Court Opinion

ID: 7930335
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-09-08 23:03:38.241838+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T16:33:19.488111
License: Public Domain

Cooley, J.
The facts in this case are somewhat complicated, and as the questions involved are questions of fact, we shall content ourselves with stating conclusions.
On the second day of September, 1859, the copartnership of McBride Bros, of the city of New York had a judgment against Lewis M. Clark and Bichard G. Hillyer for the sum of $670.10, and the copartnership of Archibald Young & Hoaglan had a like judgment for the sum of $1176.93. To secure the payment of these debts the creditors held separate mortgages on lands in Gratiot county. On the day above named the debtors executed to William L. Webber as trustee for the two copartnerships a third mortgage. The nominal consideration for this was $800, but it was conditioned for the payment of the two judgments. The complainants in this suit are the members or representatives of t]ie two copartnerships named. The Webber mortgage covered blocks seven, eight and seventeen of the village of Pine Biver, which were embraced in neither of the other mortgages.
In January, 1866, the judgments remained unpaid, and Henry L. Holcomb, who had acquired an interest in the lands covered by the Webber mortgage, and also in certain *267parcels covered by tbe others, went to New York to negotiate for a release. He there saw the members of the two copartnerships, and agreed with them for a release of certain described lands, included in blocks seven, eight and seventeen above mentioned, for the sum of $700 which he paid.
Whether in the negotiations the Webber mortgage was mentioned is in dispute; but the release which was drawn, executed and delivered purported to discharge the lands from the other two mortgages only, and Holcomb testifies that he received it in that form on being assured that it was sufficient to release the lands from the Webber mortgage also. On the part of complainants the giving of any such assurance is denied; but we think the probabilities are that all parties at the time understood that the security the creditors had on blocks seven, eight and seventeen for the payment of their judgments was to be and was released. Hnless it released from the Webber'mortgage, the instrument executed was of course, so far as these blocks were concerned, wholly ineffectual.
In equity the release by the eestuis que trustent was a good release.
The Webber mortgage appears to have been mislaid soon after it was given, and nothing was done by any one in respect to it until 1878, when some person interested in a parcel of the land called upon Mr. Webber for a release of record. As the condition of the claim 'at that time was unknown to him, he addressed the complainants, and they, claiming it to be still undischarged, called for and obtained an assignment to themselves and instituted this suit. Our conclusion is, for the reason above stated, that the suit cannot be maintained. In equity the mortgage is discharged, and there is no necessity for a cross-bill to enable the defence to be made. The case of Berry v. Whitney 40 Mich. 65, is in point here and analogous in principle.
The circuit court having dismissed the bill, the decree will be affirmed with costs.
The other Justices concurred.