Case Name: IRION v. YELL et al.
Court: Texas Courts of Civil Appeals
Jurisdiction: Texas
Decision Date: 1910-11-02
Citations: 132 S.W. 69
Docket Number: 
Parties: IRION v. YELL et al.
Judges: 
Reporter: South Western Reporter
Volume: 132
Pages: 69–77

Head Matter:
IRION v. YELL et al.
(Court of Civil Appeals of Texas.
Nov. 2, 1910.
Rehearing Denied Nov. 25, 1910.)
1. Appeal and Error (§ 931 ) — Judgment-Review.
AVhere several facts or groups of facts are urged in a petition as grounds for_ the relief prayed, and there are no intimations in the conclusions of law by the court, as to which of such grounds formed the basis of the judgment for plaintiff, the burden was on defendant on appeal from the judgment to show that the judgment could not be sustained on any of such grounds.
[Ed. Note. — For other eases, see Appeal and Error, Cent. Dig. §§ 3728, 3702-3791; Dec. Dig. § 931. ]
2. Mortgages (§ 122 ) — Deed of Trust-Construction — Interest.
Certain vendor’s lien notes executed by the members of a firm provided for 10 per cent, interest, not compounded. Thereafter, to obtain an extension of time, one of the members of the firm and complainant, who was the mother of both members, executed a deed of trust to secure the notes, which provided that it should be void on condition that the makers paid the notes and all interest due thereon, and to become due, the interest to be compounded annually at the same rate, etc. Held, that by such deed the member of the firm signing the same undertook to pay the notes and compound interest, and that complainant agreed that her land should be made liable to the same extent in the event he failed to do so.
[Ed. Note. — For other eases, see Mortgages, Cent. Dig. §§ 225-227; Dec. Dig. § 122. ]
3. Principal and Surety (§ 112 ) — Discharge op Surety — Release op Principal Debtor.
The members of a firm having executed certain vendor’s lien notes providing for simple interest, a deed of trust was prepared for execution to obtain an extension of time. This deed covered certain land belonging to complainant, who was the mother of the members of the firm, and provided for compound interest. P. M., one of the members of the firm, refused to sign the deed but it was signed by P. R., the other member, and by complainant. Thereafter P. M., claiming the right to pay the notes with simple interest, did so; the notes being delivered to him-and the vendor’s lien discharged. Held that, the effect of such transaction was to release P. R.’s interest in the land from any further liability for compound interest, and therefore released complainant’s land as surety from the deed of trust.
[Ed. Note. — For other cases, see Principal and Surety, Cent. Dig. §§ 226-234; Dec. Dig. § 112. ]
4. Principal and Surety (§ 127 ) — Discharge' op Surety — Release op Principal —Interest.
Where, by surrendering certain vendor’s lien notes and releasing one of the makers from the lien as to the entire land, defendant placed it out of the power of the surety to subject the other maker’s interest in the land to the payment of compound interest in case the surety’s land should be compelled to pay the same under a deed of trust, defendant could not prevent such transaction from operating to discharge complainant’s land as surety for the debt under such deed, for the difference between simple and compound interest, by notifying complainant and the other signer of the deed that in surrendering the notes and releasing the lien he did not intend to release .them from its obligations.
[Ed. Note. — For other cases, see Principal and Surety, Cent. Dig. §§ 352-355; Dec. Dig. § 127. ]
5. Mortgages (§ 122 ) — Deed op Trust — Modification — Indorsement—Construction.
Certain vendor’s lien notes provided for simple interest. Thereafter, to obtain an extension of time, a trust deed was executed to secure the notes, signed by one of the makers thereof, and by the mother of both, who thereby pledged certain of her land as surety for payment of the notes. The deed required payment of the notes with compound interest. Not having been recorded for a long period after its execution, the beneficiary procured the subscribers to sign an indorsement by which both acknowledged that the notes described in the deed of trust were just, due, and unpaid, and that in order to secure the -payment of each of the notes “according to their face, tenor, and effect,” the deed of trust was revived and reinstated. Held that, the deed having been given to secure the notes “according to their face, tenor, and effect,” and in addition to secure the payment of compound interest after its execution, the indorsement on the deed nullified the provision therein for the payment of compound interest, though it also provided that it should be as valid and binding on complainant as it was on the day of its date.
[Ed. Note. — For other cases, see Mortgages, Cent. Dig. §§ 225-227; Dec. Dig. § 122. ]
6. Mortgages (§ 335 ) — Deed of Trust— Foreclosure — Right to Demand.
Where a deed of trust provided that the trustee or substitute trustee was empowered in case of default to sell the property at the request of the beneficiary, his heirs, executors, administrators, assigns, or the owner and holder of the notes secured, such provision authorized only the legal holder and owner of the notes to reguest the trustee to foreclose the deed, and did not authorize the benefipiary or his administrator after having parted with all interest in the notes to request foreclosure to collect a difference between simple interest provided by the notes and compound interest provided by the deed.
[Ed. Note. — For other cases, see Mortgages, Cent. Dig. §§ 1019-1023; Dec. Dig. § 335. ]
7. Mortgages (§ 335 ) — Deed of Trust— Foreclosure — Conditions.
The signer of a deed of trust by which land was mortgaged, as security for a debt, was entitled to impose such conditions as she chose on the trustee, which he was required to strictly observe. Nor was it any excuse for his failure to- do so, that they could not be complied with because of the payment of the notes secured.
