Court Opinion

ID: 6502066
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-07-19 18:14:48.765502+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T15:54:38.341600
License: Public Domain

COLLIER, C. J.
The bill of exceptions does not inform us what was the form of the mortgage attempted to be set up by the claimant; the stipulations, (if any) in respect to the possession of the property; whether the debt intended to be secured was past *665due, and whether the mortgage contained a power of sale. Al^ intendments on these points must be made most strongly against the party complaining of error, so as to sustain the judgment of the primary court. If the mortgagor was in possession of the merchandize, and entitled to enjoy it as against the mortgagee, it has been repeatedly held, that such an interest may be leived on and sold under execution. [McGregor & Darling v. Hall, 3 Stewart and P. Rep. 397; Purnell, etal. v. Hogan, 5 Stew’t& P. Rep. 192; Perkins and Elliott V. Mayfield, 5 Porters’ Rep. 182.] In Purnell, et al. v. Hogan, the court referring to McGregor & Darling v. Hall, say it has been expressly decided upon a view of all the authorities, that the interest of a mortgagee can not be interposed to prevent the execution of the property in possession of the mortgagor; and that the equity of redemption is liable to be sold in satisfaction of the mortgagor’s debts. In that case the mortgagee was the claimant, and the court decided that the mortgage was admissible evidence in his favor for any purpose.
If the mortgagor has such an interest as may be sold on execution, the value of that interest cannot at law be shown to be less than the property. The statute requires that if the jury find the property subject to the execution, they shall find the value of each article separately. Here the jury have found against the claimant, and their duty would not be performed according to law, by ascertaining the value of each article, and deducting therefrom the amount of the claimant’s lien.
Besides, the plaintiff in execution was entitled to have the interest of the mortgagor, be it what it might, levied on and sold, and the mortgagee by interposing a claim, cannot impair his rights. A court of law cannot, consistently with its powers, compel a plaintiff in execution to accept the value of the mortgaged property after satisfying the lien of the mortgagee instead of offering it for sale. If the mortgagor have a legal interest, the thing itself may be sold, and this will not prejudice the mortgagee, who may assert his rights in the same manner as if no sale had taken place. • See further, Planters’ and Merchants’ Bank v; A. Willis <5c Co>, at this term.
The consequence is, the judgment of the circuit court is correct and must be affirmed.