Court Opinion

ID: 7108653
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-07-24 12:23:46.550316+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T16:13:39.660330
License: Public Domain

GiveN, J.
— I. The. mortgage in suit describes the following real estate in Palo Alto county: “The south one-half of the south one-half of section fourteen, in township ninety-six north, of range number thirty-three west of the 5th P. M., Iowa, containing one hundred and sixty acres according to the government survey, subject to a mortgage of one thousand eight hundred dollars given to P. L. Dodge. This land is owned by Daniel and Mary Kane. Also the south one-half of the northwest quarter, and the north one-half of the southwest quarter, of section 14, in township ninety-six north, of range number thirty-three west of the 5th P. M., containing one hundred and sixty acres, accord*270ing to tbe government survey, subject to a mortgage of two thousand dollars to, John 0. Bennett. This land is owned by William T. Kane.” Daniel Kane owned one of the forties first described, and he and his wife, Mary, resided thereon as their homestead. Mary Kane owned the other three forties by conveyance from her husband, Daniel, made about the twenty-sixth day of July, 1882. At that time Mary executed a power of attorney to Daniel Kane, authorizing “him in my place and stead to buy, sell, and convey all real estate and personal property, and collect all debts of every nature, whether legacies or interest, and give receipts in my name as full as I could do were I present myself.” This instrument was duly acknowledged. The mortgage in suit as set-out was executed by “Mary E. Kane, Daniel Kane, Mary Kane, by Daniel Kane, her attorney in fact.” The abstract shows the name of “W. T. Kane” to' the power of attorney, but not to the mortgage. As it is not claimed that he was a party to the power of attorney, and it is conceded that he was a party to the mortgage, we must assume that this is a mistake; but, whether so or not, it will not affect the question under consideration. The plaintiffs only seek foreclosure as to the land owned by Daniel and Mary Kane, the land of William T. Kane having been exhausted as a security by the mortgage thereon to John 0. Bennett. On the fourteenth day of April, 1896, the defendant Celia G-. Davies, with full knowledge of plaintiffs’ mortgage and of the other lien on said land of Daniel and Mary Kane, purchased said land from them for the consideration of five hundred dollars, receiving their quitclaim deed therefor. After Mrs. Davies had appeared and answered in this case, to-wit, August 14, 1897, she and her husband, for the consideration of one thousand four hundred dollars, conveyed to W. S. Parnham “the same title that we received from Daniel Kane and Mary Kane,” which conveyance Parn-ham received with knowledge of plaintiffs’ mortgage and said other liens. Parnham was substituted as a defendant in the *271place of Mrs. Davies, and answered, joining issues with, plaintiffs. The First National Bank of Emmetsburg, a judgment creditor of Daniel and Mary Kane, also answered, joining issues with plaintiffs. Pamham and the bank alone appear in resistance to plaintiffs claims on this appeal.
1 II. Appellees’ counsel contend and cite authorities to show that this power of attorney does not authorize Daniel Kane to execute mortgages as attorney in fact for Mary Kane. Counsel for appellants say: “Now this is entirely superfluous, as we agree with him on that point. We insist, however, that this unauthorized act of Daniel Kane was ratified and accepted as her act by her conduct after she was apprised of such act.” Counsel differ as to whether ratification of such an act must be in writing ; but this we do not determine, as we think the evidence fails to show a ratification' by Mary Kane in writing or otherwise. Such ratification must be clear and express, or be implied from circumstances equally clear and undisputed. Haynes v. Seachrest, 18 Iowa, 455. There is no evidence that Mary Kane every expressly approved of the giving of said mortgage, nor convincing evidence that she knew of it prior to the commencement of this action. The acts relied upon as showing ratification are that Mary Kane joined in the deed to Mrs. Davies, that she has never disclaimed the act, and makes no defense to plaintiffs’ mortgage. That she joined in the deed does not even indicate a knowledge of the mortgage, nor an approval thereof. If she did then know of the mortgage, the making of the quitclaim deed does not show ratification of it, but only a willingness, for the consideration received, to part with her interest in the land, whatever it might be. Having conveyed her interest before the commencement of this action, she had nothing left to defend for, and therefore her failure to appear cannot be construed into a ratification of the mortgage. Conditions may exist when not to disclaim an act may constitute a ratification thereof; but such conditions never existed *272in tbis case. Mrs. Kane was never called upon to disclaim or affirm this mortgage until the commencement of this action, and, having parted with her interest in the land, there was no occasion for her doing so then. We agree with counsel that the power of attorney did not authorize Daniel Kane to execute this mortgage for and on behalf of Mary Kane, and we are of the opinion that the evidence fails to> show that Mary Kane ever ratified the act,
2 3 III. Appellants insist that Mrs. Davies and Mr. Parn-ham are estopped by their answers and by the understanding as to plaintiffs’ mortgage when Mrs. Davies bought the land. Mrs. Davies did answer, alleging, in effect,. that the mortgage in question is collateral to one securing the same indebtedness on certain property in Estherville, and asking that plaintiffs be required to first exhaust that property. W. S. Parnham, when substituted as a defendant, adopted this answer; but he further answered,, admitting that plaintiffs’ mortgage appeared of record,, averring “that the same was without authority, without consideration, and absolutely void, and these defendants, Celia G; Davies and W. S. Parnham, deny each and every allegation in the third paragraph of plaintiffs’ petition contained.” The validity of this mortgage was thus put in issue, and therefore there was no estoppel by the answers-Neither Mrs. Davies nor Mr. Parnham assumed the incumbrances on the land, yet, knowing that the land was liable for valid liens, and that the Kanes were-insolvent, they purchased, expecting to protect the title by paying the valid liens; but this does not estop them from questioning the validity of any of said liens. There was-no understanding or agreement that Mrs. Davies or Mr. Parnham should recognize or pay the plaintiff’s mortgage. It follows from the conclusions that plaintiffs take nothing by their mortgage as to the interest of Mary Kane in the lands against which foreclosure is sought. Daniel Kane had no interest in the three forties belonging to his wife that *273be could mortgage, and be could not mortgage tbe borne-stead forty, unless his wife joined in tbe execution of the same joint instrument. Code, section 2974. This Mrs. Kane did not do, and therefore tbe mortgage is invalid, even as to Daniel Kane’s interest in the homestead forty. In view of the conclusion, other questions discussed need not be considered. — Affirmed.