Polhill v. Brown

Blandford, Justice.

1. Brown sued Polhill to recover possession of a certain lot of land. Polhill moved to dismiss the action, and therewith filed a fplea to the jurisdiction of the court, upon the ground that he was not properly served, in this: that he resided in the county of Pulaski, but the process was directed to, and the copy declaration and process served by, the sheriff of Houston county. The facts show that the land sued for was partly in Pulaski and partly in Houston, the boundary line between these counties running through a portion of the land, and that no person upon whom service could be made resided in Houston. The jury found against the plea. The court overruled the motion to dismiss, and held that the service was right. "We think this ruling was proper, under section 3355 of the code (Acts 1853-4,p. 54), which provides for service in such cases. That section says:

“ In all cases where any person resides in one county, whose plantation or land extends over the line into an adjoining county, and there is no one upon whom service in an action of ejectment can be legally perfected in the county where such land may lie, it shall he lawful for the clerk of the superior' court of the county wherein such land may lie to issue process in behalf of the plaintifi against the defendant, which process shall be directed to the sheriff of the county wherein such land may lie, and such sheriff shall serve the same, and such service shall be good and valid.”

2. It is assigned as error that the court allowed an amendment to the declaration changing the number of the lot in controversy from 59, as set out in the declaration, to 69. Inasmuch as the deeds under which both the plaintiff and the defendant claimed, and the declaration, described the land as lot number 59 known as the Davis place, or the “old Davis place,” and as it was shown to the court that the' Davis place was lot number 69 instead of lot number 59, we think the court was right in allowing the amendment.

3. The plaintiff in error pleaded there was usury contained in a certain deed made by him to one J. T. Brown. This plea was, on motion of the defendant in error, stricken by the court, and this is excepted to. Upon looking at the whole plea, we think there was no error in this ruling. The plea alleged that the defendant, Polhill, had conveyed the land to J. T. Brown to secure a debt upon which he was to pay 25 per cent, interest, the same being usurious; and that afterwards he (Polhill) agreed with the plaintiff, Wilson Brown, that if he (Wilson Brown) would become surety for him (Polhill) upon a note to be given to one Ellis for the purpose of borrowing money, he would cause J. T. Brown to convey the land to him (Wilson Brown) to secure him (Wilson Brown) for standing security for him (Polhill) to said Ellis. It appears to us that whether there was usury in the deed or in the contract by which Polhill made the deed to J. T. Brown, could make no difference as to the deed which Polhill procured J. T. Brown to .make to Wilson Brown. Whatever defect there may have been in the former could not affect the latter.

4. It is alleged as error that the court admitted in evidence a certain map of the county of Houston, which was properly certified to by the secretary of state. We do not think the court committed error in admitting this map. The map was made under the authority of a law of the State, and' was a map kept by the county authorities of Houston county; and it was shown by the evidence that a portion of the land sued for lay in that county, being divided by the boundary line between the counties of Houston and Pulaski.

5. It is alleged as error that the court admitted in evidence a conversation which took place between the plaintiff, Wilson Brown, and Polhill, to the effect that if Polhill did not pay the indebtedness to Ellis, Brown was to have the land. It appears that Polhill put in evidence an agreement in writing to the effect that he (Polhill) was to have further time to pay this debt, which agreement in writing was made after the conversation referred to. Hpon the admission in evidence of this agreement in writing, Polhill moved to rule out the conversation, which had already been admitted in evidence. The court refused to rule out the conversation ; and in this we think the court committed error. We think that the verbal conversation which preceded this written agreement is to be considered as merged in or entirely done away with by the latter.

6. It is alleged as error that the court refused to allow the defendant’s counsel to open and conclude the argument. We think this exception is wholly without merit, under the facts in the record.

7. It is alleged as error that the court, after counsel for the defendant had spoken in argument to the jury for two hours, remarked, “Hurry through, as this case has already consumed more time than its importance demands.” "We agree with the court below that two hours in such a case as this was sufficient time for the defendant’s counsel to put his case properly before the jury. Besides, as appears from the record, counsel was allowed to go on and continue his remarks to the j ury.

8. The charge of the court on the subject of usury is excepted to. Polhill contended that inasmuch as he had agreed to pay usury to Ellis upon the note which Wilson Brown signed as his security, this agreement infected with usury the deed which he (Polhill) caused to be made to Wilson Brown. The court charged that if Wilson Brown paid to Ellis the debt upon which he (Brown) was surety for Polhill, without notice by Pol-hill not to pay the same, he had a right to pay it, notwithstanding there was usury in the debt; and that Polhill would be bound to pay him (Brown) the amount of money he thus paid. We think this charge was correct.

9. The charge of the court on the subject of mesne profits is also excepted to. And on this subject we think the court erred. In a case of this kind we do not think mesne profits are recoverable. The deed which Polhill caused J. T. Brown to make to Wilson Brown was a security for a debt. Polhill was the owner of the land, and Wilson Brown held it merely as a security or indemnity. While he had a right to the possession of the land and might have recovered the same in an action of ejectment, he had no right to recover mesne profits from the owner of the land, who was Polhill, except pending the action and to apply the same in payment of the debt due him by Polhill.

10. In this case we think that nearly every material point has been adjudicated by the trial already had, and the litigation should be shortened as much as possible, as there is to be another trial of the case. Where one is the owner of land and sells it to another, giving his bond for titles and taking tbe vendee’s note for the purchase money, tbe owner, on default of payment, may recover tbe land, because tbe title is in him ; but it does not follow that because one who becomes liable to another conveys or causes to be conveyed to tbe latter bis land as security or indemnity, tbe person bolding such conveyance may absolutely recover tbe possession of tbe land in an action of ejectment. While be may be entitled to tbe possession of tbe land as a part of bis security or indemnity, yet if tbe land be worth more than tbe amount for which tbe owner is liable to tbe bolder of such conveyance, tbe owner, for tbe purpose of discharging bis liability, may have tbe land sold by a proper proceeding for that purpose, and tbe debt discharged. And it does not follow that if tbe creditor, under such circumstances, should recover tbe possession of tbe land in an action of ejectment, tbe land would be absolutely bis; but be would bold tbe land as be did before tbe recovery, as a security for tbe debt or liability of tbe debtor, and would be accountable to such debtor for tbe rents and profits of tbe same; and whenever tbe rents and profits amounted to enough to pay off and discharge tbe debt or liability, tbe debtor could compel a reconveyance of tbe land to himself.

So we think that on tbe future trial of this case there are but few questions to be determined ; and we direct that tbe court refer to tbe jury tbe following : (1) as to tbe amount of tbe debt which Wilson Brown paid for Polhill, and when it was paid, and bow much is due to Brown from Polhill; (2) tbe value of tbe land. And if it should appear that tbe value of tbe land exceeds the indebtedness of Polhill to Brown, tbe court should decree a sale of tbe same, and tbe proceeds arising from such sale should be first applied to the payment of tbe debt due by Polhill to Brown, and the overplus be paid to Polhill; or that the plaintiff have leave to file a petition asking that this land be sold and that the money-arising from the sale be first applied to the payment of his debt due by Polhill, and that the balance be paid to Polhill, he the plaintiff making a conveyance to the purchaser. Judgment reversed, with directions.