[Ed. Note. — For other cases, see Mortgages, Cent. Dig. §§ 1019-1023; Dec. Dig. § 335. ]
8. Mortgages (§ 341 ) — Deed of Trust-Trustee — Authority.
Where the trustee in a deed of trust was appointed independent executor of the beneficiary, his authority to act as trustee in foreclosure proceedings ceased and he had no authority as executor to request himself as a trustee to foreclose a deed.
[Ed. Note. — For other cases, see Mortgages, Cent. Dig. §§ 1039-1041; Dec. Dig. § 341. ]
9. Evidence (§ 423 ) — Written Instruments —Parol Evidence.
Where complainant executed a deed of trust providing for compound interest to secure certain notes, which provided only for simple interest, evidence as to complainant’s understanding that the deed was intended to secure or did secure only the payment of the notes with interest as stipulated in them, was inadmissible, in the absence of any claim that she did not understand the contents of the deed before she signed1 it, or that any advantage was taken of her in inducing her to sign the contract as written.
[Ed. Note. — For other cases, see Evidence, Cent. Dig. §§ 1957-1965; Dee. Dig. § 423. ] 10. Appeal and Error (§ 1071 ) — Harmless
Error — Erroneous Findings — Effect.
A judgment will not be reversed on appeal because certain of the trial court’s conclusions of fact, which were immaterial and did not affect the judgment, were unsupported by proper testimony.
[Ed. Note. — For other cases, see Appeal and Error, Cent. Dig. §§ 4234-4239; Dec. Dig. § 1071. ]
Appeal from District Court, Montgomery County; D. B. Hightower, Judge.
Action by Mary D. Yell and others against J. W. Irion. Decree for complainants, and defendant appeals.
Affirmed.
Win. J. Berne, for appellant Lewis & Austin and Dean, Humphrey &; Powell, for appellees.
Kor other cases see same topic and section NUMBER in Dec. Dig. & Am, Dig. Key No. Series & Rop’r Indexes
For other eases see same topic and section NUMBER in Dee. Dig. & Am. Dig. Key No. Series & Rep’r Indexes

Opinion:
REESE, J.
As originally instituted, this is a suit by Mary D. Yell against J. W. Iri-on, executor of J. L. Irion, to enjoin the sale by' him, as substitute trustee, of certain land belonging to Mary D. Yell, under the provisions pf a certain deed of trust executed by her to J. L. Irion.
Pending the suit P. R. Yell and P. M. Yell, whose connection with the case will appear from this opinion, and also Lucile, Blanche, and Leo Yell, to whom Mrs. Yell had conveyed one of the tracts of land covered by the trust deed prior to the institution of this suit, were made parties. Mrs. Yell died pending the suit and P. M. Yell, her administrator, made himself a party defendant. Upon trial without a' jury judgment was rendered for plaintiffs, perpetuating'the temporary injunction granted, from which defendant Irion, executor, prosecutes this appeal.
At the request of appellant the trial court prepared and filed conclusions of fact and law. The several issues presented by the pleadings and evidence, so far as material to the disposition of this appeal, will sufficiently appear from' the conclusions of fact of the trial court and the assignments of error discussed, without incumbering this opinion with even a general statement of the allegations of the pleadings. There is no claim that the facts found are not pertinent to the issues presented by the pleadings.
The findings of fact by the trial court are here inserted, and adopted by us, subject to what is said in passing upon the sixth, seventh, eighth, ninth, and tenth assignments of error. The only findings of fact objected to are those embraced in the eighth, nineteenth, and twentieth paragraphs of the conclusions, which are objected to on the ground that the only evidence supporting these facts was erroneously admitted, over appellant's objection, which error is further presented by appropriate assignments of error.
"Conclusions of Fact
"(1) On the 1st day of August, 1890, L. A. Killian and wife, L. M. Killian, sold and conveyed to Percy R. Yell & Bro. 503 acres of land, a part of the R. Rogers league in Montgomery county, Texas, and as a part consideration for said sale the said Percy R. Yell & Bro. executed and delivered to the said L. A. Killian and L. M. Killian, among others, two notes for the principal sum of $600 each, bearing date August 1, 1890, and maturing January 1, 1892, and January 1, 1893, respectively, and bearing interest from their date at the rate of 10 per cent, per annum, not compounded. Said notes were numbers 2 and 3 of the series of notes executed by the said Percy R. Yell & Bro. to the said L. A. and L. M. Killian for said land, and 'being the middle and last of said series of notes.
"(2) On and prior to the 17th day of December, 1896, the following payments had been made on said notes 2 and 3, to wit: On said note No. 2, the following payments: January 1, 1891, $25; February 18, 1892, $65; January 7, 1893, $62.28; February 6, 1894, $187.15; November 1, 1894, $189.76. On said note No. 3, there had been made the following payments, at the following times, to wit: January 1, 1891, $25; February 18, 1892, $65.
