Case Name: HENRY WILLIAMS et al., Complainants and Appellees, vs. FREDERICK J. A. STARR, Defendant, Appellant, impleaded with ADELAIDE STARR et al.
Court: Wisconsin Supreme Court
Jurisdiction: Wisconsin
Decision Date: 1856
Citations: 5 Wis. 534
Docket Number: 
Parties: HENRY WILLIAMS et al., Complainants and Appellees, vs. FREDERICK J. A. STARR, Defendant, Appellant, impleaded with ADELAIDE STARR et al.
Judges: 
Reporter: Wisconsin Reports
Volume: 5
Pages: 534–550

Head Matter:
HENRY WILLIAMS et al., Complainants and Appellees, vs. FREDERICK J. A. STARR, Defendant, Appellant, impleaded with ADELAIDE STARR et al.
APPEAL Hi EQUITY PROM DANE CIRCUIT COURT.
Where only one of several defendants against whom a decree is rendered, appeals, those defendants not appealing are presumed to be satisfied with the decree, and the appellate court will consider the equities of the case pertaining to the appellant’s relation to the cause.
Where the defendant in his answer sets up matter in avoidance, not responsive to the bill, his proofs must be confined to the allegations set out in the answer, that is to say, the allegata and the probata must correspond.
Proofs of matter in avoidance cannot avail as a defence unless they are in support of some allegation contained in the answer.
A promissory note is the evidence of indebtedness, and the substitution of one note for another does not discharge the debt evidenced thereby, nor release the security given for its payment.
As between the immediate parties it is competent for them to change the time and mode of payment, and still retain the mortgage security.
Any material erasure or interlineation in a note, will vitiate it -unless explained j not so, if it be wholly immaterial.
The changing the printed form of a note from 11 order ” to “ bearer,” if it appear to have been done at the time of execution, will not affect its validity.
The printed letters [L. S.], inclosed in brackets or parentheses in the usual place of a seal, is a sufficient device under the provisions of our statute, to answer the purpose of a seal, and a party prefixing his signature to such a device upon an instrument purporting to be under seal, will be held to have adopted such device as his seal.
A mortgage given upon the homestead by a married man, is not valid, even as against him, without the signature of the wife.
The complainants filed in the court below, on the 11th June, 1855, against the said defendants, their bill, for the foreclosure of a mortgage alleged to have been executed by the said Starr and wife to said complainants, bearing date on the 9 th day of April, 1855, securing four certain promissory notes, in said bill described as payable one day after date, and executed by the said defendant, E. J. A. Starr, to ' said complainants, the' -mortgaged premises containing about six acres of land, in the town of Sun Prairie, in said county, and occupied, as alleged in said bill, by the said Starr and wife as their homestead before and at the date of said mortgage and filing of said bill. Said bill, after making various judgment creditors parties thereto, makes Desire Barrell, Elijah Rowley and Moses Rowley also defendants in said bill, as claiming; to have an interest in the mortgaged premises by virtue of a prior mortgage given by the said Starr and wife to secure the purchase money of said premises, and prays that the said complainants may have precedence not only of said judgment creditors, but also, of the said prior mortgage, with the usual prayer for sale, &c., waiving the answer under oath of the defendants.
On the 7th day of July, 1855, a rule was entered requiring the said defendants, Frederick J. A. Starr, Adelaide Starr, Desire Barrell, Elijah Rowley and Moses Rowley, who had been duly subpoenaed, &c., to plead, answer, &c., to said bill, by the 10th day of August, 1855.
On- the 8th July, 1855, subpoena was returned duly servéd upon the defendant Lester Sexton.
On the 20th July, 1855, an order of publication was obtained as to the defendants Lorin Sexton, George Sexton and Edward Bolles.
