Case Name: Johnson v. Osborn & Wolcott
Court: Supreme Court of Georgia
Jurisdiction: Georgia
Decision Date: 1890-07-07
Citations: 85 Ga. 664
Docket Number: 
Parties: Johnson v. Osborn & Wolcott.
Judges: 
Reporter: Georgia Reports
Volume: 85
Pages: 664–666

Head Matter:
Johnson v. Osborn & Wolcott.
An instrument of writing of even date with a promissory note to which it was attached, duly recorded, “for the better securing the payment of the above promissory note,” selling and conveying to the payees thereof certain described property, providing that the title to the same should remain in the payees until the note was paid in full, and should the maker well and truly pay said note according to the tenor and effect of the foregoing, this conveyance to be void, else of full force, and authorizing the payees to sell said property at public or private sale: Held, that whether the instrument be a mortgage or not, it conveyed such an interest to the payees as would authorize them to recover in trover from one to whom the property had been delivered.by the maker.
July 7, 1890
Trover. Contracts. Mortgages. Before Judge Boynton. . Pike superior court. October term, 1889.
Beported in the decision.
E. E. Dupree, by brief, for plaintiff in error.
Stewart & Daniel, by brief, contra.

Opinion:
Blandford, Justice.
This was an action of trover brought by the defendants' in error against the plaintiff' in error for the recovery of certain personal property. On the trial of the case the defendants in error, who were the plaintiffs in' the court below, relied upon a certain instrument in writing as showing sufficient title in them to authorize a recovery against the defendant. This instrument in writing was as follows :
"Griffin, Ga., Feb. 13th, 1888.
"On the 15th Oct. next I promise to pay Osborn & Wolcott, or order, fifty-eight and 32/100 dollars, for value receivedif not paid when due, I agree to pay interest at the rate of 8 per cent, per annum until paid; and if collected by law, I agree to pay 10 per cent, as attorney's fees," etc.
This was signed by D. R. Hancock under his hand and seal. Thereto attached is the following writing:
" Georgia, 1
"Spalding County.) For the better securing the payment of the above promissory note, bearing even date with these presents, I hereby bargain, sell and convey unto Osborn & Wolcott, their heirs and assigns, the following described property : one Tennessee one-horse wagon and harness ; also, one small bay mare mule about 10 years old named Beck. Titles of above mentioned property to remain in Osborn & Wolcott until the above note is paid in full. And 1 hereby warrant the title to the said property and convenant that I have the full right to convey it, and that the same is wholly unincumbered. Now should the undersigned well and truly pay said note according to the tenor and effect of the foregoing, then this conveyance to be void; else of full force. And the undersigned hereby specially waives and releases for himselt and family all homestead and exemption rights that he may have by virtue of the constitution and laws of Georgia in and to said property as against this note. And I hereby authorize the said Osborn & Wolcott to sell said property at public or private sale, and I agree to pay any unpaid balance. Witness my hand and seal, this 13th day of Feb., 1888."
The above writing was signed by D. R. Hancock, and was duly recorded. The evidence shows that Johnson, the plaintiff in error, purchased the property embraced in the above writing from Mrs. Hancock after the execution of this conveyance; and it was shown by Mrs. Hancock that her husband had left the State, and that she was authorized to settle his debts. The court held that the writing above set forth conveyed such a title or interest in Osborn & Wolcott as would authorize them, under the facts of this case, to recover the property from Johnson. This ruling is excepted to, and error assigned thereon. Whether the writing above set forth is a mortgage or not, we are of the opinion that it conveyed such an iuterest in Osborn & Wolcott as would authorize them to recover from Johnson, under the facts of this case, in an action of trover. We are. inclined to think that the writing is a mortgage; yet, it is a mortgage coupled with an interest in Osborn & Wolcott upon default of payment of the debt mentioned therein. The writing authorized them, upon default of payment, to sell and convey the property therein mentioned; and in order to sell the same, they had a right to have possession of the property; and if the property had gone into the possession of another person, to wit, as Johnson, and he failed to deliver it to them upon demand, they could well bring their action of trover to recover it for the purpose of executing the power conveyed to them by the writing. See the case of Allen v. Frost, 57 Ga. 326; see also Cameron v. Phillips, 60 Ga. 434, which latter case we think fully sustains the views we have above expressed. Judgment affirmed.