Ewers v. Smith — 98 A.D. 289

Majority

p. 289

Josephine Ewers, Respondent, v. Anna M. Smith, Appellant, Impleaded with Catherine P. McNally and Another, Defendants.

Headnote

Deed—delivery presumed as of its date—presumption that possession accompanies ownership — bond and mortgage given by a grantor after the delivery but before the recording of a deed of the mortgaged premises by her.

A deed is presumed to have been delivered at the time of its date, notwithstanding that it was acknowledged at a later date.

Proof of ownership of real estate raises the presumption of possession thereof by such owner.

In an action to foreclose a mortgage purporting to have been executed by Catherine P. McNally to the plaintiff May 29, 1900, and which was recorded June 2, 1900, it appeared that the mortgage and the accompanying bond were delivered to the plaintiff by the attorney of Catherine P. McNally pursuant to the authority of the said Catherine P. McNally. It further appeared that, by a deed dated January 27, 1896, and acknowledged June 8, 1896, but which was not recorded until August 25, 1900, Catherine P. McNally had conveyed the premises to Anna M. Smith. No evidence was given impeaching the validity of the deed, nor was any evidence given as to the possession of the real estate. It was not claimed that Anna M. Smith knew of the execution of the bond and mortgage or that she received any part of the moneys loaned thereon.

Held, on an appeal by Anna M. Smith from a judgment foreclosing the mortgage, that such judgment should be reversed.

Appeal by the defendant, Anna M. Smith, from a judgment of the Supreme Court in favor of the plaintiff, entered in the office of the clerk of the county of Kings on the 23d day of September, 1903, upon the decision of the court rendered after a trial at the Kings County Special Term.

Reuben L. Haskell, for the appellant.

Effingham, L. Holywell, for the respondent.

The judgment is without evidence to support it. The action is brought to foreclose a mortgage on real estate executed by the defendant Catherine P. McbTally to the plaintiff on the 29th day of May, 1900. The mortgage was recorded June 2, 1900. The mortgagor denied its execution, but the court found to the contrary

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on sufficient evidence. The mortgage was executed as collateral security to a bond of even date and amount, and the question chiefly litigated was whether the defendant Catherine P. McNally was bound by her execution of the documents where the money loaned upon them by the plaintiff was received and fraudulently appropriated by her attorney without her knowledge. The court found that she authorized her attorney to deliver the bond and mortgage and to receive the money, and decreed a foreclosure and sale of the mortgaged premises.

The appellant, Anna M. Smith, however, is the owner of the real estate, and has been from the time when a deed to her from Catherine P. McNally was delivered. This deed is dated January 27, 1896, and it covers all the mortgaged property. It was acknowledged July 8, 1896, but was not recorded until August 25, 1900. No evidence was given to impeach the deed nor is there any finding adverse to its validity. A deed is presumed to have been delivered at the time of its date notwithstanding it may be acknowledged afterwards. (People v. Snyder, 41 N. Y. 397 ; Biglow v. Biglow, 39 App. Div. 103 , 105.) In People v. Snyder (supra) the court said (p. 402): “ No other evidence was given than that which the deed itself furnished, for the purpose of showing the time of its delivery ; and under the state of the proof, the law presumes it to liave been delivered at the time of its date. Seymour v. Van Slyck ( 8 Wend. 403 , 414); Cowen & Hill’s Notes, 3d ed., part 1,461, part 2, 588, and cases cited; and Duke of Cumberland v. Graves (3 Seld. 305,308)^[1] where that view was very properly taken in the application of the law to this deed,, for the subsequent acknowledgment did not change that presumption. (Ford v. Gregory, 10 B. Monroe, 175, 180.)” But even if the presumption of delivery should not attach until the time of the acknowledgment, it appears that the deed to the appellant was delivered upon that theory nearly four years before the execution of the plaintiff’s mortgagé. No evidence was given as to the possession of the real estate, but the presumption of possession must follow the proof of ownership. It was not claimed that the appellant knew of the plaintiff’s bond and mortgage, or that she received any part of the money loaned upon them. The question presented on the appeal relates, therefoie, to the power of a grantor

* 7 N. Y. 305 , 308.— [Rep.

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to incumber real property after the execution and delivery of a deed. Ho authority is cited in support of such power, and it is elementary knowledge that, in the absence of special authority conferring it, the power does not exist. Certainly a grantor on whom such power has not been conferred could not confer the power upon his attorney by implication.

The judgment should be reversed and new trial granted, costs to abide the final award.

All concurred.

Judgment reversed and new trial granted, costs to abide the final award of costs.

Cases cited

Seymour & Bouck v. Van Slyck 8 Wend. 403 N.Y. Sup. Ct. at 414 p. 290