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FISHER V. PORTER.1
((Jircu,it.(Jourt,D. Nebraska.
February 27,1885.)
1.
MORTGAGE-REFORMATION AND FORECLOSURE-MISTAKE IN DEBCRll'TION 011' PnOPERTY.
Where. the uncontradicted evidence, in a sl1it to reform and foreclose a mortgage, shows that there was a mistake made in describing the property intended to be covered by it, the mortgage will be reformed so as to carry out the intention of the parties. RETAINING COMMISSION.
2.
When an ageIlt who negotiates a loan, secured by mortgage, bearing 10 per cent. interest, which is legal at the time, retains as a commission 10 per cent. of the amount of the loan, the tramaction will not be held usurious when it appears that the mortgagee did not share in the commission retained, or agree to do so, and that the agent was acting solely as agent of the mortgagor.
Suit to Reform and Foreclose Mortgage. Mayne &: Hunter, for complainant. Geo. S. Smith and Geo. W. Doane, for respondent. DUNDY, J. There was a mistake made in the mortgage, in properly describing the land intended to be covered by it. This is uncontradicted. The mortgage must, therefore, be reformed so as to carry out the intention of the parties. The defense of usury relied on is not sustained by the proof, especially if the later decisions in this COlut are to be followed in determining that question. The Porters applied to TuUys, of Council Bluffs, to borrow $1,900. Tullys was a loan broker, whose business it was to procure loans for others, he charging a large commission therefor. The Porters specially employed him to negotiate a loan for them, and agreed to pay him 10 per cent. commission if he prooured for them the $1,900 desired. This he did. The money came into his ha.nds, and he retained his commission according to agreement. This he had a right to do, unless he (Tullys) was the agent of Fisher, the mortgagee. Tullys went to Plattsmouth to look after the matter, prepared aU the papers, did all the business for the Porters, received the money, kept his commission, and gave to the Porters the balance. There is no testimony in the record that shows that Fisher, the mortgagee, ever received, or was to receive, anything whatever from the Porters, except the principal of $1,900, and interest thereon at 10 per cent. per annum. That was lawful at the time. There is nothing that connects Fisher in any way with the commission retained by Tullys, nor is there anything that shows Fisher even knew of that part of the transaction. Tullys expressly says in his testimony that he was not agent for Fisher, and did not represent him, and that he was acting solely for the Porters. If Fisher had shared in the commission retained, or had agreed to do so, or if Tullys had in any sense been agent for Fishel', then Fisher would be 1
Report.ed by Robertson Howard, Esq., of the St. Paul bar.
NORTH V. KNOWLTON.
163
held responsible for Tullys' acts. As it is, he was not responsible therefor. Decree will be allowed plaintiff for amount due on mortgage, and for taxes paid by him on the land.
NORTH v. KNOWLTON and others.ORTON v. NORTH. 1 (Circuit Court, D. Minnesota. March, 1885.
MORTGAGE-PHIOR RECORD OF SECON:/) MORTGA.GE-CONSTRUCTIVE NOTICEFORECLOSURE.
The rule that if the owner of a prior unrecorded mortgage puts it on record before a subsequent purchase of the property the record will be constructive notice to the purchaser, is applicable to a case where the purchase is upon the foreclosure of a mortgage prior in record, but subsequent in date.
In Equity. On .July 24,1878, Knowlton and wife made their promissory note to the order of Anna North for $700, with interest at the rate of 9 per cent. per annum, with coupons attached, payable at the office of Corbin Banking Company, unpaid interest drawing 10 per cent.; and on failure to pay interest within five days after due, the holder may collect principal and interest at once. The note was secured by first mortgage on lots 1, 2, 3,4, and 5, and S. E. t of N. E. t of N. E. t. section 5, township 121, range 46, situated in Big Stone county. Minnesota. Mortgage was recorded August 3, 1878, in Big Stont county. On April 1, 1880, Knowlton and wife made their note fOJ $200. payable to W. 1. Austin, or order, six months after date, wit!> interest at 10 per cent. per annum, and also made their note for $200, payable 18 months after date to order of W. 1. Austin, at 10 per cent. interest, and secured the two notes for the aggregate sum of $400 by mortgage on said property covered by first mortgage, which was recorded in the county of Stevens, state of Minnesota, June 20, 1880; and the same mortgage was also recorded in Big Stone county, May 8, 1882. The first mortgage also was recorded in Big Stone county, May 31, 1881. The Austin mortgage was foreclosed under the power of sale by virtue of the statute of the state of Minnesota, and on default the property was sold, April 12, 1882, to C. K. Orton, he being the highest bidder, for the sum of $513.51, and a certificate given the purchaser by the sheriff. He went mto possession, and on April 26, 1883, commenced an action in the state court against North to determine the adverse claim, which was removed to this court and stands 1 Reported
by Robertson Howard,. Esq., of the St. Paul bar.