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4
THE WEEKLY CONSTITUTION.
VOLUME YI.I
ATLANTA, GEORGIA, TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 1874.
INUMBEK 52
fetU 8 fonshteifcra.
Tile Constitution and Sun.
ATLANTA, TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 3.
TBRMS of thh weekly constitution.
Weekly One Year $2 00
“ Six Months 1 00
Olabo of Ten .• 15 00
Bead in your • • i
tenant, and upon delivering the possession to
Lockett, he pntone White in possession.
Bathe does not positively state that Lockett
was at any time in actual possession of the
land, and he makes no meni ion whatever of
the personal property. Mr. Ely, solicitor and
the case here. In this State a mortgage in
its inception is nothing more tuan a
security for the payment of money,
and it so continues to be be, and nothing
more after the breach of the condition, there-
foie, creates a lien only, and not an estate."
counsel for Lockett, in this cause swears that And this Court, in the United States vb the
FEDERAL COURT DECISION.
United States District Court Northern Dis
trict of Georgia. Bill for injunction and
relief. In bankruptcy—In re Daniel P.
Hill. Benjamin G. Lock.ett vs. Daniel P.
Hill, the bankrupt and bis assignee, Edward
P. Hoge. >
ER8KINE, J.
This suit arises out of a mortgage given by
Util in January, 1871, to Lockett. Tbebill
states that Bill being indebted to Bust, John
son A Co., (of which firm Lockett was £
member,) and in settlement and liquidation
thereof, ilill drew bis draft on Burt, Johnson
A Co., payable to bis own order; for $7,451
75, and it was accepted by them and trans
ferred to Lockett, and to secure its payment
and in consideration of supplies and money,
and to ditebarse & certain draft in favor of
Ketchum & Hartridge, Hill executed the
mortgage to Lockett on 1,625 acres of land
and certain personal property, and which
mortgage contained, among other stipula
tions, a power to sell the land on nonpay
ment.
Lockett also alleges that he was placed in
possession of the property, real and personal,
on the 20th of December, 1871, and continued
in poeseasion until he conveyed the land
nnaer bis power, on the 18lh of December,
1873, for $4,875, to the the firm (of which he
was then a member) of Bust Johnston &
Co.; and thaa be is still in possession of the
personal property.
He prays an injunction against Hoge, the
assignee, to restrain him from selling any of
the personal properly, or interfering with
any of the mortgaged property real or per
sonal ; and asks for a subpoena against both
Hill, the bankrupt, and Hoge; and the bill
prays for “ other and further relief.”
There is an addendum (o the bill—au offer
to take the property at a fair valuation to be
determined by the Court, or to sell the per
sonal property by virtue of his power and
account to the assignee for any surplus; or
to surrender the property upon payment of
his debt
The conveyance in mortgage from Hill,
the bankrupt, to Lockett the mortgagee and
complainant, was executed on the 16th of
January, 1871, by which be conveyed to
Lmkct» jl pbBStation in Dougherty county
ibThis State, containing sixteen hundred
- and twenty-five acres, also certain personal
property on the land consisting of fourteen
mutes, all the stock of hogs, cattle,<&c., wag
ons, darts and farming Implements, and like
wise the crops of corn, cotton, and fodder,
to be raised on the place, daring the said year
1871; provided nevertheless, if Hill shall pay
on or before the 1st day of October, 1871, a
certain draft accepted by one Bust & Son,
and all advances bo made during the year for
provisions, and shall save Lockett harmless
on the Ketchum & Hartridge draft, and all
costs, expenses and fees, then thedeed to be
void, else of lull force. The* mortgage
further stipulates that if Hill shall fail to pay
the draft accepted by Bust & Son; at the
time, and in the manner specified, and also
the advances for the present year, then Bust
& Sou or Lockett shall have the right to
foreclose sv.d lien or mortgage on the grow
ing crops and other personal property, inac
cqrdance with the statutes of this State; as
tg the real estate, it Is further agreed that
Lockett shall have the right t« foreclose this
mortgage upon the same, or to sell said plan
tation npon the most favorable terms practi
cable, Either at public sale to the highest
bidder, or at private sale, and to account to
Hill, after paying off said debts, for the
balance ; and Hill constitutes and appoints
Lcckett bis attorney in fact, ratifying his
acts and doings in the premises, provided,
nevertheless, that this power of attorney to
convey and make titles shall not operate
until after the first day of October next, 1871.
On the 20th of December, 1871, Hill and
Lockett entered into a written agreement,
under seal, reciting that Hill being in
debted to Lockett in a large amount
and to secure the debt, as well as for other
purposes, he, on the 16th of January, 1871,
executed to Lockett a mortgage to certain
propery real and persoal, and being still in
debted to Lockett in the sum of six thous
and Eeven hundred and thirty-three dollars
twenty-three cents with interest from the 1st
of December, 1871, at the agreed rate of ten
per cent., from E&id 1st of December until
paid. And that by said mortgage Lockett
had therighttosell thcland therein conveyed,
but the present not being considered a judi
cious time to make the sale, it is agreed that
Lockett shall take possession of said property
real and personal and shall have the light to
rent the plantation and the personal property
in terms this day sgreed upon between Lock
ett and one John La Bcque, and that the rent
shall be applied to tbe extinguishment of the
debt due by Hill to Lockett; and that dur
ing the ensuing year (1872) Lockett shall have
the right to sell all of the property both real
and persoal, mentioned in said mortgage con
sisting of the lands mentioned in the mort
gage and personal property this day turned
over to La Boque and apply the proceeds,
firstly, to tne balance due on the
debt above mentioned in this
agreement, and secondly, to the pay
ment of the Ketchum & Hartridge draft
(provided this draft has to be paid), and
juockctt is appointed attorney in fact for
Hill, with full power and authority to act as
his attorney in feci and to make all needful
conveyances.