"(3) Prior to the 17th day of December, 1896, J. L. Irion became the legal owner and holder of said notes 2 and 3, and on or before the said 17th day of December, 1896, the said Irion caused to be written by James R. Davis a trust deed covering the two tracts of land described in plaintiff's petition and in the answer of the defendant Irion, which said trust deed on its face was prepared to be executed by and purports to be the act and instrument of Mary D. Yell, the mother of the members of the firm of Percy R. Yell & Bro., composed of P. R. Yell and P. M. Yell, Jr., and said Percy R. Yell & Bro. and said P. R. Yell of the county of Montgomery and state of Texas, and the said P. M. Yell, Jr., of the county of Grimes, state of Texas. Said trust deed recites that: 'For and in consideration of the sum of ten dollars to us in hand paid by James R. Davis of the county of Montgomery and state of Texas, the receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, and the natural 'affection of the said Mary D. Yell for her said two sons, and the further consideration of the extension of two years further time from the date hereof by J. L. Irion of said county of Montgomery and state of Texas, of the principal sums now due and owing and duly executed by the said Percy R. Yell & Bro., and held and owned by the said J. L. Irion each for the principal sum of $600 and more particularly described in the conditional part of this deed, have bargained, sold and by these presents do grant, bargain, sell and convey unto the said James R. Davis and to his successors and substitutes in this trust instrument.' Here follows a description of the two tracts of land as in the pleadings of the parties to this suit. On said 17th day of December, 1896, and for a long while prior thereto, the said Mary D. Yell was a widow, and was the sole and only owner of said two tracts of land, and the said Mary D. Yell continued to be a widow until the time of her death on the 27th of March, 1908.
"(4) Said trust deed contains the following conditions, stipulations and provisions, material to the issues involved in this cause: 'The above conveyance is, however, in trust and is to be null and void upon the condition that the said Percy R. Yell & Bro. on or before two years from this date pay to the said J. L. Irion the owner and holder of said two certain promissory notes, or his assigns thereof, the two principal sums and all interest now due thereon and annually hereafter 10 per cent, per annum interest from the date hereof, upon the amounts principal and'interest now due thereon, said interest to compound annually at the same rate till both principal and all interest thereon are fully paid, said notes being the middle and last three notes, the first being fully paid, given by the said Percy R. Yell & Bro. for the purchase money for a certain other tract of 503 acres of land, another part of said Rogers league, on the day of the date of said notes, deeded to the said Percy R. Yell & Bro. by L. A. Killian and his wife, L. M. Killian, all of said notes dated at Montgomery, Texas, August 1, 1890, executed and signed by the said Percy R. Yell & Bro., payable to the order of L. A." Killian and L. M. Killian and bearing interest at the rate of 10 per cent, per annum, said middle and last each for $600.00 bearing interest from their dates, said middle one due on or before January 1, 1892, with the following credits at the date hereof, indorsed on the back thereof, to wit: January 1, 1891, $25; February 18, 1892,. $65: January 7, 1893, $62.28; February 6, 1894, $187.15, and November 1, 1894, $189.76. And said last and other $600.00 note due on or before January 1, 1893, with the following credits at the date hereof, indorsed on the back thereof, to wit: January 1, 1891, $25.00 and February 18, 1892, $65.00. Then and in such case the above conveyance shall have no further force or effect and said herein conveyed two tracts of land shall be released at the cost and expense of the said Mary D. Yell. But in case of the failure or default by the said Percy R. Yell & Bro. in the payment of said balance, principal and all interest now at the date hereof due and owing upon both of said two promissory notes, each of said $600.00 principals and 10 per cent, per annum interest annually from the date hereof, upon said balance with said interest thereupon compounded at the same rate, annually, in full on or before two years from this date, then and in such event the said James R. Davis is by these presents fully authorized and empowered and it is hereby made his duty at the request of the said J. L. Irion, his heirs, executors, administrators, assigns, or holder and owner of said two $600.00 notes at any time after two years from the date hereof to sell the said two above-described and conveyed tracts of land or either and a sufficiency of them during legal sale hours on the first Tuesday of a month, at auction, to the highest bidder for cash to him in hand paid at the courthouse door at Conroe in said Montgomery county and state of Texas, after giving public notice thereof at three public places in said Montgomery county, Texas, one of which shall be at the courthouse door for at least 20 days prior to said day of sale, and at his discretion, advertising the same in any newspaper published in said Montgomery county, and after said sale or sales, upon the payment of the purchase money thereof, to make to the purchaser or purchasers thereof a good and sufficient deed in law, to and for the premises so sold, with the usual covenants and warrants, binding upon us for title thereto, and to receive the proceeds of said sale or sales, and to apply a sufficiency of the same to the payments to the balance of said balances now owing upon said two $600.00 notes, according to the tenor, reading and effect hereof, and all the costs and expenses of executing this trust, including 10 per cent, commissions on said sales to said trustee for executing the same, he holding the remainder thereof, if any, subject to the order of the said Mary D. Yell, her executors or administrators. And it is hereby expressly proyided that should the said James R. Davis from any cause whatever fail or refuse to act in these premises or become disqualified from acting as such trustee, then the said J. L. Irion as the holder and owner of said two $600.00 notes and this deed of trust shall have and is hereby granted full power to appoint a substitute in writing, who shall have the same powers as are hereby delegated to the said James R. Davis.'