On the 3d day of August, A. D. 1855, the said defendant, Adelaide Starr, filed her separate answer to said bill, in substance as follows:
That she believed that the said F. J. A. Starr did, on or about the 9th day of April, 1855, execute to said complainants, or some of them, certain promissory notes, but how many or to what amount she did not • know; that said Starr did also, as she believed, at the same time undertake to execute to said complainants, or some of them, a mortgage on the premises described in said bill, but whether said mortgage was legally executed and acknowledged by the said F. J. A. Starr, she could not say; that she had no remembrance or knowledge of ever having joined with the said F. J. A. Starr in the execu- Ron of any deed or mortgage to said complainants, or either of tbem; that at the date aforesaid she was in a very low and feeble state both of mind and body from sickness, &c., and if she executed and acknowledged any such mortgage it was when she was entirely unconscious of what she was doing, and charges knowledge of her aforesaid condition on the part of said complainants, and that, if her signature and acknowledgment were obtained to said mortgage, it was done through the fraud of said complainants, and that she ought 'not to be bound thereby. She further denies that there was anything due on the notes which were alleged to have been given by the said E. J. A. Starr on the said 9th day of April, 1855, but stating that all those notes for the security of which said mortgage had been attempted to be executed, had been, before the commencement of this suit, given up to the said Starr, and canceled, and that, as a consequence thereof, said mortgage, if it ever had any force or effect against either the said E. J. A. Starr or herself, became and was hereby discharged and void. She further admits that the alleged mortgaged premises had been, since about the 8th day of August, 1854, to the time of making her answer, occupied by the said E. J. A. Starr and herself, with their family, as a homestead, and that, therefore, any deed or mortgage thereof of the said E. J. A. Starr, without her voluntary signature, would be absolutely null and void; and claims that, even if said mortgage were properly executed by the said E. J. A. Starr, yet, wanting the voluntary signature of her, the said Adelaide Starr, the same was void. Her answer further acknowledges the execution of the said prior mortgage to the said Desire Barrell, and closes with the usual prayer.
On the same day, also, the defendant Elijah Rowley, filed his answer, stating his ignorance as to the execution of the notes and mortgage described in said bill, but alleging that, if any such had been executed, as set forth, they had been surrendered and canceled before the commencement of this suit; stating also his ignorance as to the claims of the defendants Sexton and Bolles ; admitting that he claims an interest in said premises as owner of the prior mortgage aforesaid, which last-mentioned mortgage was dated the 8th day of August, 1854, securing four notes, amounting in the aggregate to four hundred dollars and interest, part purchase money of said premises, assigned to him by the said Barrell, and stating that no portion of said last-mentioned notes had been paid.
On the 13th day of the same month of August, the said complainants filed their general replications to the aforesaid answers of Adelaide Starr and Elijah Rowley: and on the same day an order was entered requiring Lester Sexton to plead, &c., on or before the 13th November, 1855, and on the same day also order pro confesso as to E. J. A Starr, Desire Barrell and Moses Rowley.
On the 9th November, 1855, the said E. J. A. Starr filed in open court his motion to take off the default entered against him, for the reason that he was absent from the state from the time of the commencement of this suit until the first of August, and then returned too unwell to attend to business, &c., &c., verified by affidavit, and accompanying said motion with a copy of the answer proposed to be filed.
On.the 27th November, 1855, by leave of court, the; said E. J. A. Starr filed his answer, stating in substance that he did, on or about the 9th of April, 1855, execute to said complainants, or some of them, four promissory notes, payable not as in said bill alleged, but some weeks, and perhaps months, after said date — the exact time of payment forgotten, but believed that one of them was payable one day after date, one in three months, one in five months, and the other in six months; and that, to secure the payment of these notes, at the time, &c., he did, at the same time, execute a mortgage, bearing same date with said notes. He further, in said answer, denied that there was anything due on said notes, or either of them, but averred that he had paid, satisfied and discharged all the notes for the security of which said mortgage was given; that on the 10th day of April, 1855, said notes were given up by said complainants to him to be canceled, and were then and there canceled and discharged, whereby said mortgage was also destroyed and no longer of force against said defendant; admitted the occupation of said mortgaged premises as Ms - homestead; -did not know definitely as to the interest of said defendants,-Sexton and Bolles:; admitting the mortgage to Desire Barrell for about six hundred dollars, part purchase money; did not know who owned said mortgage; and prays to be hence dismissed, &c.