On the 24th October, 1873, Hill wrote
Lockett that as he was unable to pey him he
might take all the atock, etc., on the land
(“Jl of which is mortgaged to you”) at afair
valuation, and credit the same on tne debts.
There is no evidence that this ofier was ac
cepted or rejected. Much was said during
the argument-as to whether Lockett ever
took actual possession of the land and per-
nonal property. The evidence read, is con
flicting. It was, however, agreed by the in
strument of December 20,1871, that Lockett
“shall take possession of tbe said property,
real and personal, and shall have the right
to rent and hire,” etc. By a writing dated
December 20,1871, Lockett rented ^“plan
tation of D. P. Hill,” and the personal prop
erty thereon, for the year 1873 to La Bcque
for forty bales of cotton, to be raised on the
place and to be delivered to him. One Blake
filed an affidavit stating that he rented the
plantation from Lockett for 1873, and paid
him the rent, and regarded Lockett as the
lawful owner and possessor of Eaid
plantation, and held tbe same as his
he was present on the plantation of D. P.
Hill on the 20th December, 1871, and that in
bis presenee Hill delivered the possession of
the plantation to Lockelr, and all the per
sonal property thereon. The bankrupt, in
bis answer, read as an affidavit, denies that
he ever, at any time, turned over the posses
sion of the plantation and personal property
to Lcckett, but siihply authorized him to
exercise a supervisory control over the same,
in order to protect and farther defendant’s
interests in the way of making crops. He
also denies that Locket rented ont the prop
erty for 1872 or 1873, bat on the contrary, he
says that he rented out the plantation, stock,
etc., etc., to La Boque for 40 bales of cotton
for the rent; bat intending that Lockett
should have the rents and profits, he caused
La Boque to execute the contract with Lock
ett instead of with himself. He farther says
that Lockett never gave him (Bill) leave
to rent the place for 1873 to Blake, as his
(Lockett’s) sgent; but that he himself rented
it to L. Blake, without obtaing the consent
of any one. except that of Blake: bntlet
Lockett collect and retain the tents due by
Blake for 1873.
On the Ed of December, 1873, Hill filed
his petition in bankruptcy, and was adjuged
a bankrupt by Begister Black. On the 9 th
Lockett was, on petition of the bankrupt, re
strained from selling the mules, wagons, etc,
enumerated in the mortgae; and Edward F.
Hoge was appointed assignee of Hill on the
20th; but cn the 13‘.b, intermediate tbe filing
of the petition in bankruptcy and tbe ap
pointment of the assignee, Lockett sold tbe
land, in fee, to Bust, .Johnson & Co, (tbe
mortgager himself being the company) for
$4,675, by a warranty deed, executed in tbe
name of Hill, the mortgager and bankrupt;
tbe deed of conveyance is signed and sealed
as follows: “D. F. Hill, ft. a], by B. G.
Lockett, attorney in fact.” Hill, in his an
swer, swears that this land cost him $16,225
before the war. On the 2d of January, 1874,
Lockett instituted the present suit, aud by
consent, tbe court granted an order restrain
ing the assignee from selling the personal
property, until argument could 'be
bad, on tbe prayer for. injunction, etc.
Lockett, by counsel, insisted that by virtue
of the power of sale inserted in the mortgage
of January.16,1871, and in the power of sale
in tbe agreement of December 20,1871, and
by the power of attorney contained in each
of these instruments, appointing him attor
ney in fact to sell, convey and make all
needful conveyances, and by the authority
given him in the latter instrument to take
possession of all the mortgaged property-
real and personal—he had a power coupled
with an interest, and therefore a perfect right
to convey the fee as he had done, and author
ity to make an absolute sale of the personal
properly, notwithstanding Hill was then a
declared bankrupt; and that no part of this
property—real or personal—is assets of the
bankrupt’s estate.
On the p9rt of tbu assignee it was con
tended that all said roll ana personal proper
ty is assets of Hill’s estate, and that it passed
to him by deed of assignment for disuibu-
tion among the creditors of the bankrnpt,
under the bankrupt act of 1867, and its
amendments.
And for tne bankrupt it was urged that be
being the bead of a family, is under the first
section of the seventh article of the State
Constitution of 1868, and the 8tate law of
the same year (Code section 2.002) entitled
to a homestead in said mortgaged land to
the value of $2,000 in specie, and exemption
in the personal property to the value of
$1,000 in specie.
