Court Opinion

ID: 6991349
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-07-24 03:25:30.33481+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T16:09:37.530241
License: Public Domain

Phillips, J. The plaintiff brought his action of assumpsit against defendant on two promissory notes, one of date February 23, 1884, for $2,000, due one year from date, the other of date February 23, 1885, due one day after date, for the sum of $160 each, with interest from date at the rate of eight per cent, per annum. The defendant pleaded specially, that at the time of the execution and delivery of the $2,000 note sued on, the defendant was the owner of personal property of the value of $3,000, on which he executed a chattel mortgage to the plaintiff to secure the note; that subsequently the plaintiff made a deed of assignment of all his estate, under and by which deed of assignment the assignee took possession of plaintiff’s estate, and while so in possession of the note and mortgage, took possession of the mortgaged property; that subsequently, the plaintiff .having compromised with his creditors, and the assignee having returned to him all the estate in his hands, plaintiff advertised the property so mortgaged for sale, and through his attorneys, bid in the same, and the value thereof was at least $3,000, and offering to set off that sum. The evidence shows that the plaintiff was in 230ssessi°n of property to the value of about $3,000, a part of which was not included in the mortgage, and in February, 1886, turned over all the property, which comprised the furniture of a hotel, to the assignee of plaintiff. At that time the indebtedness amounted to about $2,320. On January 27, 1887, the property was sold for $443.50, and the same was bid off by G. A. Koerner. The assignee testifies that the defendant stated to him that he desired to give up the Hinckley House and get out, “ and told me that Mr. Hinckley held a chattel mortgage on the hotel, goods and furniture, and he desired me to take care of it for the chattel mortgage. “ He wanted me to take possession and I did so, to dispose of it at any time. I did not deem it advisable to sell the personal property until the house itself was sold. Some time after that, a party desired to rent the hotel. Mr. Cheney, the defendant, consented to the property being used by the incoming tenant; but before it came to a sale, Mr. Hinckley made arrangements to control the property himself.” While there is nothing in this record to show the date at which the property was returned to Hinckley, yet it does appear, that from February, 1886, to January 27, 1887, the assignee or Hinckley had control of this .property, and at the time the property was turned over," held the notes and chattel mortgage. After thus receiving the property it was the duty of the assignee and of the mortgagee to proceed to the disposal of it in accordance with the provisions of the mortgage. It was held in Waite v. Dennison, 51 Ill. 319, “If, after seizing the property described in the mortgage on condition broken, the mortgagee misapplies it, or converts it to his own use, without proceeding to comply with requirements for its foreclosure, he must account for its value.” And the fact that Cheney consented to the use of. it by the tenant of the assignee, at the request of the assignee, under the circumstances as testified to, would not relieve Hinckley from liability for the value of the property, the sale of which was thus unreasonably delayed, and used an unreasonable time. The only testimony in the record as to the value of the property is that of the defendant, who testified that he considered the property to be worth about $2,500 when he turned it over, and Peter J off ray, who testified that he was the auctioneer who sold the property; that the mortgage was handed him by Mr. Koerner; that there was competition at the sale; that the property was sold to Mr. Koerner, and in his estimation the property sold at a reasonable value; and Mr. Koerner, who states that he bid the property off for $443.50; that he “ attended the sale of the property at the Hinckley House for some gentlemen who had taken the notes as security for a debt thatMr. Hinckley owed them; and I recollect that I paid a pretty fair price for the furniture. -1 am not an expert in the judgment "of values but there were more experts there that bid; but I got the goods.” Huder this" evidence the jury found that Hinckley was liable for the value of the property and found the value of the property as a sufficient set-off to the amount of the notes, finding for the defendant. With this conflict as to the value of the property we are not disposed to question the correctness of that finding. There was sufficient evidence to authorize the verdict. The motion for a new trial, as made in the Circuit Court, assigns the following reasons: 1st. “ That the court admitted at the trial improper evidence on the part of the defendant.” 2d. “ That tiie court permitted an instruction on the part .of the defendant to go to the jury without the same being submitted to the opposing counsel according to the rules of the court.” 3d. “ That the court permitted written evidence introduced on the part of the defendant to be handed to the jury and by them to be carried to the jury room.” 4th. “ That the verdict is contrary to the law and evidence in the case.” The remaining error assigned here is, the court erred in giving defendant’s instruction. The giving of that instruction is only objected to in the motion for new trial, on the ground that it was not submitted to opposing counsel in accordance with the rules of court. The existence of such a rule is in no manner shown by this record, and as to the giving of that instruction it must, on the authority of O. O. & F. R. R. Co. v. McMath, 91 Ill. 111, be held that it can not be urged here for the first time, except on the ground of its not being submitted to opposing counsel, as that was the only objection taken in the Circuit Court. Eo error appearing which will authorize a reversal the judgment is affirmed. Judgment affirmed.