"(5) P. R. Yell, in his individual capacity only, signed and acknowledged said trust deed on the 17th day of December, 1896, and thereafter on the same day it was tendered to P. M. Yell, Jr., who after reading said instrument refused to sign or acknowledge the same, and said instrument was by the said P. M. Yell, Jr., handed back to W. F. Sanders, a notary public, who had been requested by the said J. L. Irion to procure the execution thereof by said P. M. Yell, Jr.
"(6) J. L. Irion, the beneficiary in said trust deed, was present and saw P. M. Yell, Jr., read the same and knew that he refused to execute it. Upon the refusal of P. M. Yell, Jr., to execute said instrument, it was returned to the said J. L. Irion by thfe said Sanders, who stated td said Irion that P. M. Yell, Jr., refused to sign it. Thereupon the said Irion returned said instrument to said Sanders and requested him to present the same to Mary D. Yell for her signature and acknowledgment.
"(7) On the following day the said Sanders repaired to the house of P. R. Yell where Mary D. Yell was then living, and presented said trust deed to her to be signed and acknowledged, and at the request of said Mary D. Yell the said Sanders, who was a justice of the peace and ex officio notary public, undertook to read and explain said trust deed to her, and the said Mary D. Yell at the conclusion of the explanation stated to Sanders that if it was for money for the boys, P. R. Yell and P. M. Yell, it was all right and she would sign it, and thereupon she signed and acknowledged said instrument to and before the said W. P. Sanders.
"(8) At the time Mrs. Mary D. Yell signed and acknowledged said trust deed, she believed that the same had been or would be signed by Percy R. Yell & Bro. and P. M. Yell, Jr.
"(9) Percy R. Yell & Bro. did not execute said trust deed, nor was the same ever executed by P. M. Yell, Jr.
• "(10) Neither the firm of Percy R. Yell & Bro. nor P. M. Yell, Jr., ever promised to pay compound interest, or agreed that the interest should be compounded annually on the two notes described in said trust deed.
"(11) James R. Davis, the trustee named in said trust deed, departed this life early in the year 1901, and prior to October 1, 1901.
"(12) On the 1st day of October, 1901, J. L. Irion, beneficiary in said trust deed, indorsed thereon the following appointment of substitute trustee, to wit: 'James R. Davis, the trustee in the within deed of trust, having died, I hereby nominate, constitute and appoint J. W. Irion of Ft. Worth, Tar-rant county, state of Texas, substitute trus-' tee in the within named deed of trust, with all the powers of the original trustee therein.'
"(13) On April 1, 1901, there was paid on said note No. 3 the sum of $35, which was duly credited thereon.
. "(14) Prior to the 12th day of November, 1902, J. L. Irion caused to be written an in-dorsement of renewal on said trust deed to be executed by the said Mary D. Yell, and which said indorsement of renewal was duly executed by the said Mary D. Yell before O. W. Nugent, county judge of Montgomery county, Texas, on the 12th day of November, 1902, and said renewal is in, language as follows: T, Mary.D. Yell, do hereby acknowledge that both of the notes described in the within deed of trust and to secure the payment of which said deed of trust was given, are just, due and unpaid save and except a credit of $35.00 indorsed on said note No. 3 on April 1, 1901, and in order to secure the payment of each of said notes according to their face, tenor and effect, I have this day and by this indorsement on said deed of trust do revive, renew and reinstate said deed of trust and agree and contract that the same shall be as binding and valid on m« as it was on the day of its date. This the 12th day of November, 1902. M. D. Yell.'
"(15) On the 13th day of November 1902, the trust deed with the renewal so executed thereon, was for the first time filed for record in the office of the county clerk of Montgomery county, Texas.
"(16) J. B. Irion died testate in Montgomery county, Texas, on December 31, 1904, and by his will J. W. Irion, defendant herein, was appointed executor of his estate, independent of the control of the county court. Immediately on the death of the said J. L. Irion his will was duly probated and the said J. W. Irion qualified as executor and took charge of his estate, and has since his qualification as aforesaid, been administering the estate under the will.
"(17) J. L. Irion in his lifetime never demanded of Percy R. Yell & Bro. or P. R. Yell and P. M. Yell, Jr., payment of compound interest' on the two notes described in the trust deed.
"(18) No consideration was received by or inured to Mary D. Yell for the execution of said trust deed.
"(19) At the time the said Mary D. Yell signed and acknowledged said trust deed, she did not know that the two notes- described therein did not themselves provide for the compounding annually of the interest thereon, and she did not know or understand that said trust deed provided for the payment of interest other than as called for in said two notes.
"(20) At the time said Mary D. Yell signed and acknowledged said trust deed, she did not know that she was entering into an agreement -and assuming an obligation to pay compound interest on said two' notes, when said notes on their face did not provide for the payment of compound interest thereon.
"(21) P. M. Yell, Jr., after refusing to execute said trust deed in December, 1896, heard no more about said trust deed and did not know it was ever signed and acknowledged by his mother, Mary D. Yell, until in March, 1904.
