Case Name: Gilbert Ward, Appellant, v. Anna May Bronson and Others, Respondents
Court: New York Supreme Court, Appellate Division
Jurisdiction: New York
Decision Date: 1908-05-06
Citations: 126 A.D. 508
Docket Number: 
Parties: Gilbert Ward, Appellant, v. Anna May Bronson and Others, Respondents.
Judges: 
Reporter: Appellate Division Reports
Volume: 126
Pages: 508–510

Head Matter:
Gilbert Ward, Appellant, v. Anna May Bronson and Others, Respondents.
Third Department,
May 6, 1908.
Pleading — foreclosure —when plaintiff’s title sufficiently alleged — evidence —powers of referee to hear and determine — appeal.
A complaint seeking to foreclose a mortgage on lands which alleges that the mortgagee died at a specified date leaving one II. her only heir at law and next of kin, who became the owner of said mortgage “ by inheritance,” and that the said H. died leaving a will duly admitted to probate, by which he bequeathed said mortgage to a person named as executrix, who assigned the same to the plaintiff, sufficiently states the plaintiff’s title although the use of the word “inheritance” be inartificial.
Under such complaint proof that letters of administration on the mortgagee’s estate were issued to the plaintiffs predecessor is admissible.
Where the referee in such action is appointed to “hear, try and determine,” he has the same power as the Special Term, which cannot review, reverse or set aside his decision. Such review must be had by appeal from the judgment.
Appeal by the plaintiff, Gilbert Ward, from an order of the Supreme Court, made at the Albany Special Term and entered in the office of the clerk of the county of Albany on the 25th day of October, 1907, denying the plaintiff’s motion for leave to amend the complaint, and also from an order entered in said clerk’s office on the 29th day of February, 1908, denying the plaintiff’s motion for judgment upon the report of a referee appointed in an action for the foreclosure of a mortgage.
Walter E. Ward, for the appellant.
A. D. Lent and Andrew Wright Lent, for the respondents.

Opinion:
Kellogg, J.:
The referee's report contained the necessary findings upon which to base the judgment asked. Judgment was refused apparently upon the ground that the referee erroneously received evidence over defendants' objection and exception. The complaint alleged the execution of the bond and mortgage and default, and' asked a sale of the property for the payment of the mortgage debt and for general relief. It alleged that Betsy Ann Gibbons, the mortgagee, died in March, 1893, leaving George Holly her only heir at law and next of kin and who became the owner of said mortgage by inheritance, and that the said George Holly died leaving a last will and testament, duly admitted to probate, by which he bequeathed said mortgage to Sally M. Holly, who was named executrix of said will, and that she assigned the mortgage to the plaintiff. Upon the trial objection was raised that no assignment of the bond or title to the bond was alleged, and that the plaintiff had no title, as the said George Holly could not transfer title to said mortgage.
The action was commenced in December, 1906, and interest was unpaid from April 1, 1906. It was proved under like objection and exception that letters of administration were duly issued to George Holly upon Betsy Ann Gibbons' estate March 27, 1893. The allegation that George Holly was the only next of kin and "became the owner of the mortgage by inheritance, I think is a suffi-cient allegation of title in him. The word " inheritance " more properly applies to a succession to the title to real estate by the death of the former holder, but in this place in the complaint it could have but one meaning, and can only be understood as alleging that upon the death of the mortgagee he succeeded to this mortgage as her only next of kin ; in order to gain full title to it he must bear that relation to her, and the personal representative of the estate must assent to, or acquiesce in, his taking this particular property. I think, therefore, the proof of the letters of administration Avas properly received. It is true the bond is the principal obligation and the mortgage would pass with-it, but I think this complaint, alleging that he acquired the title to the mortgage in this way, is only consistent with the idea that he acquired the bond and mortgage.
The reference was to. hear, try and determine. The referee, therefore, had the same power as the Special Term, and it cannot review and reverse or set aside his decision. (Code Civ. Proc. § 1018, 1228; Albany Brass & Iron Co. v. Hoffman, 30 App. Div. 16.) An application to the Special Term was necessary to make the formal parts of the judgment and to appoint a referee, but it could, not review or disregard the decision of the referee. Such review could only be had by an appeal from the judgment to the Appellate Division.
We have seen that it was unnecessary to amend the complaint. If the trial court had received evidence over the defendants' objection and exception which was not warranted by the complaint, the error could not be cured after decision by an amendment to the complaint. The motion to amend the complaint was, therefore, properly denied.
The order denying the plaintiff's motion for a judgment should be reversed and the matter remitted to the Special Term for judgment. The order denying the motion to amend the complaint should be affirmed. No costs should be allowed.
All concurred.
Order denying motion for judgment reversed and the matter remitted to Special Term for judgment. Order denying motion to amend complaint affirmed, without costs.