A. T. Stokes & Co. v. Howerton, 67 N.C. 50 (1872)

June 1872 · Supreme Court of North Carolina

67 N.C. 50

A. T. STOKES & CO. vs. W. H. HOWERTON.

When the terms of the condition of a mortgage relate to future liabilities only: Held, that a stipulation reciting that it was understood “that S. (the mortgagee) shall not become surety for H., (the mortgagor) for more than $1,300, including claims heretofore signed by said S,” and directions to “sell and pay off all liabilities for which said S. may be liable for him,” (the said H.,) do not operate to extend the security to past liabilities.

Case agreed, upon questions arising in proceedings supplementary to execution, in the Superior Court of Rowan, heard before Cloud, J., at Chambers, in April, 1872.

The plaintiffs having obtained judgment against tbe defendant for $200 and interest, before a Justice ot the Peace, had it docketed in the Superior Court of Rowan, and execution issued thereon. The execution being returned unsatisfied, upon affidavit that John I. Shaver bad money in his hands belonging to the defendant, said Shaver was examined in relation to such indebtedness. It was agreed that Shaver’s liability depended upon, whether a note executed by the defendant, with Shaver as surety, to one Moore, was secured by the terms oí a mortgage from the defendant to Shaver, which is set out in the opinion of the Court. The note to Moore was executed before the date oí the mortgage. Shaver, having sold the mortgaged property, applied the proceeds to the defendant’s indebtedness to him, and claims for which he was liable tor the defendant, including the note to Moore.

It was agreed, that if his Honor should be of opinion that said note to Moore was secured by the mortgage, the proceedings should be dismissed, otherwise -j udgment should be rendered for the plaintiff.

His Honor being of opinion that said note was secured, gave judgment against the plaintiffs, and they appealed.

Bailey and Fowle, for plaintiffs.

Blaekmer c& McOorkle, contra.

Eeade, J.

The question is, whether the mortgage secures the mortgagee as to a liability already incurred, or whether it only secures him in liabilities thereafter to be incurred.

The condition of the mortgage is as follows:

“This indenture, made this, the'3d day of July, 1871, by and between W. H. Howerton, of Salisbury, N. C., of the first part, and John I. Shaver, of the same place, of the other part, witnesseth: That the said party of the first part, in consideration of one dollar paid to him by the said party of the second part, has bargained and sold, and does hereby bargain, sell and convey unto the said party of the second part, his executors, administrators and assigns, all his present stock of groceries, provisions, liquors, confectioneries, and all and every other article of stock now on hand, or which from time to time may be added thereto. The condition of the above deed is such, that whereas the said party of the second part has agreed to stay any execution and stand security for him on judgments which may be taken against the said party of the first part: Now, therefore, if the said party of the first part shall well and truly indemnify and save harmless the said party of the second part from all loss or liability by reason of his staying executions for him, then the foregoing deed is to be void, otherwise to remain in full force.

“ And the said party of the second part covenants, to and with the said party of the first part, that he may proceed and conduct the business he is now employed in, and sell goods as he has been accustomed to do, and generally to buy, sell and barter as if this deed had not been made, until a breach of the condition aforesaid shall have been committed. And it is understood and agreed to as a part of this conveyance, that the said Shaver shall not become surety for said Howerton for more than twelve hundred dollars, including claims heretofore signed by said Shaver, and if he shall become surety on any note or notes for said Howerton, they shall stand on the same footing as judgments stayed. And at any time when the said Shaver shall see fit to do so, for any reason that is satisfactory him, he may take possession of the entire stock of goods, advertise the same for twenty days, and sell a sufficiency thereof for cash to pay off all liabilities for which the said Shaver may be liable for him, together with all costs and charges of executing this trust. And the balance of goods and money he shall pay over to the said Howerton or his order.

“In witness whereof, the said parties of the first and second part have hereunto set their hands and seals, the date first above written.

(Signed.) W. II. HOWERTON, [seal.]

JOHN I. SHAVER.” [seal.]

The scope, and indeed the very terms, of the condition are as to future liabilities onljn

It is insisted that the stipulation, “and it is understood and agreed to as a part of this conveyance that the said Shaver shall not become surety for said Howerton for more than $1200, including claims heretofore signed by said Shaver,” &c., is intended to secure “ claims heretofore signed.” But that does not seem to us to be the proper construction — it only limits the amount which Shaver undertakes to become security for, i. e. $1200 with what he was already bound for. And “ same footing ” means that if he signs notes as well as “ stays judgments,” the notes and judgments shall stand on the same footing.

The direction to “sell and pay off all liabilities for which said Shaver may be liable for him,” taken by itself would embrace the liability incurred before the date of the mortgage; but the whole instrument must be construed together, and “ all liabilities ” must be construed to mean all suah liabilities as before mentioned.

It may be that, although the prior liability is not secured in the mortgage, yet after the mortgagee sold the property and had in his hands more than enough to satisfy the mortgage, he would be entitled to retain to secure his liability outside the mortgage; but the case agreed does not present that point.

There is error. This will be certified to the end that there may be judgment for the plaintiff according to the case agreed.

Per Curiam. Judgment reversed.