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25 Iowa 341

Simms v. McKee

Supreme Court of Iowa

Decided July 23, 1868

Supreme Court of Iowa · decided 1868-07-23

This is an action of replevin for a mule team, harness and wagon. Trial to the court without a jury, and substantially the following facts were found : One Carleton, the owner of the property, executed a mortgage to plaintiff upon the same, in accordance with the laws of Illinois, where the property was at the time, to secure the sum of $500, due at a future date, with a stipulation that , the mortgagor should retain the possession of the property until the debt became due.

Decided 1868-07-23

Beck, J.

¶11. mobtoage: of chattels: lex loci. The main question raised in the'record was determined by this court in the case of Smith v. McLean, 24 Iowa, 322. We held in that case that a , * ' , . - _ mortgage ot personal property, executed and recorded in another State in accordance with the laws thereof (the property when mortgaged being within such State), has the same force and effect to bind the property when removed to this State, and will be enforced here, as under the laws of the State where it was executed. This doctrine must be considered the settled rule in this State.

¶22. — retention Sy mortgagor, The defendants’ counsel cite Rhines v. Phelps, 3 Gilm. 464, in which it is held that the retention of the possession of mortgaged property by the mortgagor beyond the term stipulated, renders the mort*343gage fraudulent and void as to creditors and purchasers. If this be now the rule in Illinois it is not applicable to the case made by the record. The mortgagor removed the property before the debt became due. Until the maturity of the debt he could, under the mortgage, retain the property in his possession. The removal of the property was without the knowledge or consent of the mortgagee, who used proper diligence to recover it. Certainly the possession of the property by the mortgagor beyond the time stipulated, against the consent of the mortgagee, and in spite of his efforts to recover it, would not defeat his rights thereto. The rule of the authority cited is applicable only to cases where the mortgagor retains possession with the permission and consent of the mortgagor.

¶3Affirmed.

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