To this answer the complainants filed their general replication on.the 3d day of December, 1855.
. ■ On the 19th day of December, 1855¡ the said defendants, E. J. A. Starr, Adelaide Starr and-Elijah Rowley, who had answered as-aforesaid, filed in said court the following interrogatories to.'be answered by said complainants under oath: .. ,-.
Int. 1. Which of said complainants were present when the defendants E. J. A: Starr and Adelaide Starr, executed .the mortgage in the complainant’s bill described ; and • at what particular'place was said mortgage -executed and delivered;" and who drew it up; and to whom-was'said mortgage delivered? - ■■
■■ Int. ■2. How many notes,-and. what the amount of .each, were executed, and delivered -by -the. said E. J¡ A.-Starr-in faYor-of said complainants, at the same time and place -with the said mort-, gage,c-to secure which said mortgage was given?
Int. 3. What became of the notes which were'thus executed « and delivered at the same time and place with said' mortgage ?
Int-4:. Were not all of ..the notes, which were thus executed and delivered at the same time and place of said mortgage subsequently given up to the said E. J. A. Starr, and-canceled? -If all were not.given up, how many of-them -were.; and what became, of the remainder ?• -
Int. 5. What were'the times of payment of the several -notes executed and delivered concurrently with and -at the time and place of said mortgage ? State,, -according to your best impression, information and remembrance. • . ¡
Int. 6. How long was it after the execution of the notes and mortgage, in the foregoing interrogatories mentioned, before said notes were given up, and the .notes in-suit in this cause-given in their" steady and at what particular-', time and-place were these last-named Dotes executed'and delivered; and to whom were-they delivered?
Int. 7. Was the said defendant, Adelaide Starr, ever made acquainted witb tbe fact that the notes, to secure which she had joined in the execution of said mortgage, were given up and canceled, and the notes described in the bill in this cause given in their place ? If so, when, and by whom ?
Int. 8. Who were present when the first-given notes were surrendered and the subsequent notes executed by the said E. J. A. Starr in their stead ?
Int. 9. By whom was the business, in taking said mortgage and receiving and surrendering said notes, &c., transacted, and on whose behalf did he or they act ?
Oa the 7th day of April, A. D. 1856, the answers of said complainants were filed as follows:
“ The joint and several answers of Samuel L. Strong, Caleb B. Crapo and George 0. Russell, parties complainant in this suit, to the several interrogatories by the defendants, Ered. J. A. Starr, Adelaide Starr and Elijah Rowley, exhibited and propounded to all and every of the complainants. ■ These complainants now, and at all times hereafter, saving and reserving to themselves all advantage and benefit of exception to the'manifold errors and imperfections of the said interrogatories, arising from impertinence, immateriality or otherwise, by protestation, not confessing or acknowledging the right of the said defendants to exhibit or propound said interrogatories, for answer thereto, answering the first of said interrogatories, say: That neither of said complainants were present when the said mortgage was executed; that said mortgage was drawn up at the store of the said Ered. J. A. Starr, by the complainant Goodrich, and was taken by said Starr from the store to his house, as he then said, and shortly after brought back by him, executed and acknowledged by himself and the said Adelaide, and delivered to the complainants, Goodrich and Strong, as hereinafter will be made more fully to appear. And these complainants, further answering to the second of said interrogatories, say: that there were four notes, three for the sum of $415.42 each, and one for the sum of $300, executed by the said Ered. J. A. Starr at or about the time of the execution of said mortgage, which said notes were given for certain debts and demands then due and unpaid, which, the complainants, Henry Williams, James Bonnell and Edward H. Goodrich, doing business under the name, style and firm of Williams, Bonnell & Go., in the city of Milwaukee, and Samuel L. Strong, Caleb B.’ Orapo and George 0. Russell, then doing business in Madison under the name, style and firm of Strong, Orapo & Russell, held against the said Fred. J. A. Starr; — that the complainants had been informed, and they believed, that said Starr was insolvent, and being desirous to secure the payment of their several debts and demands aforesaid, the said Goodrich; representing the firm of Williams, Bonnell & Co., and the said Strong, representing the firm of Strong, Orapo & Russell, went to Sun Prairie for that purpose, and on their arrival there found the said Starr in private consultation with divers persons in reference to his business affairs, to a portion of whom, as the said Starr then and there represented to the said Goodrich and Strong, he was indebted; that after a short interview between the said Goodrich and Strong, and the said Starr, as to his affairs, and more particularly with reference to his indebtedness to the said Williams, Bonnell & Co., and Strong, Orapo & Russell, the said Starr offered to give his four promissory notes for the amount of said indebtedness, secured by mortgage to be executed and acknowledged by the said Fred. J. A. Starr and Adelaide Starr, and delivered to the complainants, on the premises described in the said complainants’ bill of complaint, the said Starr then and there representing to the said Goodrich and Strong that the said premises were free and-, clear from all incumbrances whatsoever, excepting what was to become due on a certain mortgage to one Desire Barrell, and that if he, the said Starr, could make a satisfactory arrangement with the complainants for the sum due them, and could also arrange one or two other small matters with some of his other creditors, he would be able to go to New York and buy goods and continue in business, which he was anxious to do: but the said Goodrich and Strong, having reason to suspect that said representations were false, and intended only to mislead and deceive them; and, suspecting such to be the case, they did not like to take tbe said notes and mortgage in full settlement between tbe said Frederick J. A. Starr and tbe complainants without first examining tbe records to ascertain whether said premises were free and clear from all incumbrances, as bad been represented by the- said Starr, and no final settlement was then and there made between him and tbe complainants; but it was understood by and between them respectively that tbe said Frederick J. A. Starr was to execute to tbe complainants his four promissory notes, each for the several amounts hereinbefore stated, from tbe said Fred. J. A. Starr and Adelaide Starr, and tbe said Groodrich and Strong, representing their respective firms, were to take said notes and mortgage to Madison, and if found correct, and tbe mortgaged premises free and clear from all incum-brances, as represented, then they were to receive tbe same in settlement of tbe debts and demands due from tbe said Starr to tbe complainants, and they were to deliver up tbe notes and receipt tbe accounts which they then held against him, and the said Starr was to come to Madison tbe next day and complete tbe arrangement.
“ That in pursuance to this understanding and agreement, tbe said Groodrich drew up tbe mortgage in question, and four promissory notes to be secured by tbe said mortgage, for tbe several amounts hereinbefore stated, which was executed by tbe said Starr; that tbe said. Starr took tbe said mortgage to bis bouse, as be then informed tbe said Groodrich and Strong, and shortly after came back to tbe store with said mortgage executed and acknowledged by himself and tbe said Adelaide Starr, and delivered tbe same to the said Groodrich and Strong, who returned to Madison late in tbe evening, and tbe next morning became satisfied that tbe premises were unincumbered, except as heretofore represented; but on submitting tbe notes, which were what are commonly known as “judgment notes,” to tbe inspection of their attorney, it was discovered that mistakes bad been made in filling up tbe warrants of attorney accompanying all of said notes, and that tbe said Frederick J. A. Starr, coming to Madison according to tbe understanding and agreement made tbe day previous, was informed by tbe said Goodrich and Strong of tbe mistakes aforesaid, and all of said judgment notes were, at tbe store of Strong, Orapo & Russell, delivered up to tbe said. Starr, and four other judgment notes made by tbe said Starr in tbeir stead, and delivered by bim, with tbe mortgage aforesaid, to tbe said Goodrich and Strong, who,.for and on behalf of tbeir respective firms, gave up the notes and receipted tbe accounts which said firms previously held against tbe said Starr. And these complainants, further answering to tbe third, fourth and sixth of said interrogatories say, that tbe same are hereinbefore sufficiently answered, and require no further answer thereto. And for answer to the fifth of said interrogatories say, that according to their best impression, information and remembrance, the notes first made by the said Frederick