"(22) Prior to the 3d day of April, 1905, P. M. Yell, Jr., and J. W. Irion, as executor of the estate of J. L. Irion, deceased, had up the matter of the payment of said, two notes, and on said 3d day of April, 1905, the said P. M. Yell, Jr., wrote to the said J. W. Irion offering to pay the principals of said two notes with simple interest thereon at the rate of 10 per cent, per annum, reciting in said letter that Percy R. Yell & Bro. had not assumed to pay compound interest thereon, nor had he himself promised to pay it.
"(23) By letter dated the 10th of April, 1905, the said J. W. Irion agreed to accept from the said P. M. Yell, Jr., the principals of said two notes with simple interest thereon in full payment thereof without reference to the deed of trust, and sent said notes to Mr. Norwood of Navasota with the following transfers indorsed on each of them, to wit: T hereby transfer without recourse on me, for yalue received, the within note to P. M. Yell. (Signed) J. W. Irion, Ind. Ex. Est. J. L. Irion, deceased,' with instructions to deliver said notes to said P. M. Yell, Jr., on payment by him of the principals of said two notes and simple interest thereon at the rate of 10 per cent, per annum. Thereafter and in the said month of April, 1908, the said P. M. Yell, Jr., paid to Nor-wood for J. W. Irion, independent executor of the estate of J. L. Irion, deceased, the principals of said two notes with simple interest thereon at 10 per cent, per annum, and thereupon said two notes were by Nor-wood delivered to said P. M. Yell, Jr., as per instructions to him by said Irion, with the transfers thereon as above set forth. The said Irion also agreed if P. M. Yell, Jr., would pay the principals of said two notes and simple interest thereon as provide ed for in the notes, he would release to him-the 503 acres of land, for a portion of the purchase money of which said notes were executed. And pursuant to said agreement, the said Irion did, on the 31st day of August, 1905, as independent executor of the estate of J. L. Irion, deceased, execute to the said P. M. Yell, Jr., a release of the vendor's lien on said 503 acres of land, which said release, among other things, has the following recitals and provisions: 'And whereas, as a part consideration for said land, the said P. R. Yell & Bro. did execute and deliver to the said L. A. Killian and L. M. Killian three certain promissory notes, bearing even date with said deed, and payable to L. A. Killian and L. M. Killian. First note on or before 1st day of January, 1891. Note No. 2 payable on or before January 1, 1892. Third and last note payable on or before January 1, 1893, and a vendor's lien was expressly retained in such deed to secure the payment of said promissory notes. And whereas, said promissory notes have been fully paid off and discharged by P. M. Yell, Jr., both principal and interest, and at the time of their payment said notes were the property of est. of J. L. Irion, deceased. Now, therefore, know all men by these presents, that J. W. Irion, independent executor under the will of J. L. Irion, deceased, of the county of Tarrant and state of Texas, for and in consideration of the premises and the full and final payment of said notes, have remised, released, quit-claimed, discharged and acquitted, and by these presents do remise, release, quit-claim, discharge and acquit unto the said P. M. Yell, his heirs and assigns, the vendor's lien heretofore existing upon the land and premises aforesaid.'
"(24) Since the payment of said notes by P. M. Yell, Jr., and the transfer thereof to him, as aforesaid, he has been the sole owner thereof.
"(25) Prior to the transfer and delivery of said notds, J. W. Irion wrote P. M. Yell and also P. R. Yell and Mary D. Yell, that inasmuch as the said Mary D. Yell and P. R. Yell agreed to pay compound interest by signing the trust deed, it must not be understood that he (Irion) was expecting to release them from,their said obligation and deed of trust. Irion stated to said parties in the same connection that he would endeavor to enforce said trust deed.
"(26) On October 13, 1995, the only payments made on the indebtedness described in the trust deed were the principals of said two notes and simple interest thereon to April 16, 1905, paid by P. M. Yell, Jr., as aforesaid, and on the said 13th day of October, 1905, the said Irion advertised for sale on Tuesday, November 7, 1905, at Conroe, Montgomery county, Texas, the land described in the trust deed, reciting in the advertisement and notices of sale that the sale would be made to pay the difference between the simple interest due on the principals of said two notes and compound interest as provided for by said deed of trust, and reciting that said difference then amounted to the sum of $1,015.20-. The notices of sale were duly posted as provided for in the trust deed, and a copy thereof was also inserted in- the Conroe Saxon, a weekly newspaper published in Conroe; said notice being published in the issues of -October 13, October 20, October 27, and November 3, 1905, of said paper. For said publication J. W. Iri-on paid the publisher of said newspaper the sum of $10.
"(27) On November 6, 1905, J. W. Irion left Ft. Worth, Texas, and went to Conroe, Texas, for the purpose of selling said land under the trust deed on the following day, and reached Conroe November 7, 1905. -After arriving at Conroe and before sale could be made of said land, Irion was served with an injunction issued in this cause prohibiting said sale, and on account of said injunction the sale was not made.