It is a rule too well aettledjto need the cita-
ti n of authorities, that a collateral
power, although in many instances irrevoca-
ole by the principal, expires with his life or
bankruptcy, but it is otherwise when the
authority or power is coupled with an inter
est, for in the latter case it is not extinguished
by the death or bankruptcy of tbe appointor,
it survives and may still, as a general rule.be
executed in tbe name of tbe person in whom
it was placed. Venerable authority on ques
tions of this nature says that if a person
clothed with a power hath at the same time
an estate in the land, the power is not collat
eral because it savors of tbe land: Hardress
It., 415. And the Supreme C3uri of the
Uniten States, by Chief Justice Marshall, in
Hunt vs. Bousmanier, 8 Wheat 175, said:
“What is meant by tbe expression 'a power
coupled with an interest ?’ Is' it an interest
in the subject on which the power is to be
exercised, or is it an interest in that which is
produced by the exercise of the power? We
hold it to be clear that tbe interest which can
protect a power after the death
of a person who creates it most
be an interest iu the thing itself.
Ia other words the power must
be engrafted on an estate in tbe thing.
A power coupled with an
interest is a power which accompanies or is
connected with an interest. The power and
the interest is united in the same person.
But if we are to understand by the word
‘interest’ an interest in that which is to be
produced by the exercise of the power, then
they are never united. The power to pro
duce the interest must be exercised, and by
its exercise is extinguished. The power
ceases when the interest commences, and,
therefore, cannot in accurate law language,
be said to be ‘coupled’ with it. * * * * *
But if the interest or estate passes with the
power, and vests in the person by whom the
power is to be exercised, such person acts in
his own name. The estate being in him,
passes from him by a conveyance to his own
name.”
Does the power now in question answer
the definition given in Hardres, or the
equally accurate and more comprehensible
description given by the Supreme Court?
Had Lockett, at the time when the power
was execured, a vested interest or estate in
the mortgaged property ? was the
power conferred conjoined with an
estate, then held by Ldckett, in
the thing itself? “A mortgage in this
State is only a security for a debt, and Dasses
no title.”—Code, 1954. Avoiding unessential
matters as far as may be, and matters collat
eral to the questions for decision, I will quote
from or refer to the construction given to
this statute by the State Supreme Court, as
found in the Reports. In Davis vs. Ander
son, 1 Kelly 176, Warner, J., in delivering
the opinion of the Court, said that “a mon
gage in this State is nothing more than a
security for the payment of the debt; and the
title to the mortg ged property remains in
the mortgagor until foreclosure and sale, in a
manner pointed out by the statute.” * * *
.* “Under our law the legal title to the mort
gaged property remains in the mortgagor
until after foreclosure and sale.” And the in
terpretation given by that learned an distin
guished Judge h8S been followed from that
day to this. See the Beports passim In
Scott V3. Warren, 21 Ga. R., 408, McDonald,
J., said: “ In England and in some of the
States of the Union, when the condition is
broken, tbe estate is so absolutely vested in
the mortgagee that be may maintain eject
ment and recover the premises This is not
Athens Armory, 35 Georgia Beports, 344,
said: “A mortgage iu Georgia is only a secu
rity for the debt; the title to the property re
mains in the mortgagor. This is fully set
tled as a rule of property by a series of State
adjudications, and when such is the case the
Federal Courts adopt the decisions of the
estate Courts.”
It has been nearly a century and a half, if
my researches are correct, since powers of
sale, inserted in conveyances in mortgages
were first known to the coarts in England.
And notwithstanding the validity of these
powers has been supported in courts of equi
ty, and they have at least impliedly become
a part of the jurisprudence of that country;
yet. as late sb 1825, Lord Chancellor Eldon,
in Roberts vs Bozan, mentioned in 1 Fow.
on Mortg., 9,13, characterized them as extra
ordinary and of a dangerous nature.
The first reported case in our own country
which I have been able to find, on this im
mediate subject, is Bergen vsBennet,.l
Caines’ cases in error, 19. This was a bill to
redeem on the ground that the power to
sell, contained in the conveyance
in mortgage, became extinct on
the death of the mortgagor. The
Court for the Correction of Errors held that
the authority to sell was a power coupled
with au interest, and dismissed the bill. I
will quote portions of the language used by
Kent, J., who gave the opinion of the Court,
and which embody the principal reasons for
holding that the power inserted in the mort
gage was a power coupled with an interest:
“But when power is given to a person who
derives, under the instrument creating the
power, or otherwise, a present or future in
terest in the land, it is then a power relating
to the land. * * * * The
power now in question answers exactly to
this definition” (Hardress, 415) “of a power
with an interest,because the mortgagee has at
the same time a vested estate in the land, and
it does not answer at all to the definition of
a power simply collateral; for that is but a
bare authority to a stranger, who has not,
and never bad, any estate whatever.” I may
here remark that the mode of enforcing this
power of sale is regulated in that State by
statutes. The Court said that a sale under
such power: “is a species of foreclosure by
Wilson vs. Troup, 2 Co wen, 195. This
was also a bill in equity to redeem
It was held by tbe Court as had previously
been done in Bergen vs. Bennett,and Wilson
.vs. Tronp, 7 Johns, C. R. 25, that a power of
sale contained in a mortgage is a power with
an interest And the Court of Errors inti
mated the opinion that a power of sale in
serted in a mortgage was in the nature of a
power appendant or a power annexed to the
land. A power appendant is where a person
has an estate in the land, and the estate to be
created by tbe power, is to, or may take
effect in possession dnring tbe continuance of
the estate to which the power is annexed as
a power to tenant for life, in possession to
make lease* Co. Lilt
And Southerland J.