J. A. Starr, at Sun Prairie, to the complainants, and which were subsequently ascertained to be incorrect, as hereinbefore mentioned and set forth, were of the same tenor and date, and payable at the same time, as the notes subsequently made by the said Starr to the complainants, and substituted in their place, as hereinbefore more particularly and at largo set forth. And these complainants, further answering to the seventh of said interrogatories, say, that they do not know, and cannot state, whether the said defendant, Adelaide Starr, was ever made acquainted with the fact that the notes first given by the said Frederick J. A. Starr to the complainants, as hereinbefore stated and set forth, were subsequently given up, and the notes described in complainants’ bill substituted in their place, as hereinbefore more fully and at large has been made to appear. And these complainants, further answering to the eighth of said interrogatories, say, that at the time of the giving up of the notes, and the execution of-the other notes in their stead to the complainants, as hereinbefore set forth, the complainants, Goodrich, Strong, Russell and I. Solmer, then a clerk in the store of the said Strong, Crapo & Russell, and also the defendant Frederick J. A. Starr, were present, and perhaps some others, but who else, or whether any one except those mentioned and designated, these complainants cannot.-and do not remember. And these complainants, further answering to the ninth and last of said interrogatories, say, that the whole busi ness, from tbe commencement to tbe conclusion of tbe arrange.ment and settlement between tbe complainants and tbe said Frederick J. A. Starr, was transacted by tbe said Goodrich for and on bebalf of tbe said Williams, Bonnell & Co., and tbe said Strong for and on bebalf of tbe said Strong, Crapo & Russell.”
The separate answer of Edwin H, Goodrich, James Bonnell and Henry Williams, to tbe interrogatories of Frederick J. A. Starr, Adelaide Starr and Elijah Rowley, defendants
“ To tbe first interrogatory these complainants answer, that neither of tbe complainants was present when tbe said mortgage was executed ; that said mortgage was drawn up by tbe complainant Goodrich, in tbe store of said Starr, at Sun Prairie, and was taken therefrom by said Starr, as be said to bis bouse, and shortly afterward brought back, executed by himself and wife, and acknowledged by them, as in said bill set forth, and was delivered as hereinafter set forth. To the second interrogatory, these complainants answer that there were four notes executed by the said Starr to the complainants, which said notes were executed and delivered -at the time, in tbe manner, and under-tbe circumstances hereinafter set forth, to wit: the said Starr bad, for some time previous to tbe execution of said notes and mortgage, been indebted unto tbe complainants, Williams,- Bonnell and Goodrich, who were partners under tbe firm name of Williams, Bonnell & Co., and to tbe complainants, Strong, Crapo & Russell, who were partners under tbe firm name of Strong, Crapo & Russell, for goods sold and money advanced to said Starr; and about tbe time of tbe giving of the said notes and mortgage, tbe said complainants became satisfied that tbe said Starr was very much involved, and perhaps insolvent; and the complainant Goodrich, for tbe firm of Williams, Bonnell & Co., and tbe complainant Strong, for tbe firm of Strong, Crapo & Russell, went to Sun Prairie for tbe purpose of collecting or securing tbe claims which their respective firms held against said Starr; that they found him in consultation with some of bis friends and creditors concerning bis affairs, acquainted him with their business, and, after an interview, tbe said Starr professed to adjust their claims against him, by giving bis notes for the amount thereof, and to secure tbe payment of said notes by a mortgage upon tbe premises described in tbe mortgage mentioned in tbe bill of complaint in this cause, wbicb premises be represented were clear from incumbrances, except a certain mortgage executed by himself and wife, to one Desire Barrell; that said Strong and Goodrich were willing to take tbe notes so secured for tbe claims of their respective firms, but were unwilling to take tbe representations of said Starr as to tbe title to said premises. It was therefore agreed that said Starr should, with bis wife, execute said mortgage, and that said Starr should return with said Goodrich and Strong to Madison, and if said premises should be unincum-bered, except as represented by said Starr, and the title satisfactory, that said .'Strong and Goodrich should take such notes and mortgage in discharge