between them and the parties. It is to enable strangers to obtain a correct knowledge of the transaction ; and, in order that they may do so, it is of course necessary that the mortgage itself, or some other instrument identified by it, and which is to be found in the same office, and open to inspection, should contain a sufficient description of the property conveyed. In this way the question of description is incidentally affected by the statute, but in no other. If the party in quest of information is able, by an examination of the mortgage or the copy of it on file, and an inspection of other mortgages, also on file in the same office, and to which reference is made, to learn all the facts which are usually to be gathered from such instruments, then we think the object of the statute is attained. He is thus fairly, and at the proper place, put in possession of all the means of information which the legislature intended, and it would be too much of. a refinement to permit him to close his eyes to another paper contained in the same files, and to which his attention is directed, and turn away and say that he has not had the opportunities afforded by the law. In this case both mortgages were on file in the proper office at the time the' property in dispute was seized, and there was therefore in this respect no defect.
The point, that the previous mortgage is not mentioned as being orí 'file, is also too technical. It is enough that it is otherwise sufficiently described. Its customary place would be upon the files. The inquirer has but to ask the question, and if it is not there, his investigations are at an end.
The appellant was, by virtue of the mortgage, entitled to the immediate possession of the property, as against all the world, save the mortgagee named in the first mortgage, if still unpaid, and consequently can maintain an action for a taking wbicb was not in pursuance of that mortgage, but in defiance of Ms right. Frisbee vs. Langworthy, 11 Wis., 375.
The appellant's interest, and those of the first mortgagee, are entirely distinct and separate. They are neither joint tenants, nor tenants in common of the property, and must sue separately for injuries to their several interests. The action is properly brought in the plaintiff's name alone. Welch vs. Sackett, 12 Wis., 243; Hill vs. Gibbs, 5 Hill, 56.
The judgment of the circuit court is reversed, and the cause remanded fox further proceedings according to law.