Cowen 195 said:
mortgagee to sell is a power to create or
acquire to himself the equitable estate in the
land during the continuance of the legal
estate conveyed to him by the mortgage.”
The equity doetrine in New York and in
nearly all the States, is that the mortgage is
but a security for the debt, and the mort
gagee has but achattit d interest,and that until
a decree of foreclosure, tbe mortgagor con
tinues the real owner of the fee.
The equity of redemption is consid
ered to be the real and beneficial estate tan
tamount to thefeo atlaw. And in thecase last
cited Woodworth,J.,8aid: “The mortgagor,
notwithstanding the mortgagee, is deemed
seized and is the legal owner of the land, as
to all persons except the mortgagee, and his
representatives.” Citing Hitchcock vs. Har
rington, 6)h John’s Bep, 290.
The validity of the clause of a power of
sale inserted in a mortgage ha3 been, as al
ready remarked, established in the Courts of
Chancery at Westminster (Caote on Mort
gage, 128 et seq.) and also in New York and
indeed, in nearly all the States. In New
York and in other States the mode of enforc
ing these power of sale mortgages is in a
greater or less degree guarded by statutes,
againgt irregularity and abuse. Such enact
ments are highly commendable, for it may
be borne in mind that the mortgagee holds
the antagonistic and anomalous position of
crediorand trustee united in himself, and it
must often transpire that the time the plaee
and the manner of selling will present ques
tions of difficulty and importance to the par
ties. In New York, for example,
these must be according to the provisions of
thestatnte, six months notice in the public
Gazette before the mortgagee can sell under
t ie power of sale. S:e Jackson vs. Lawson,
i7 Johns. R. 300.
With these remarks, I will proceed to as
certain whether under the statute law of this
State and the construction which it ha3 uni
formly received by the State Supreme Court,
a power of sale contained in a conveyance
in mortgage, executed in this State is a pow
er coupled with an interest Directing at
tention to the cases which have been cited
on the subject of a power of sale contained
in a conveyance in mortgage, it will readily
be perceived that the reasoning in the deci
sions of the courts in England and New
York is founded on the legal fact that to
create a power combined with an interest,
the donee most have at the time of the crea
tion of the power a vested estate in the land
or thing. Such power may be classed as an
appendancy, and the power must have an
estate to conjoin with and nourish it. When
this is not the case, the power is simply col
lateral and ends, at farthest, with the life or
bankruptcy of tbe donor.
In England and in other States, including
New Yojk, and in the latter State at least,
when the decisions above noted were made,
ejectment could be maintained by the mort
gagee against the mortgagor on his failure to
pay the money at the time stipulated. Where
as in Georgiia no ejectment or other posses
sory action on breach of the condition by
tbe mortgagor has been recognized as a part
of its j orisprudence. The role of evidence is
that tne plaintiff in ejectment must succeed,
if at all, on the strength of his own tike, and
not on the infirmity of the claim of the de-^
fendant. So, too, the claimant, to support
his action of ejectment, mu3t be clothed with
the legal title to the lauds. In the language
of Kent, Cb. J. inLathropvs. Demont,9
Cowen 78: “In the action of ejectment we
must look steadily to the legal title.” In
Rsed vs. Shepley, 6 Vermont R.502, it was
resolved that iit an ejectment a mortgager
cannot dispute the title of the mortgage*
Thus, in England and in New York an
other States of the Union, upon the deliv
ery of the ordinary conveyance in mort
gage, an estate or interest passes
to and vests in the mortgage^ ana such es
tate being then vested in him it is sufficient,
in law, upon which to raise a power coupled
with an interest; and the estate or interest
in the land or thing being in the mo:
at the time he is clothed with the authority,
the estate or interest supoorts the power and
they stand united. ’
In this State, at least so far as my informa
tion extends on this immediate subject, the
common law doctrine, even in its modem
and modSed form, in relation to convey
ances in mortgage, has never met the sanc
tion ol the Supreme Court of this State.
Here the rights of parties to these securities
for debts, from beginning to end, are regu
lated and enforced solely by the enlightened
principles of equity; the very language of
statute in equity. “A mortgage,” says the
Code, sec. 1954, “in this State is only a secu
rity for a debt and passes no title.” As
already observed, the State Supreme Court,
iu Davis vs. Anderson, said that the title re
mains in tjje mortgagor, until foreclosure and
sale in the manner pointed out by the stat
ute. Aud McDonald J., in Scott vs. Warren,
said: “ Here a mortgage in its inception is
nothing more than a security for the pay
ment of the money, and it so continues" to
be, and nothing more, after the breaeh of
the condition, the mortgage therefore creates
a lien only and not an estate; and the
mortgaged.'in relation to the mortgaged
properly stands on the same footing as any
other creditor.” And this view of the law of
mortgages in Georgia was approved by
Lumpkin. J.,in delivering the opinion of the
Court in Elfe vs. Cole, 26 Ga., 196.