of their claims against said Starr. Whereupon the said Goodrich filled out tbe mortgage in said bill mentioned, which said mortgage was by said Starr taken from the store, and was brought back executed by himself and wife as aforesaid. The said Starr, at the same time, executed his four promissory notes, one for the sum of three hundred dollars, due presently, and three others, tbe exact amount of which these complainants cannot set forth, which said notes, as these complainants believe, were made payable at a future day, but at what particular day these complainants cannot state, nor can they state positively that said notes were payable at a future date; that the said notes were executed late at night, and the said Starr represented that it was too late for him to return with them to Madison that night, but that said Goodrich and Strong might take said notes and mortgage, return to Madison, and examine the records as to the title and incumbrances ; that he would come into Madison in the morning, and should the title prove satisfactory, consummate the agreement; and then and there delivered said notes and mortgage to said Strong and Goodrich, who received the same for that purpose, and no other, and returned to Madison late at night; that, on examination, they found the title as stated by said Starr; but on submitting the notes and mortgage to counsel, found that there was a mistake in filling up the warrant of attorney annexed to the notes ; that the next morning, when tRe said Starr -came to Madison, tRey told Rim of tRe mistake made in tRe notes, and tRey tRen drew tRe notes mentioned in said bill of complaint, wRicR the said Starr executed, and delivered them, witlr tRe said mortgage to tRe said GoodricR and Strong, at tRe store of Strong, Crapo & Russell; tRat thereupon the said GoodricR receipted the account of Wil* liams, Bonnell & Co., and gave up the notes which were due that firm, and the said Strong receipted the account of Strong, Crapo & Russell, and they then and there surrendered or destroyed the said first-mentioned notes; that the said first-mentioned notes were never delivered to the said GoodricR and Strong as the absolute property of their respective firms, nor for any other purpose than as hereinbefore stated, and that they were never paid ; that no receipt or credit was ever given said Starr for said first-mentioned notes and mortgage, nor was any credit given for the mortgage until after they Rad examined the records at Madison, and settled with the said Starr in the store of Strong, Crapo & Russell, and until the delivery of the notes and mortgage mentioned in the said bill of complaint.
“ To the third, fourth, fifth and sixth interrogatories, these complainants answer, as they have already answered, in their answer to the second interrogatory. To the seventh interrogatory, these complainants answer, that the said Adelaide was not, to the knowledge offihese complainants, informed of the contents of any of the notes hereinbefore mentioned ; that she certainly never saw them. To the eighth interrogatory, they answer, that they cannot answer further than they have already answered.”
After the hearing, the Circuit Court rendered the usual decree of foreclosure and sale, from which the defendant Frederick J. A. ■Starr appealed.
H. M Frink, for the complainant.
Abbott, Clark. & .Coit, for the defendant.

Opinion:
By the Court.,
Smith, J.
This is an appeal from a final decree of foreclosure and sale, made in tbe Circuit Court of Dane county, upon a mortgage executed by E. J. A. Starr and Adelaide, bis wife, to tbe complainant. Tbe bill is in tbe usual form, setting out tbe interests of tbe complainants, and representing one of tbe defendants as a prior mortgagee.
Tbe defendant Starr, in bis answer, admits that be did, on tbe said 9tb day of April, A. D. 1855, execute tbe mortgage mentioned in tbe complainants' bill of complaint, to secure four notes to tbe complainants, or some of tbem, payable, not as in said bill alleged, but some weeks, perhaps, after tbe said date (the exact time of payment be bad forgotten, but believed one was payable one day after date, and the others in three, five and six months); and to secure these notes be executed tbe said mortgage. But he denies that there was anything due on said notes, or either of tbem, and avers that be had paid, satisfied and discharged all of tbe notes for tbe security of which the mortgage was given; and that on tbe 10th day of April, A. D. 1855, said notes were given up by tbe complainants, to him, to be canceled, and were then and there canceled and destroyed; and admits that the mortgaged premises were occupied by him as bis homestead.