"(28) On November 5, 1905, Mary I>. Yell filed her sworn original petition in this cause, in which she complained of J. W. Irion individually and as independent executor of the estate of J. L. Irion, deceased, and as substitute trustee in the trust deed hereinbefore mentioned, and among other things, prayed for an injunction to restrain the sale by Irion of the two tracts of land in controversy, which she alleged he was undertaking to make, claiming the right to make sale to pay compound interest; and said original petition had indorsed thereon the fiat of judge of the district court of the Sixty-First judicial district of Texas, ordering the injunction as prayed for therein, and which said injunction was issued on the 6th of November, 1905, and served on J. W. Irion on November 7,1905, in the town of Conroe. Said writ of injunction commanded said Irion to refrain from making the sale of the lands described in said trust deed under authority of said trust deed, and from proceeding to do any other or further act, and from exercising any other authority under said trust deed, and from selling or attempting to sell said lands or any part thereof until further order of the district court of Montgomery county, Texas.
"(29) On November 27, 1905, said Irion in the capacities in which he was sued, filed his motion to dissolve said injunction. Said motion was set down for hearing in chambers on December 11, 1905, and the plaintiff, Mary D. Tell, was notified, and on said 11th day of December, 1905, both the plaintiff, Mary D. Yell, and the defendant, J. W. Irion, being represented by their respective counsel, argument was heard on said motion, and on the same day the said motion was overruled and refused by this court. Said injunction has remained in force to the present time.
"(30) In making the trip from Ft. Worth to Conroe and return for the purpose of making sale under said trust deed, the said J. W. Irion paid expenses amounting to $17.30, as itemized in his pleadings, and .lost 36 hours time of the reasonable value of $37.50, and prior to advertising said sale, the said Irion, as executor, requested himself as trustee to make the sale.
"(31) On September 1, 1905, Mary D. Yell conveyed to Lucile Yell, Blanche Yell, and Leo Yell tract of land No. 1, described in the trust deed, for a recited consideration of $10 and other valuable considerations. Said Lucile, Blanche, and Leo Yell are daughters of P. R. Yell. P. M. Yell and P. R. Yell are sons of Mary D. Yell.
"(32) P. M. Yell, P. R. Yell, Lucile Yell, Blanche Yell, and Leo Yell were made parties to this suit by the first amended answer of J. W. Irion, filed herein April 18, 1905, and each of said parties were either forthwith served with citation, or duly entered appearance herein.
"(33) On the 27th of March, 1908, Mary D. Yell died intestate in Montgomery county, Texas, and on the 23d of July, 1908, P. M. Yell filed his petition in the county court of Montgomery county, Texas, setting forth the death of Mary D. Yell, and that at and before her death she was plaintiff in this suit, and setting out the objects of the suit, and alleging the necessity that a representative should be appointed for her to take her place as plaintiff in the suit and to collect and wind up the estate. On said petition citation was duly issued and on August 19, 1908, P. M. Yell was appointed administrator of said estate and his bond fixed at $4,000. He qualified on said last-named date, and letters of administration were issued to him. No debts or claims of any kind against said estate had been presented to said administrator. The assets of Mary D. Yell consist of 314 acres of land and one cow. The land is worth $6 per acre and is that portion of tract No. 2 described in the trust deed after taking therefrom the 2,00 acres P. R. Yell homestead, as mentioned in said trust deed.
"(34) On January 14, 1909, P. M. Yell as administrator of the estate of Mary D. Yell, deceased, made himself party plaintiff, and filed his pleadings, setting up the death of Mary D. Yell, his appointment as administrator, the condition of her estate, and alleging that on account of the death of the said Mary D. Yell, the power of sale, if any ever existed under the trust deed, was revoked, and prayed for the relief as prayed for by plaintiff in her petition herein.
"(35) On the 17th day of'December, 1895, and at all times thereafter, P. M. Yell was solvent .and if he bad been liable, either individually or as a member of the firm of Percy R. Yell & Bro., for the payment of compound interest on the notes described in rthe trust deed, the same could have been collected from him under execution.
"(36) On December 17, 1896, and at all times thereafter, tbe 503 acres of land for which the two notes described in the trust deed had been executed, was of the fair market value of at least $6 per acre, and on said December 17, 1896, no part of the purchase price of the said 503 acres of land remained unpaid save and except the two notes described in the trust deed; the balance of said purchase money having theretofore been paid from the proceeds of the sale of timber on the said 503 acres of land. In April, 1905, when P. M. Yell took up said two notes and secured the release of the vendor's lien upon said 503 acres of land, said land was of the fair market value of $6 per acre."
These conclusions of fact are followed by a conclusion of law to the- effect, in substance, that J. W. Irion as substitute trustee had no authority to make the sale. Several facts and groups of facts are urged in the petition as grounds for the relief prayed for, but as there are no intimations in the conclusions of law as to which of these grounds were sustained by the trial court as a basis of the judgment, appellant in his brief has taken the burden of showing that upon none of them can the judgment be sustained. If it can be sustained on any one of the grounds urged, the judgment should be affirmed (unless reversed . for material error of procedure), whether the trial court based bis conclusions on sucb grounds or not. This is tbe view properly taken by counsel for all parties in preparing tbeir briefs.
Tbe judgment in our opinion must be sustained upon three separate grounds urged in tbe petition and supported by tbe facts as found by tbe trial court, and a discussion of these grounds, without separate discussion of each of the several assignments of error, will be sufficient 'to show our conclusions in tbe disposition of this appeal.
