Case Name: Eli Benedict et al. v. Ephraim Smith et al.
Court: New York Court of Chancery
Jurisdiction: New York
Decision Date: 1843-02-21
Citations: 3 Sarat. Ch. Sent. 7
Docket Number: 
Parties: Eli Benedict et al. v. Ephraim Smith et al.
Judges: 
Reporter: Saratoga Chancery Sentinel
Volume: 3
Pages: 7–7

Head Matter:
Eli Benedict et al. v. Ephraim Smith et al.
^attoi molti
E P. Smith and F. M. Haight, for complainants ; O. Hastings, for defendants.

Opinion:
Decided that under the act of April 1833, (Laws •of 1833, p. 402,) a chattel mortgage must bo filed in the proper clerk's office, unless there is an immediate delivery of the whole property embraced therein, and a continued change of possession, or the mortgage itself is absolutely and wholly void as to creditors. That a change of possession as to part of the property included in the mortgage, is not a change of possession of the things mortgaged, within the intent and meaning of the statute.
Decree of the vice chancellor affirmed with costs; upon 'the ground that the complainants have ratified the arrangement made by Griffin, by their subsequent acts, and that such subsequent ratification is equivalent to a previous authority.