Numerous other cases, containing like
views, might be cited; but it is deemed un
necessary to do so. Counsel for complainant
read tbe case of Robertson vs. Vason et al.,
37 Gal, B. 66, as affirming and adopting as a
rule of decision tbe doctrine of the Courts in
Westminster and New York. In Robertson
vs. Vason et al., the main question before tbe
Court was whether "an Injunction which had
been granted at theinstance of the mortgagor
to iestrain an innocent assignee of the notes
and mortgage from selling the property un
der a power of sale, given to the mortgagee,
his heirs and assigns, was properly dissolved.
And Warner, CL J;. for the Court, held that
it was. The Chief Justice, in the latter part
of his opinion, said: “As a general proposi
tion the power to mortgage would seem to
include iu it a power to authorize the
mortgagee to sell in default of payment.
William vs. Troup, 7 Jons, C. R. 32. In
this case - there ia an express power given
by the mortgagor to the mortgagee or bis
assigns to Bell the mortgaged property
od default of payment, upon giving thirty
days notice.” I have perused the very ex
tended statement of the case made by the
Reporter, and have not discovered one word
in it, nor in the opinion of Chief Justice
Warner, which says or indicates, in there
motest manner, that the authority to sell was
a power connected with an interest, and I
respectfully hazsid the remaik that nnder
the facts of that case, as they appear in the
report, it could not be a point for decision.
Tne mortgagor was before tbe court propria
persona, and not a declared bankrupt. Bat
notwithstanding the power from the mort
gagor to the mortgagee, and his
assigns, was not coupled with an
interest, yet it may have been, and
probably was, given for a valuable consider:«.
lion, and consequently, in contemplation ot
law, irrevocable, but would cease with the
Walsh
are not
ordinary powers, operaiiog by means of
limitation of use, but tivsts declared on the
legal estate in the mortgagee.” Hilliard on
Mortgages, 133,3d Edition.
I atn of the opinion that the power
of sale cpntained in the mortgage or
that inserted iu tho agreement of
December 20lbf 1871, was not, in either in
stance, under the'statute lawsof this State,
or the decisions of the State Supreme Court,
that power which is known in legal lan
guage as a “power coupled with an inter
est” Adverting to the synopsis of the bill,
etc, in a former part of this opinion, in
which is embodied the substance of the
mortgage of January 16,1871, and agree
ment of December 20th, 1871, it will be seen
that the authority to foreclose, as to the per
sonal praDerty, on default of payment was
given to Bast & Son or to Lockett, and the
power to foreclose as to the land, or to sell
it if the condition was broken, was given to
Lockett. It will be remembered that the
mortgage conferred no power to sell the
personal property, that authority was given
by the agreement. If tbe authority inserted
in the mortgage was a power conbined with
an interest, it mast have been based upon a
vested estate in Lockett. He did not fore
close the mortgage upon either tha personal
or real property, or sell the land after the
first of October, 1871, (and which act a pro
viso in the mortgage authorized him to do if
Hill did not pay the money at the time ap
pointed), or before the 20th of December,
1871, on which day tbe “agree
ment” was executed This in
strument says Lockett shall
take posession of the land and personal
property mentioned in the mortgage and rent
the same to La Boque “in terms this day
agreed upon between Lockett and LaRoqe,”
and it is also stipulated that Lockett “shall
oave the right during the ensuing year (1872)
to sell all of the real aud personal property
this day turned over to La Roque.”
If the power inserted in the mortgage to
sell the land, alter the 1st of Octbsr, should
the debts not then be paid, was a power
linked with an interest, re granting it by the
agreement of December 2fcb, 1871, was no
tional and superfluous, unless it bad previ
ously become extinct by efflux of time or
otherwise, and the language of the agree
ment does seem to indicate that it had at that
period been extinguished. As just mentioned,
it is provided in the agreement that Lockett
shall take possession of the mortgaged prop
erty real and personal and rent and hire the
same to La Boqne, and Lockett is given the
right, dnring the ensuing year, to tell ail of
said land and personal property.
Courts disregard fractions or divisions of
a day unless it be necessary to
ascertain which of two events first
happened. And I think it is proper to apply
tbe exception here. It is plain from tbe
language used in the agreement, and the fair
and ordinary import of the words employed
that Lockett, before the execution of the
agreement, had agreed to rent and hire the
mortgaged property to La Boqne, and that
it had been turned over to him—transferred;
these were accomplished facts, effected ante
rior In time to the delivery of jhe agreement,
though done on the same day. The words
are not that Lockett is in possession, bnt
that he shall take possession, etc. In the
contract of lease for the mortgaged property
made between Lockett and La Roque, it is
rented for the ensuing year, 1873, as the
“plantation of D. P. Hill.” La Boqne ac
knowledges himself as the tenant of Lockett,
and signs the lease; Lockett does not sign it.