Adelaide S. Starr in her answer avers, that she has no remembrance or knowledge of ever joining with her husband, F. J. A. Starr, in tbe execution of said mortgage, or of any deed or mortgage to tbe complainants, or either of tbem; that at tbe time of tbe date of tbe said mortgage, she was in a very low and feeble state, both of body and mjnd, from sickness, and if she executed tbe mortgage at all, she was entirely unconscious of what she was doing, and charges knowledge of her condition upon tbe complainants; and that her signature was obtained by fraud of tbe complainants. She also denies that there was anything due upon the notes, for tbe security _ of which the mortgage was given, but that tbe same bad been given up to the said F. J. A. Starr to be canceled, and were canceled; and that thereby the mortgage was discharged, and also alleges that the mortgaged premises were occupied as tbe homestead of tbe family.
Tbe defendant Rowley answered, setting up bis prior mort gage for some $400 for part of tbe purchase money of tbe premises, assigned to him by Desire Barrell. Tbe bill was taken as confessed as to tbe other defendants.
It will be observed, that the only party defendant before this court is Frederick 'J. A. Starr, he being the only one who has appealed from the decree of the Circuit Court, and his rights and equities only can now be considered. From the fact that the other defendants did not appeal, we are to presume that they are satisfied with the decree of the court below; at all events it is only by appeal that this court can obtain jurisdiction of them as parties.
How, then, stands the case in regard to the appellant F. J. A. Starr ? His defence must be adjudicated according to the allegations in his answer, and the proofs brought to sustain them. No rule in equity is more thoroughly established than that the allegata and the probata must correspond. The proofs cannot avail as a defence, unless they be in support of some allegation in the answer. Now the answer of the appellant amounts to payment. He says that the notes for the security of which the mortgage was executed, were by him fully paid, satisfied and discharged, and delivered up to him by the complainants, to be canceled. If this does not amount to an averment of payment, at least it is an accord and satisfaction. It is matter in avoidance, not responsive to the bill, and must be substantiated by affirmative proof.
The only proof introduced, or relied upon to sustain these averments in the answer of the appellant, is contained in the answers of the complainants to the interrogatories propounded by the defendants to the complainants, which are in substance, that on the evening of the 9th day of April, 1855, the said Starr executed four notes to the complainants, amounting to the sum mentioned in the condition of the mortgage, with warrants of attorney attached, at Sun Prairie; that on the next day at Madison, it was ascertained that a mistake had occurred in the warrants of attorney annexed to said notes; whereupon the appellant executed new notes for the same amount, and the first notes were canceled and destroyed. One of the complainants says, that tbe first notes, according to bis best impression, information and remembrance, were of- tbe same tenor and date, and were payable at tbe same time as tbe notes subsequently made and substituted for tbem. Tbe otber complainants in reference to this subject say, that one of tbe four notes was payable presently, and tbe otber at a future day, but at what particular day they cannot state, nor can they state positively that they were payable at a future date; that after tbe mistake in tbe warrant of attorney was corrected by making tbe new notes, tbe complainants receipted their respective amounts against tbe appellant, and gave up tbe first notes, and tbe appellant delivered tbe mortgage and tbe last four notes above mentioned, so corrected and substituted.
We think this evidence comes far short of sustaining the answer of the appellant. He does not directly aver that the mortgage debt was paid and discharged, but such -is undoubtedly the inference which be intended should be drawn from bis language. But even if be intended to convey the idea that the mortgage debt was paid, the proof offered by no means warrants it. The notes given were but the evidence of the debt which the mortgage was given to secure. The condition of the mortgage is, that the mortgagor shall pay or cause to be paid, the sum of $1,546.26 according to the condition of four promissory notes, &c. The substituting of other notes for the same amount, was not a discharge of the debt. The new notes took the place of the old ones, leaving the indebtedness unaffected by the transaction. It was only substituting one instrument of evidence for another, .without at all affecting the security. Hilliard on Mort. 307, 311, 312; Morse vs. Clayton, 13 S. & M. 373; Davis vs. Maynard, 9 Mass. 242; 31 Maine, 246; Burdett vs. Clary, 8 B. Monroe, 287; 3 Barb. Ch. Rep. 293; 16 Pick. 22; 10 N. H. 218; 14 Conn. Rep. 334.
