Wilcox v. Drought

Concerning the nature and extent of the powers of a referee in surplus-money proceedings, the court, in Tator v. Adams, 20 Hun, 132 , says:

“Although there had previously been some doubt as to the powers of ref.erees in proceedings to distribute surplus moneys, the decision in Berger v.

Snedeker, 21 Alb. Law J. 54 , has settled the matter. It is held, and wisely held, in that case, that a question of fraud may be investigated before the referee; and it follows, by analogy, that every question may be examined tending to show the equities of the claimants.”

The court therefore held that the referee had authority in such a proceeding to determine that a provision contained in a mortgage was inserted by mistake, the court remarking:

“In the present case there is no doubt that the clause in question was inserted by accident and mistake. In an action for the purpose the mortgage would be reformed. There is no need of such an action to determine the rights to these surplus moneys. They can be determined as well in the present proceeding.”

A judgment creditor may contest "and try the validity of a conveyance from a mortgagor to his wife upon a reference to determine as to the distribution of surplus moneys. Rogers v. Ivers, 23 Hun, 424 . So the referee may inquire into and determine all questions of law and fact, usury, fraud, or the like, and every question tending to show the equities of the claimant, to the end that it may be decided in such proceedings finally, and on the merits, to whom such surplus moneys belong. McRoberts v. Pooley, 12 Civ. Proc. R. 139; Insurance Co. v. Bowers, 47 Barb. 618 ; Baker v. Baker, 70 Hun, 95 , 23 N. Y. Supp. 1083 ; Kingsland v. Chetwood, 39 Hun, 602 ; Schafer v. Reilly, 50 N. Y. 61 ; Fliess v. Buckley, 90 N. Y. 286 ; Halsted v. Halsted, 55 N. Y. 442 ; Bergen v. Carman, 79 N. Y. 146 ; Bowen v. Kaughran, 1 N. Y. St. Rep. 121 ; Crombie v. Rosenstock, 19 Abb. N. C. 316 . In Hulbert v. McKay, 8 Paige, 651, it was held that an incumbrancer or lienor who has neglected to file notice of his claim upon the surplus moneys may appear before the referee pending reference as to such surplus and file his claim in proper manner. He will then be entitled to be heard on the reference as to the validity of his claim upon such equitable terms as the referee may direct.

Although the learned referee, in adjusting the disputes of the various claimants, seems to have had these rules in mind, it is apparent that as between the claimants Lackey and Reukauff the rules were not fully complied with. Lackey’s claim to the surplus was based on an assignment of a bond and mortgage to him by Reukauff under circumstances showing that the assignment was made solely for the convenience of the assignor and the business concern represented by him, and without any consideration whatever given by the assignee. Lackey claimed, however, that subsequent to the assignment he and Reukauff agreed that the assignee should hold the assignment in consideration of an indebtedness from the assignor, or the business concern represented by him, on the date of the agreement, for rent, work, labor, and services, and .in further consideration of Lackey’s assumption, at the request of Reukauff, of the liability of a surety on a bond given by Reukauff to discharge an attachment. The amount of Lackey’s liability- as surety was $300, and the liability on the other items amounted to $94.50, which sums, together with $35 thereafter loaned to Reukauff, amount to $429. The amount due on the bond and mortgage was $947.53,

As to the rival claims of Simons & Moersfelder and O’Neill, it appears that the attorney for the mortgagor on May 12, 1900, at 10:48 a. m., delivered to the registry of the county of New York a mortgage to Simons & Moersfelder for record; that said mortgage was dated May 11, 1900, and that it was not delivered to the mortgagees until May 22d following; that the mortgage was given to secure an antecedent indebtedness to the mortgagees, for which indebtedness they held the mortgagor’s overdue and protested notes; and that the mortgagees did not on the strength of the mortgage relinquish any security, devest themselves of any rights, or do any act to their prejudice. It further appears that the O’Neill mortgage was dated the same day as the Simons & Moersfelder mortgage; that it was given to the mortgagee in consideration of the release by one Flood of claims which said Flood had against the mortgagor for work, labor, and services and materials furnished upon other real property of the mortgagor, and for which work and labor Flood threatened to file a mechanic’s lien; that between 7 and 9 -o’clock in the morning of May 12, 1900, said mortgage was delivered to O’Neill; and that it was recorded in the register’s office of New York county the same day at 10:49 a. m.,—one minute .after the recording of the Simons & Moersfelder mortgage. As far as knowledge or notice is concerned, the mortgagees were pur•chasers in good faith. Under the decisions it would seem that the Simons & Moersfelder mortgage is subsequent to the one given O’Neill; for, although, as between the parties to the instrument, a -delivery by the mortgagor to the register would constitute a delivery to the mortgagee (Lady Superior v. McNamara, 3 Barb. Ch. 378 , 49 Am. Dec. 184 ; Munoz v. Wilson, 111 N. Y. 295 , 18 N. E. 855 ; Ford v. McCarthy, 77 Hun, 612 , 29 N. Y. Supp. 786 ), such delivery was not effective.against O’Neill; the rule being that a subsequent acceptance by the mortgagee of the. mortgage delivered to a recording officer or to an unauthorized third person gives effect "to it from the time of its first delivery, as between the parties to it; -but as to persons who have acquired title to the property, or an interest in it or lien upon it, through or under the mortgagor, before the time of the actual acceptance of the deed by the mortgagee, the subsequent acceptance gives effect to the deed only from the time of such acceptance. Parmelee v. Simpson, 5 Wall. 81 , 18 L. Ed. 541 ; 1 Jones, Mortg. (5th Ed.) §. 85; Foster v. Scythe Co., 47 Barb. 505 . It follows that if the Simons & Moersfelder mortgage was not given for a valuable consideration, within the mean;ing of the recording acts, the O’Neill mortgage must prevail. To

Referee’s report, except as hereinbefore modified as to Lackey and Reukauff claims, confirmed.