Ely, in his affidavit, says that Hill, on the
20th December, 1871, delivered the posses
sion of the plantation and all the personal
property thereon to Lockett. Hilt swears
that he never did turn over the possession to
Lockett If the possession was turned over
to Lockett on that day—and I express no
opinion on the weight of the evidence—
the conclusion is that it most have
been snbseqnent, in time, to the execution of
the agreement, and consequently after the
property had been turned over to LaRcque,
the lesiee. The agreement also provides mat
“Lockett shall have the right during the en
suing year” (1872) “to sell all the real and
personal property this dayjturned over to La
Roque.” And .Hill bestows on Lockett fall
power to act as his attorney, and to make all
needful conveyances. No time was specified
in the greement for the termination of the
therefore the law of this State
construes it to be for a calendar year: Code,
sec. 2290. The agreement, as mentioned
a’raady, gave him the right daring the en
suing year to sell all the real and personal
property tamed over to La Boque. This
power he did not execute during 1873: there
fore, as he mast have known the certainty
of his own term, he ought to have availed
himself of his power to sell tbe property in
dicated in the agreement daring its continu
ance; and whether the right to Bell within
the time named was a naked authority, re
vocable at the pleasure of the principal, or
was a power irrevocable by the grantor, and.
consequently current until his bankruptcy.or
power coupled with an interest,
is here an inquiry of no legal
consequence. The right to sell the entire
Droperty during the ensuing year, was sus
pended by Lockett beyond the limitation
clause in the agreement, and being oncesna-
pended by his own voluntary act, it is, in my
judgment, gone forever. Bat sb the power
of sale was merely cumulative, it could not
bar a forclosure: Turbish vs. Sears, 2 Cliff
454. “If a man grant all his trees to be taken
within five years, the grantee cannot take
any after the expiration of five years; for
this is in the nature of a condition annexed
to the grant.” Moore 883.
Lockett alleges that Hill, as his agent,
rented the pioperty to BlaKe for the year.
1873. .Hill says he rented it to Blake him
self, bat allowed Lockett to receive the rent,
to be applied in discharge Of the debt due to
Lockett. Blake avers that he rented the
plantation from Lockett for 1873, paid him
the rent and surrendered the place to him,
and he put White in possession. Lockett
says he has been in possession of all the
mortgaged property from the 20th December,
1871, until he sold the land, shortly after the
bankruptcy of the mortgagor, and is still
(2d January,187t) in possession of the per
sonal property. Let it be conceded that
Lockett was in possession as he states, though
there ia no evidence in the record that Hill
rented him the property for 1873, so then he
must have been in as a tenant at will or at
sufferance. The possession under the agree
ment, or as a tenant at wilt, or at sufferance,
would not be of .that dignity and nature
which could be engrafted on a power in a
mortgage so as to make it a power coupled
with an interest; It would not bring the
power within the definition:given in Har
dress, or by Kent, J. or. Chief Justice Mar
shall, of a power coupled with au interest.
If the power of sale given to Lockett was
what I have ruled it to be, a collateral power,
then it became extinct, at farthest, on the
bankruptcy ot Hill, nine or ten days prior to
the sale of the land by Lockett Bat if it was
really a power unitec with an interest, then
it survived his bankruptcy, and Lockett
could (were it not for reasons which will be
explained presently) have conveyed the
property in his own name, but not, as he ad
ventured y> do, in the name of Hill, who was
at least, he was in
capable in law to execute a deed of convey
ance. And assuming the ’power conferred
to be of the latter kind, still -Lockett could
not purchase this land himself, eitner iu sev
eralty, joint tenancy, or otherwise; he could
not be vendor and vendee; tbe characters are
inconsistent, and the power did not extend
this far. Midland et al. vs, Girard et aL, 4
Howard, 503; Griffin vs. Murine Company,
52 HI R., 130.
Tbe remaining question which I shall now
consider-^and it is a question of importance
in this case—springs from the record. Let
the fact be yielded that the power granted
by Hill, the mortgagor, to Lockett, the
mortgagee, was a power connected
with au interest, and consequently not
revoked by the bankruptcy of Hill, nor
presumed to have been lost previously
by the laches of Lockett, the donee,
in not selling the property -within the time
limited, could he by virtue of such power of
sale, convey the land to himself or any one
else after Hill had been adjudged a bankrupt
under the provisions of the Bankrupt Act,
unless the sale was made by the order and
authority of this Court? Now, although
Lockett may have, by a clause iu the mort
gage or agreement, received a power coupled
with an interest, yet, after all, he would be
but a trustee for Hill, tbe mortgagor, bis
heirs or assigns, for neither the mortgage, the
agreement, nor the power, invested nim with
an absolute and indefeasible estate in the
property, which is the subject of this contro
versy; and as agent or trustee fer the mort
gagor, his heirs, eta, a Court of Chancery
could compel him to account for the rents
and other fruits of the mortgaged property.
