Fowler v. Equitable Trust Co., 141 U.S. 408 (1891)
U.S. Supreme Court
Fowler v. Equitable Trust Co. , 141 U.S. 408 (1891)Fowler v. Equitable Trust Company (No. 2)
Nos.34, 35
Argued April 16-17, 1891
Decided October 26, 1891
141 U.S. 408
Syllabus
The decision below in these cases is reversed on the authority of Fowler v. Equitable Trust Company, ante, 141 U. S. 384.
The Court stated the case as follows:
The trust company made a loan to Rose H. Fowler, a citizen of Illinois, of the sum of $6,000, for five years, with interest at the rate of ten percent per annum, payable semiannually. The latter executed to the company six coupon bonds, of $1,000 each, dated May 1, 1874, payable May 1, 1879, with interest semiannually at the rate of seven percent per annum, the principal and interest payable at the office of the company in New York. As security for the payment of the bonds and the interest thereon, the borrower conveyed to Jonathan Edwards, trustee, a lot in Springfield, Illinois, with the appurtenances thereon. The deed was similar in its provisions to the one given in the preceding cases, Nos. 32 and 33.
The present suit was brought October 27, 1882, to foreclose the grantor's right and equity of redemption, and for a sale in satisfaction of the amount found, upon an accounting, to be due the trust company. Sophie Fowler was made a defendant upon the ground that she claimed some interest in the mortgaged property. She filed an answer and cross-bill,
to which the company filed a replication and answer. By a decree entered October 20, 1884, it was adjudged by the court that the plaintiff was entitled to recover $2,162.48 as the balance of the principal actually received by the defendants; $23.12 for insurance paid -- in all, $2,185.60. When this decree was entered, the defendants filed a written motion and petition for rehearing, in respect to which the same proceedings were had as in the preceding cases. A formal order for rehearing was made June 30, 1885, and entered as of October 31, 1884, and there was a final decree, January 11, 1887, in favor of plaintiff for $5,411.23, of which $5,381.83 was found to be the principal sum actually received by the defendants, and $29.40 to have been paid for insurance. From that decree both parties have appealed.
In reference to the loan in question, Johnston, the local agent of the company at Springfield, through whom the loan was obtained, testified:
"The trust deed and bonds were executed and delivered to me about the 22d day of June, 1874, as complete. This was a loan of six thousand at ten percent. Seven percent of the interest was evidenced by the interest coupons attached to the six one thousand dollar bonds, and the remaining three percent was discounted for the five years, and deducted from the $6,000. The trust deeds and bonds in this case bear date the 1st day of May, 1874, and the interest which accrued on them from May 1, 1874, to June 23, 1874, was paid to the defendant."
Par value of bonds was . . . . . . . . $6,000.00
Discount, 3%, 5 years, was . . . . . . 694.80
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Leaving the sum of . . . . . . . . . $5,305.20
To this was added accrued interest . . 76.63
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Making the total . . . . . . . . . . $5,381.83
For that amount, Johnston executed and delivered to the defendant his sight draft on the trust company, which was negotiated by her. Pursuant to a previous agreement with him, she paid him a commission of $150. The evidence as to
the circumstances under which the loan was made, and commissions paid, and of Johnston's relations to the trust company, was the same as in the other cases.
