Court Opinion

ID: 7094462
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-07-24 12:09:28.533153+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T16:13:12.082291
License: Public Domain

Beck J.
1. Stamps : adciitional security: mortgage. A single question arises upon the record. It is this: Is the second mortgage, under which defendant claims to hold the property, invalid for want or a proper stamp ?
It is conceded that the stamping of the note was sufficient for the first mortgage. § 160, chap. 173, Laws 38th Congress, 1863-4.
The points of contest are: Were the stamps upon the note sufficient to render the second mortgage valid ? Or did the second mortgage, being executed to secure a prior debt not due, under the peculiar language of schedule B of the chapter above cited, require a stamp in order to make it valid ?
I. The act above cited requires mortgages to be stamped. But section 160 provides, that, in the case of a note secured by a mortgage, one stamp shall be sufficient for both instruments if it be placed upon the instrument requiring the greatest stamp. Now, it is obvious that a stamp, under this provision, upon the note, is used for the purpose of paying the duty upon the mortgage as well as upon the note. It cannot discharge the duty upon the second mortgage; for, if it could, it would be used to discharge the duty on three instruments, which cannot be admitted. The second' mortgage must pay the duty as well as the first, and for that purpose it must be stamped. The stamp on the note was used to pay the duty on. the first, and therefore is not sufficient for the second mortgage.
2^ — mortgage notóle. c II. The counsel for defendant contend, that a stamp is not necessary to the validity of the mortgage, and base their argument to sustain this position, upon the peculiar language of schedule B, providing for the imposition of stamp duties upon mortgages, which is as follows:
“ mortgages of lands, estate or property, real or per*413sonal, * * * when the same shall be made as security for the payment of any definite and certain sum of money lent at the time, or previously due and owing, or forborne to be paid, being payable,” etc.
It is insisted that this language describes such mortgages only as are given for money lent at the time, or for money previously due, and does not include those given for a debt before contracted but not due. The mortgage under which defendant claims the property in dispute, being given to secure a debt previously contracted, but' not due, -it is insisted, is not described by the foregoing language of schedule B. We are of a different opinion. The phrases “forborne to be paid,” “being payable,” qualifying the subject, — “ sum of money,”— do not convey the idea that the money must be due when the mortgage is executed in order to bring it within the class of instruments described. TJpon a different construction of these phrases defendant’s counsel arrive at their conclusion.
The other points made in the brief of defendant’s counsel were not relied upon in the argument. We are therefore not required to discuss them.
Affirmed.