Opinion
Appeal from a judgment of the Superior Court of Los Angeles County, and from an order denying a new trial.
COUNSEL:
Sargent & Harpham, for Appellant.
Robert Hardie, for Respondents.
JUDGES: In Bank. Sharpstein, J. Paterson, J., Fox, J., and Works, J., concurred. McFarland, J., dissenting. Thornton, J., concur with Justice McFarland.
OPINION
SHARPSTEIN, Judge
Action to foreclose a mortgage given to secure the payment of a promissory note of eight thousand dollars. The central question in the case is, whether the note had been paid and the mortgage discharged before the commencement of this action. The court so found, and that finding is attacked by appellant, on the ground of the insufficiency of the evidence to justify it.
The evidence shows that one John Belz had possession of the note and mortgage by authority of plaintiff, who testifies as follows: "Shortly before maturity I sent the note to the First National Bank of Los Angeles, California, for collection. I stated to them if it was not paid promptly, to turn it over to John Belz, who would see to the collection of it." The note was indorsed by plaintiff generally or in blank, and was turned over by the bank to Belz. On December 22, 1889, Belz and defendant McCain negotiated for the exchange of said note and mortgage for an absolute conveyance to plaintiff by defendant McCain of an undivided one-fourth part of the mortgaged premises and a note for $ 1,485.35, secured by a mortgage on another fourth of said premises. Belz, in consideration of said absolute conveyance and last-mentioned note and mortgage, delivered to defendant 306 McCain said note of eight thousand dollars, canceled and executed the following indorsement on the record of the mortgage given to secure the payment of said note:
" Received full and entire satisfaction on the within mortgage this twenty-second day of December, 1887.
" George Storch.
" By John Belz, his attorney in fact."
If John Belz had authority to bind the plaintiff, there can be no doubt of the satisfaction of the mortgage which this action is brought to foreclose. It is not shown that Belz was authorized by any formal power of attorney to execute a release of said mortgage. He held plaintiff's power of attorney at the time, but it did not authorize him to enter the satisfaction of said mortgage, and the court finds that Belz had authority from plaintiff, other than that contained in said power of attorney, for executing the satisfaction of the mortgage which plaintiff is seeking to foreclose in this action. The defendant McCain testified that plaintiff told him, at the time the loan was made for which said note of eight thousand dollars and mortgage were executed, that the money loaned belonged to Belz, and that plaintiff wrote him, defendant McCain, that he, plaintiff, had sent the note to the First National Bank for collection; that Belz was there, and anything that defendant McCain did with Belz, he, plaintiff, stood by it; he stood by anything that Mr. Belz did for him. That testimony, and the turning over to Belz of the note indorsed by plaintiff, together with the mortgage, constitute the evidence of the authority of Belz to receive anything other than money in satisfaction of the note and mortgage. And we think that is sufficient to justify the finding that Belz had such authority. The indorsement and delivery of the note by plaintiff to Belz was strong evidence of it. A note indorsed in blank is payable to bearer, and may be negotiated by delivery alone. (Curtis v. Sprague , 51 Cal. 239; [24 P. 640] Peacock v. Rhodes, 2 Doug. 635; Swan v. N. B. Australian Co ., 2 Hurl. & C. 175; Norris v. Preston , 93 Ill. 215.) The mortgage was a mere incident of the debt which it secured, and followed the transfer of the note with the full effect of a regular assignment. (Ord v. McKee , 5 Cal. 515.)
Conceding that parol evidence was admissible to show that the transaction was not what the law, in the absence of such evidence, would presume it to be, we have here the evidence of defendant McCain that it was intended to operate as an assignment of the note and mortgage to Belz. There is evidence tending to show that the indorsement was intended to be special for the purpose of authorizing Belz to collect the amount of the debt secured in money. But we cannot interfere with the finding, where the evidence upon the issue found is conflicting. It is exclusively for the court below to determine the weight of evidence.
The court did not err in permitting the defendants to amend their answers, nor in refusing to postpone the trial on the ground of absence of evidence to meet the issues raised by such amendment. The record does not disclose that the motion was made upon affidavit showing the materiality of the evidence expected to be obtained, and that due diligence had been made to obtain it; and it is only upon such an affidavit that a motion to postpone a trial on the ground of absence of evidence can be made. (Code Civ. Proc., sec. 595.)
While the defendant was on the witness-stand testifying in his own behalf, his counsel asked him: "What was the condition of the real estate market in this city and county [Los Angeles city and county] about the time of this transaction, December 22, 1887?"
Plaintiff's counsel objected to the question, on the ground that it was irrelevant and immaterial.
The Court. -- I think it would go to show why action might be brought.
Counsel for plaintiff excepted, and witness answered: "It was very active; what was called a boom, especially in this section; this land was located at what was known as Santa Fe Springs, and runs up and adjoins the town site." This was followed by other questions and answers of similar import, which were objected to, objections overruled, and exceptions reserved. That this evidence was wholly irrelevant and immaterial we have no doubt. It is entirely outside of any issue in the case, and ought not to have influenced the decision in any degree whatever. But we are not at liberty to hold that the admitting of it was a harmless error. The overruling of the objection to admitting it, on the ground that it was irrelevant and immaterial, indicates that in the opinion of the court it was relevant and material. And counsel for respondent defends the action of the court on the ground that it was relevant and material. In his brief he says: "The materiality of the evidence of defendant McCain as to the value of real estate on December 22, 1887, when the settlement was effected, and its value about the time suit was commenced, is well shown by the quotation from the opinion of Judge Van Dyke, in which he says: 'I cannot resist the conclusion that the rapid decline in the price of land between the date of settlement and the commencement of this action accounts for the proceeding.' The evidence was material to show why suit was brought." But the motive for bringing suit was in no way material, and could not properly be inquired into. That the court attached some importance to this evidence, we are bound to presume from his admitting it against the objection made to it.
We therefore cannot see, from the record, that this evidence did not prejudice the plaintiff, and the error in admitting it entitles appellant to a new trial. (Rice v. Heath , 39 Cal. 609; Spanagel v. Dellinger , 38 Cal. 278; Sweeney v. Reilley , 42 Cal. 402; Ponce v. McElvy , 51 Cal. 222.)
Judgment and order reversed, and cause remanded for a new trial.
DISSENT:
McFARLAND
McFarland, J., dissenting. I dissent. I think that the case was properly decided in the court below, and that the error, if any, in admitting certain evidence was not of sufficient importance to change the result.