Did the bankruptcy of Hill discharge or in
any manner lessen the responsibility of Lock
ett as trustee? Surely not. True, when
Hill became a bankrupt, Lockett was no
longer liable to account directly to him; for
the moment he filed his petition in this Court
under tbe Bankrupt Act of March 2,1867,
all his estate, of every kind and description,
in possession or in action, came by
the mere operation of the Bankrupt Law
into the possession of . this Court, and it is
now in its custody aud under its immediate
control, and no State court, nor person, can,
interfere with the possession except by per
mission of this Court. In re SteadmaD, 8
N. B. R., 319. It i3 declared by the. first
section of the Bankrupt Act, that the juris
diction of the United States District Courts,
acting as Courts of Bankruptcy, shall extend
“ to all cases and controversies arising be
tween the bankrupt at d any creditor or cred
itors who shall claim any debt or demand
under the bankruptcy; to the collection of
all the assets of the bankrupt; to tbe ascer
tainment and liquidation of the lienB and
other specific claims thereon; to tbe adjust
ment of the various priorities and conflicting
interests of all parties; and to the marshal
ing and disposition of tbe different funds
and assets, so as to secure the rights of all
parties and due distribution of the assets
among all the creditors.” Thus it will be
seen, that the Congress of the United States
has conferred on the Bankruptcy Courts a
broad and comprehensive authority,sufficient
ly extensive for this Court to entertain juris
diction over the respective rights of tte pa:
ties in and to the property, real and
personal, which was mortgaged by Hill to
Lockett, and to cause it to be administered in
accordance with the Bankrnpt Law.
Hill, the bankrupt, appears on the face of
the bili as a party defendant; but whether
he is a proper party need not now be inquired
into; be appeared and responded to the alle
gations and charges in the bilL
The prayer for the writ of injunction is
refused: and the order previously granted
restraining the assignee from selling the per
sonal property is hereby set aside.
Mr. Ely, for Lockett, the mortgagee and
complainant.
Mr. Hoge, the assignee in propria persona,
and Mr. Cnlberson and Mr. Conley, lor both
defendants.
‘ Filed January 28,1874
G. W. ADAlB, Auctioneer
EXECUTOR’S SALE.
LYNCH’S QUARRY*.
B Y virtue of an order granted by the OrdlnarysT'
the county of Fulton, State of Georgia, to the
Executors of Patrick Lynch, late of said county, de
ceased. for the sale Of tne land and personal property-
of said, deceased, will be sold before the ooait-house -
door on the first Tuesday, the 3d day of March, 1874,
within the legal hours of sale, all that tract or parott'
ot land In the etty of Atlanta, being a part ot land. \
lot 83 in the 14th district ot originally XSsnry sow -
Fulton county, known a* “Lynch’* Quarry,**’ con
taining 19X acres, more or less, and more par ttcularty
described hy plats trom survey to be seea at Colonel
G. W. Adair’* office.
also, 3 vaeant lota, 95 by 60 feet, on the east nWe or
Broad at, adjoining Constitution Building and Book'. ■
and Ladder Track House. Terms—One-third-c*sh;:
one-third lit six months; balanoe February.1,1875,
with small notes for the time portion, bearing ten;
per cent, interest, or the privilege of paying all cash.
Also, a fine Steam Pomp at the Qmrry, and the r
tools and implements for working she Quarry; 18.'
mnlee, 5 wagons, 1 carriage, 9 boggles ana hem ess
Personal property sold for cash.
JAMES LYltCUw
PETEELYNCH,
jattB-dtds •Executors. -
gboksIA) Campbell County.
On Dittaut's Omci, January 29;18R.i
J OHN PATTON has applied forexenju >t »f >>.*
sonalty and I win p,si -ip>x <• <>eii ft
o'clock a u. on inelkn.uv u Paoioary, 18U,atxatT'
office iu oura, in -ala conn’y.
even nnaer my official signature. \\
R. C. BEAVBR3,' \ ^
JauSl-wgw Orttnsrv. V
GEOKGIA—Fulton County.
OBDiiuaY’s Orricu, January 81, 1874.
W P. PLEBGER has applied for Letters cdt-
• Guardianship of tbe person and property «r-'
George W. Brewster, minor: -
All persons conoeraed will file their objections, 1>
any exist, on or before the first Monday In. uwv.
next, elselsttera will be granted tbe applicant.
oaniel Pittman;
fehl-wSOl Ordinary:
GEOB61a—Fulton County.
Okdihabx’s OrxiCB, January 31,1973.* *
ARTHA A. T. PEGS has applied for Letters & ■
. Administration on th9 estate of W. H. Pegg
.to of said county, deceased.
All persons concerned are hereby not ; fied to fife,
their objections, if any exist, on or before the first:.
Monday in March next, ei«e letters will be granted
tbe appl'ctnu DANIEL PITTMAN, .,
febl-30d Ordiosoyr
Campbell County Sheriff Sate.
W ILL be sold on the first Tuesday la Marah next'v
within the legs, hoars of sale, before tho Cent \
house door, in the town of Fairborn, in eaid oounty
Tne Unde whereon A. B. Fears now Uvea—tots ct
land No. ICO. containing 90tyi serse, more- or less,.