We cannot agree with counsellor appellant that the deed of trust signed by Mrs. Yell and P. R. Yell, all tbe material portions of which are set out in tbe findings of fact, imposed no obligation upon P. R. Yell to pay either tbe notes or tbe compound interest therein contracted for, or that it would have imposed no such obligation upon P. R. Yell & Bro. or P. M. Yell if it had been signed by them. It is true that there are no words in this instrument directly imposing this obligation; and no express and specific promise on their part, contained in the body of the instrument, to pay anything; still, we think, it is a fair construction of the instrument that P. R. Yell undertook, in consideration of the extension of time, to pay the notes, together with the compound interest, and Mrs. Yell undertook that her land should be made liable in the event he failed to do so within the two years. In signing the instrument P. R. Yell assumed this obligation and the same obligation would have been assumed by the firm of P. R. Yell & Bro. and P. M. Yell if they had signed. This is the essential distinction between this case and the case of Hill v. Smith, 21 How. 283, 16 L. Ed. 113, cited by appellant. This is, we think, the construction placed upon the contract by the parties themselves. P. M. Yell claimed the right to pay off the notes, with simple interest only, on the ground that he had not signed the deed of trust and therefore was not bound to pay the compound interest. Appellant acquiesced in this view, but insisted upon his right to hold both Mrs. Yell and P. R. Yell upon the obligations of the deed of trust for the payment of the compound interest. Clearly P. R. Yell could not have been held for payment of the compound interest unless he was bound by the terms of the deed of trust, which he had signed, to do so.
In this view of the case, at least as to P. R. Yell, Mrs. Yell's' land was surety. He agreed to pay the debt including compound Interest, and Mrs. Yell agreed that her land should be made liable if he did not. If suit had been brought to foreclose this deed of trust, Mrs. Yell could have had P. R. Yell brought in as a party, and would, upon appropriate pleadings, have been entitled to judgment over against him as principal for the amount adjudged against her, and the same would have been secured by the vendor's lien upon his interest in the land for which the notes were given. The compound interest then agreed to be paid by P.« R. Yell would have been part and parcel of the purchase-money debt evidenced by the notes.
It logically follows that when appellant accepted from P. M. Yell the amount of principal and simple interest in full payment and satisfaction of the notes and the vendor's lien, and transferred and assigned the notes to him, and discharged the vendor's lien, or transferred the notes and lien to him, whatever be the effect of this transaction, he thereby released P. R. Yell's interest in the land from any further liability for the payment of the compound interest which he had agreed to pay. This discharge and release of the principal without Mrs. Yell's consent, discharged and released her land, the surety, from the deed of trust.
It is true that, as found by the court, appellant wrote to Mrs. Yell and P. R. Yell that it must not be understood that he was expecting to release them, from the obligations of the deed of trust, but the holder of a debt cannot avoid the consequences of his release of the principal without the consent of the surety, by merely informing the surety that he does not intend thereby to release him. By surrendering the notes and releasing to P. M. Yell the vendor's lien upon the entire land, appellant had placed it out of the power of Mrs. Yell to subject P. R. Yell's interest in the land to the payment of this compound interest, in case her land should be compelled to pay the same, as is sought to be accomplished by this sale. Therefore, the land of Mrs. Yell, as surety, was released from the deed of trust.
In 1902 the deed of trust, executed in 1896, had never been recorded, and no attempt had ever been made by J. L. Irion to collect from any one the compound interest therein provided for. It had not been signed by either P. M. Yell or the firm of P. R. Yell ¿ Bro., as had been clearly contemplated. In this condition J. L. Irion desired an acknowledgment and affirmation of the deed of trust by Mrs. Yell, thus avoiding any defense on her part based upon the fact that it had not been signed by P. M. Yell or P. R. Yell & Bro., or growing out of apparent laches. At any rate, such acknowledgment and affirmation of the deed of trust by Mrs. Yell was of benefit to J. L. Irion. This acknowledgment and affirmation by Mrs. Yell was prepared by J. L. Irion for his own benefit and any ambiguous expressions therein must be taken most strongly against him. This paper is set out in full in the conclusions of fact. It expressed the agreement of the parties with respect to the matters therein set out.- By it Mrs. Yell •acknowledged that both of the notes described in the deed of trust, and to secure the payment of which the deed of trust was given, are just, due and unpaid (except a credit mentioned) and that "in order to secure the payment of each of said notes ác-cording to their face, tenor and effect" the deed of trust is revived, renewed, and reinstated. , It must toe remembered that the deed of trust was given to secure the payment of the notes, according to their face, tenor,-and effect, and, in addition, to secure the payment of compound interest after its execution. This instrument last referred to revives, renews, and reinstates the deed of trust, only as security for the notes according to their face, tenor, and effect, and not for the compound interest not embraced in the notes. It must be taken that this was the agreement, and that 3. E. Irion, in order to procure this acknowledgment by Mrs. Yell, and in consideration thereof, gave up his claim to the security of the deed of trust for the compound interest, probably, of doubtful validity, or considered of doubtful validity, on account of the failure of P. M. Yell and P. R. Yell & Bro. to sign. It is significant in this connection that although this deed of trust was executed in 1896 and 3. L. Irion lived until 1904, he never at any time made any demand on anybody for this compound interest, and the deed of trust was not recorded until this renewal was executed. This written acknowledgment, it is true, contains the further stipulation that the deed of trust should be as valid and binding on Mrs. Yell as it was on the day of its date, but this does not, we think have the effect of destroying the effect of the language whereby it is renewed only for the security of the notes, according to their face, tenor, and effect, without the compound interest. This last stipulation must be taken to mean that the deed of trust is to be so valid and •binding for the purpose to which it is limited in the renewal and not to extend that purpose or destroy the limitation. Having procured this indorsement on the deed of trust, 3. L. Irion is bound by its stipulations, which had the effect to release the deed of trust as a security for the compound interest. The notes having been fully paid the deed of trust was satisfied, and the trustee had no power to sell.