As between tbe immediate parties, it was competent for tbem to change tbe time and mode of payment, and still retain tbe mortgage security. 1 Hilliard on Mort. 309, 310, 311; Hugennin vs. Starkweather, 5 Gilman, 492; McCormick vs. Digley, 8 Blackf. Rep. 99.
But we do not think that the answers of the complainants to the interrogatories propounded to them, satisfactorily show that the notes which were substituted were different in their tenor or effect from the first notes. One testifies that, according to his best impression, information and belief, they were of the same date and tenor, and payable at the same time. The other thinks that some of them were payable at a future day, but could not tell what day, nor was he positive that they were payable at a future day. The notes in suit are payable one day after date. We cannot say that these vague statements ought to be held sufficient to establish the fact of an alteration in the terms of the notes substituted, from those of the notes first drawn. On the contrary, the probability remains that the motive for alteration, or rather substitution, was, the defect discovered in the accompanying warrants of attorney.
This disposes of the defence set up in his answer by the defendant F. J. A. Starr. It was, however, objected by his counsel, on the hearing in this court, to the introduction of the notes in evidence, on the ground of erasures therein, which were not explained in proof. Whether or not the objection was made below, we are not certainly informed, but we are satisfied that the objection is untenable. It is true that any material erasure or interlineation in a note vitiates it, unless explained. But the erasure here is immaterial. It is apparent, upon inspection, that the words stricken out in the printed form were to make room for the name of one of the payers, and to change the printed form, which was to "order," to "bearer." It is apparent that it was done at the time of making the notes, and explains itself.
It was also objected to the mortgage that -it was not under seal. We are of the opinion that the printed letters [l. s.] inclosed in brackets • or parentheses, in the usual place of a seal, is a sufficient devise under the provisions of our statute to answer the purpose of a seal, and that the party prefixing his signature to such a device upon an instrument purporting to be under his hand and seal, adopts the same as his seal. R. /S'.', eh. 55, § 4; ch. 59, § 34.
In regard to tbe defendant Adelaide Starr, it is sufficient to say that sbe bas not appealed from tbe decree of tbe court below, and lienee bas not placed ber rights and equities, if any sbe may bave had, within our power to protect or control. But even if she bad done so, or even if tbe defence set up by ber could be made available to F. J. A. Starr, there would then be found the same difficulty in tbe way of relief, because of tbe want of proof to sustain ber answer. The matters contained in her answer which are relied upon as a defence, are not responsive to tbe bill, except as regards tbe single allegation that tbe mortgaged premises were occupied as a'homestead. Therefore, to render them available, they must be proved. There is no proof of ber illness, of her unconsciousness — not a vestige of evidence to impeach ber signature, or ber acknowledgment of tbe mortgage; and .the same remarks as were made before as regards the substitution of one set of notes for another, apply equally to this defendant.
It is true the complainants aver, and tbe defendants Starr and wife admit, that tbe premises were occupied as a homestead. Hence their mortgage would not be valid, even as against the husband, without tbe signature of tbe wife. But that signature they exhibit, a.nd it is for those who would impeach tbe mortgage to show that ber signature was obtained by undue means, or under circumstances that would vitiate it. This, as before remarked, they bave failed to do.
It is suggested that tbe decree of tbe court below does not sufficiently protect Rowley, the prior mortgagee, and bad be appealed, tbe decree would be so modified as to him as to secure beyond any contingency tbe payment of bis mortgage. Tbe complainants, however, offer now to redeem bis mortgage, which will accomplish all that any modification of tbe decree could bave done, even if be bad prosecuted an appeal.
Decree of tbe court below affirmed with costs.