Also, 165 acres off of lot No. 129, it being all of -
■aid lot, except 37% seres off of the North
east corner of said lot and now owned by Isaac-Ooiole. -
Also. 51 acres off lot No. 127, it being tho northeast
fourth of lot No 127. ail In tne thirteenth district ok
originally Henry connty now Campbell county ', con
taining 417 acree, more or less. Upon this land there
Is a good dwel'log and other out buildings with 9E>
acres cleared land. This land lies on the Atlanta 4r-
West point Ital'rosd, about tlx miles from Fairborn
Levied on as the nroperty of A. B. Fears to satisfy a -
ft fa issued from *he County Court of Campbell county
in favor of Harrison MoLarln vs: A. B. Fears, prin- -
cipa), and M. M. Tidwell, Indorrer, and. other ft lsa m.
said A. B. Fes’s in favor of A. H. Brown, transferee
nowinm> hanas. Property pointed by defendant.
Also, at the tame tme and place, lot of land No ti,
couiainmir2Q«)4 acres, nsoreorlesa. In toe 7th district,
4th section JL originally Coweta csw Campbell oouh-
ty. This lot Uea about tlx' miles from Fairborn.
Levlsaon a* tbe property of Wiley Steed to satisfy h
flfalseued lnstsnter from the Superior Court of Camp
bell connty in favor of Bobert Cunningham again*-
Wile7 Steed. Property pointed out by defendant.
Also, at the game : time and place, pare of lot o-
land. No. (51), in the Ninth D.Btilct of originally
Fayette, no., Campbell connty, containing forty
acres, more or less; bounded on the northeast by the-
\. & W. P. Railroad for 27 cb., running thence south -
45 ch., thence west 9 ch., und thence 27 eh,, 2i deg„
39 min. west; levied on by virtne of a ft fa in favor-
of P. H. Brassell vs. BoWan & Cnristtao. as the
property of the said •-obert Bowan, deceased.
Also, at the >ame time and place, part oi lot of land
No:JU3,inthe9;hdistrict of origiuallyForsyth, now
Campbell county, containing So acres, mere or less.
It being the land owned by Wm. J. unines, dec’ tL, at
the time of his death, except 6J acres thereof, which
has been set apart to the widow tb a Homestead
levied on hy virtue of two ft fas. In favor of Camp &
Ohris'iau, vs. Wm. Jennings, as. the property of thp
said Wm. Jennings, deceased.
Above levies made and tn.-ned over to me by Con
stable. « A
DAVID P. WHITE. “
Feb. l-w4w. Sheriff. .
^ "OR. TUTTs"
VEGETABLE
V R- PllA-S*
THE BELT ADVICE
that can he given to persons suffering from dyspepeto.
bilious complaint, colic, consumption, sick headaches;'
fever and ague, nervous debility, or of any dieortto
affecting tbe stomach, the liver or kidneys, istotonev.,
cleanse,Jmd regulate these important organs bj tar
use of •
dr. Turra vegetable lives pills.
They act very mildly, yet thoroughly restores ttiai..
functions’ action of tne digestive organs and the to-
teetlnes an! renovates the whole system. Th9y pro
duce neither nsusea. griping or weakness aud may bm-
taheu at any t ine without change of diet or ocoup*- 3
lion. . . r' J
Price 25c a box. Sold hy all druggists.
DR. TUIl’i HATt DTE
possesses qualities that no other dye does. Ita efifecr
is instantaneous, aud so natural thot U cannot be de
tected by ’he closest observer. It la harmless and 1 ,
easily app led, and is In general uae among the fash
ionable hair dressers in every large city lo theUnitecr-
States. Price $1 a box. Sold every where.
>
A distinguished Clergyman of New York, speaktogr-
ot tniBremcoy characterizes it a* “one of the special
bless’ngs of tne nineteenth century.’* The certainty
of Us healing effect, said he and the immunity froae>
danger, whether administered to children or »dalt*j
adapt it for the widely popular use It haa.attaUnm.
None would long suffer from lung complaint m tney
knew how easily they can be cured Dythia resuedyt.
By ita timely use all pulmonary diseases may he m*
rested and consumption—the scourge thatssraep*
3feSeTBSS «-gas
V
N)
Campbell uo. Deputy Sheriff’&K
Sales.
GEORGIA* Campbell County..
W ILL be sold before the court-house dorr, inti
Fairborn, Camobell county. Gt, on the fire*.
Tuesday In March, 1871. betwden the legal noors o
sale, the following property, to-wit:
Une house and lot tn the town of Fairborn, in said-
county. wherein A G Hnlsey now live*. Levied on>
as tne property of T G Foster. Mrs Btrbtry Cole-
tbe tenant in p.ssession at the t-ma of the levy,,
being duly notified Levy made by Constable and’
turned over to me. Levied on to satisfy afi fains,
favor of J W Corveli against T G Foster.
Also, at the same time and place, a certain unfin.
Ished brick building in the town of Fairborn, Camp—
b-11 county, Georgia; numoer uuxuown. 8ai<£-
bulld-ng known as the Grange Banning. Levied on.
as the i.rooerty of T T Bobsaan, Wests-rook <£. Co.,
to satisfy a fi fa to favor Miller d; Me Sown vs T TV
Botsanao, Westbrook A Co. /
This January 29,1874. / j
WILLIAM THOMPSON/
janSO—wlw ' ’ Deputy Sheriff.
Hew York.
indistinct print