Howard v. Chadbourne , 3 Me. 461 ( 1825 )

The opinion of the Court was delivered in Cumberland, at the adjournment of the ensuing November term, by

Mellen C. J.

In this case the only question is whether Sawyer was properly admitted as a witness on the part of the deman-dant, to prove that the tenant had knowledge of the existence of the mortgage deed to the demandant, at the time he purchased of Sawyer, whose deed to the tenant contains no covenants, though the mortgage deed does. At the trial, the only objection made to the admission of the witness was placed on the ground of his liability on his covenants to and with the demandant ; but, as Sawyer had a title at the time he executed the mortgage deed, and could not be liable on his covenants if the demandant had lost it by his own inattention in not causing the mortgage to be registered prior to the registry of the deed to the tenant ; the witness was admitted ; appearing, as he then did, to stand perfectly indifferent as to the point of interest. But in the argument before us the objection has been placed upon a new ground. It is now contended that if, by the testimony of Sawyer, the deman-dant’s title under the mortgage should be established, the execution of the writ of habere facias possessionem would completely vest the title of the demanded premises in him, absolutely, if not redeemed ; and this would at once amount to payment of the debt, to secure which the mortgage was made ; or so much of it as the-land is fairly worth ; and hence it is argued that Sawyer had a direct interest to establish the mortgage ; and thus, in whole or in part, pay his debt with the land ; knowing that the tenant could have no claim upon him, because the deed of release which he had given him contained no covenants on which he could be rendered liable in damages ; whereas, if the mortgage deed should be defeated, the premises would belong to the tenant, and Savnjer must, pay his debt to the demandant. Such is the argument of the tenant’s counsel, and the reasons urged in its support; and we do not perceive that it is capable of refutation. We admit its force, and are all of opinion that the verdict must be set aside and a new trial granted.