By the terms of the deed of trust it is provided that the trustee (or substitute trustee) was empowered, and it is made his duty, in case of default, to sell the property "at the request of J. E. Irion, his heirs, executors, administrators, assigns, or the holder and owner of said two $600 notes," etc. This language cannot be construed to mean that if J. E. Irion had assigned the notes, the trustee would have been required to foreclose the deed of trust by sale, at the request of either J. L. Irion or his assignee, the legal owner and holder of the notes, or that after the transfer of the notes to his executor, the trustee could be required to sell at the request either of the executor or such legal owner and holder. Such construction would authorize either J. L. Irion in the first instance, or his executor in the second, if the notes had 'been assigned, to have a foreclosure of the deed of trust, against the wishes of such assignee, the only person having any interest therein. The language referred to must be construed to mean that upon transfer of the notes, the legal owner and holder alone had authority to request the trustee to sell.
At the time J. W. Irion, as executor, requested himself as substitute trustee to make this sale, he had transferred and assigned these notes to P. M. Yell, who was the legal owner and holder thereof, in so.far as they were not fully paid. At any rate, J. W. Irion, as executor, had no longer any interest in the notes. The right to request the trustee to sell is given, not to the as-signee or the legal owner and holder of the deed of trust in which alone is there any obligation to pay the compound interest, but of the notes, which carry no such obligation. Mrs. Yell had the right to impose such conditions as she chose upon the trustee, and such conditions must be strictly observed in making such sale. These conditions cannot be disregarded because it has become impossible toy the payment of the notes to comply with them. It may be that the notes having been fully paid are dead and there cannot toe a legal owner and holder of them. This cannot have the effect of authorizing a sale at the request of appel-lee, after he had parted with the notes, for the sufficient reason that the grantor in the deed of trust had not so agreed. On this ground also we think that the substitute trustee was without authority to make the sale and was properly enjoined from doing so.
We suggest further, although it is not necessary to decide the question, that when J. W. Irion was appointed independent executor of J. E. Irion his authority as substitute trustee under the appointment of 3. L. Irion ceased. It was the intent and purpose of the deed of trust that in the event of default some disinterested and impartial person should exercise the power of sale conferred, and this purpose could not be thwarted by an assignment of the debt by the original holder to the trustee after the execution of the deed of trust, thus making the instrument a mortgage with a power of sale in the mortgagee. Any other construction would render wholly nugatory in such case the provision authorizing the trustee or his substitute to sell only upon request of the legal owner and holder of the debt.
It will only be necessary to briefly refer to other assignments of error with regard to the admission of evidence. The testimony of Mrs. Yell, taken by deposition, as to her understanding that the deed of trust was intended to secure or did secure only the payment of the notes with interest as stipulated by them, should not have been admitted over the objection -of appellant. It was not shown or claimed that J. L. Irion was to any extent responsible for any such mistake on her part The deed of trust was read over and explained by the notary, who was not in this regard the agent of Irion, and if he was, it does not appear that he misrepresented the contents of the instrument. The instrument very clearly was intended to secure the payment of compound interest and J. L. Irion is in no way responsible for any misunderstanding Mrs. Yell may have had of its meaning. Nor was it material that Sirs. Yell understood that P. M. Yell and P. R. Yell & Bro. also were to sign the deed of trust, or that she would not have signed if she had known that P. M. Yell had refused to sign the paper. There is no evidence that tends to show that there was any understanding or agreement between herself and J. L. Irion that she was not to 'be bound unless P. M. Yell signed the instrument, or that he had any knowledge of such understanding on her part, or that he was guilty of any misrepresentation to her to procure her signature. Campbell Pub. Co. v. Powell, 78 Tex. 61, 14 S. W. 245; Gatling v. San Augustine Co., 25 Tex. Civ. App. 283, 61 S. W. 432. This is the only evidence which tends to support the findings of the trial court on this point, and if these findings, which are embraced in paragraphs 8, 19, and 20 of the conclusions of fact, were at all necessary to support the judgment it could not stand. It appears, however, from what we have said that this error, which is made the basis of the sixth, seventh, eighth, ninth, and tenth assignments of error, is entirely immaterial and should not affect the judgment.
We have examined all the assignments of error and the several propositions thereunder, and, with the exception of those with relations to the admission of evidence referred to, which are immaterial, they are severally overruled.
We find no error requiring a reversal of the judgment and it is therefore affirmed.
Affirmed.