Opinion
01-03-1927
RAU et ux. v. DOREMUS et al.
Philip Goodell, of Montclair, for complainants. Paul M. Fischer, of Montclair, for defendants.
Suit by Otto Rau and wife against Job V. Doremus and others. On motion to strike out bill. Motion granted.
Philip Goodell, of Montclair, for complainants.
Paul M. Fischer, of Montclair, for defendants.
CHURCH, Vice Chancellor. This is a motion to strike out a bill of foreclosure. It appears that two mortgages were given on the property—one, dated January 1, 1874, for $1,300; the other, dated June 17, 1875, for $1,000. The mortgages were made by Henry V. Doremus, and the first by mesne assignments came in 1878 into the hands of Warren Doremus. The second was made directly to Warren Doremus. Henry V. Doremus died in 1913, leaving five children, defendants in this suit. Warren Doremus died in 1913, and the mortgages were assigned in 1911 to the complainants.
The question therefore arises: Are there any circumstances which would take the matter out of the rule laid down in Blue v. Everett, 55 N. J. Eq. 329, 36 A. 900, affirmed 56 N. J. Eq. 455, 39 A. 763? This case holds that there is a 20-ycar limitation on the foreclosure of mortgages, provided no payment has been made on account of principal or interest. Complainants plead a paper writing as follows:
"Montclair, July 3, 1912.
"This is to certify that the wood and hay cut from the Lord North lot in the big piece by Warren Doremus for interest on mortgages and note held by him and for taxes on said lot was with my knowledge and consent, and that I am satisfied. Henry V. Doremus."
This, they allege, is evidence that the parties agreed that the wood and hay should be accredited to interest. There is nothing, to show that Warren Doremus ever consented to such an agreement. The bonds accompanying the mortgages called for payment of interest at the rate of 7 per cent. semiannually, which, of course, means cash. There is no indorsement of receipt of interest or principal on the bonds or mortgages. This writing was made 37 years after the execution of the mortgages. How can it be definitely determined that Warren Doremus was satisfied at this so-called acknowledgment? Why did he wait 37 years, and then accept a paper of this kind?
In the case of Cox v. Brown, 87 N. J. Eq. 462, at page 465, 101 A. 260, 261, Vice Chancellor Learning says:
"The general rule is well settled" in this state "that he who, without adequate excuse, delays, asserting his rights until the proofs respecting the transaction * * * are so indeterminate and obscure that it is impossible for the court to see whether what is asserted to be justice to him is not injustice to his adversary, has no right to relief."
Vice Chancellor Reed, in dealing with a similar situation in the case of Magee v. Bradley, 54 N. J. Eq. 326, at page 330, 35 A. 103, 104, said:
"What occurred between them during this 30 years in relation to it [a mortgage], what arrangements were made in regard to its payment, what understanding was entered into in respect to its enforcement, surrender, or paywent,can now never be known, as the mouths of both * * * are closed by death."
In the case of Swinley v. Force, 78 N. J. Eq. 52, 78 A. 249, Vice Chancellor Stevenson says, inter alia:
"A presumption of payment of a bond and mortgage, on which no payments have been made for 20 years, cannot be rebutted simply by proof in fact of nonpayment, unless the delay for 20 years is satisfactorily accounted for or explained."
Considering again the facts in this case, we find that for 37 years nothing was done as to these mortgages. Then Henry v. Doremus signed the paper quoted above and delivered it to Warren Doremus. Warren did nothing with it, made no credit on the bonds and mortgages, and died leaving it presumably among his papers. It was not assigned to complainants as part of the bonds and mortgages. The meaning of the paper is vague. To what bonds and mortgages does it refer? Henry V. might have made other mortgages. It also refers to a note. There is nothing in the case to show that any note was given in connection with this transaction.
The mortgages were assigned In 1914; 12 years afterwards the bill was filed. The lapse of time in the first instance between the execution of the mortgages and the signing of the paper, the vagueness of the paper itself, and the fact that Warren Doremus himself never made any effort to enforce the mortgages, are the reasons which lead me to the conclusion that the mortgages are now unenforceable, under the doctrine laid down in Blue v. Everett, supra.
I will advise a decree accordingly.