Richardson v. Stone , 28 Neb. 137 ( 1889 )

Reese, Ch. J.

This was an action for the foreclosure of a real estate mortgage given to secure the payment of five promissory notes for seventy dollars each, payable to the order of P. D. Cheney, dated July 16, 1872, and, all of which were alleged to have been previously paid, except the last of said series of notes, and which matured on the 16th day of July, 1877. The mortgage and note were executed by defendants Maria Stone and B. F. Stone, her husband. Subsequent to the execution of these papers they had sold and conveyed the real estate to defendant Davidson, with an agreement to present, and make the defenses presented in this case. The action was instituted by plaintiff and appellant, who claimed to be an innocent purchaser of the note in the due course of trade, and before maturity.

Maria Stone filed her answer to the petition denying that plaintiff was the bona fide holder of the note, or that he purchased the same before maturity, and without notice of her defenses, alleging that the only consideration for the note was usurious interest on a loan of $1,000 obtained from P. D. Cheney and B. Murray, Jr., at 17 per cent interest, and that the debt was barred by the statute of limitations. There were other allegations in the answer, but which need not now be noticed. The execution of the note and mortgage was admitted. The reply consisted of a general denial.

The same was tried to the district court, the trial resulting in a general finding and decree in favor of defendants. From this decree plaintiff appeals.

There is practically no dispute but that the only consideration for the note was usurious interest (over and above the legal rate),-contracted and agreed to be paid at the time of the loan for $1,000 referred to above. Upon the trial the following admission was made in open court: “It is admitted that if the witness, B. F. Stone, were present he would testify in this case that the entire consideration for which the note and mortgage was given, was for usurious interest on a loan of money obtained from one Byron Murray, Jr., and that the statement of what this witness would swear to may be used as evidence on the trial of this case. It is further agreed that the notes and mortgage set out in plaintiff's petition were made as there set out and that they are true and correct.”

It is now contended that the statement agreed to would have been only the conclusion of the witness if testified to, and that therefore it was not proof of the fact of usury. While it is perhaps true that had the witness been called for the purpose of proving the fact of usury, and had objection been made to the method of proof, he would have been required to state the facts, and from such facts the conclusion could have been drawn; no objection was offered to that part of the stipulation upon the ground stated. The court and counsel accepted it as proof of the fact. No effort was made to prove a different state of facts. It must now be accepted as true.

The next question presented for consideration is as to whether plaintiff was entitled to protection as an innocent purchaser of the note. Upon this part of the case the evidence was conflicting. Plaintiff testified in his deposition, which was read in evidence, that he purchased the note for value and without notice of any defense, in May, 1876; that he was wholly unacquainted with the defendants and purchased upon the representation that the note was well secured and upon the written statement accompanying it, signed by defendants, that they had “ no defense, set off, or claim whatever in law or equity to make against sáid notes and mortgage.”

As against this there was evidence submitted on the part of defendants that in the month of May, 1878, one Davis,' by his attorney instituted a suit on the same note and mortgage involved in this action, in the circuit court of the United States for the district of Nebraska, the object and purpose of the action being a foreclosure of the mortgage. This evidence consisted of the testimony of Judge Appelgetand of plaintiff’s attorney,,who show quite clearly that the notes involved in the two actions were one and the same. In addition to this, the note shows to have been trimmed and torn in such a way as to excite a suspicion that something had been cut and torn off which it was not desired should appear thereon. The burden of proof being upon the plaintiff to show that he was an innocent holder of the note by purchase for value before maturity, and without notice of defenses (Wortendyke v. Meehan, 9 Neb., 229), the finding of the district court that he hád failed to establish the fact cannot be molested.

Upon consideration of the whole case we are satisfied that the decree of the district court was correct. It is therefore affirmed.

Judgment affirmed.

The other judges concur.