Warren v. Crow

• Decision Date: 03 February 1916
• Docket Number: 7 Div. 745
• Parties: WARREN et al. v. CROW.
• Court: Alabama Supreme Court

71 So. 92

195 Ala. 568

WARREN et al. v. CROW.

7 Div. 745

Supreme Court of Alabama

February 3, 1916

Appeal from Chancery Court, De Kalb County; James E. Horton, Jr. Chancellor.

Bill by J.O. Crow against F.M. Warren and others. From a decree overruling a demurrer to the bill, defendants appeal. Affirmed.

M.W Howard, of Birmingham, and Isbell & Scott, of Ft. Payne, for appellants.

Davis &amp Baker, of Ft. Payne, for appellee.

GARDNER J.

Bill by appellee for reformation and foreclosure of a certain mortgage executed by appellants to one Goodhue, which said mortgage was duly transferred to appellee. Demurrer to the bill was overruled; hence this appeal.

The only insistence of counsel for appellants is that the bill is insufficient in its averments to the effect that it was the intention of the parties at the time of the execution of the mortgage that the land in question be included therein. While it is a well-settled rule that the pleading is to be construed most strongly against the pleader, yet the language used should be given a reasonable construction. We are of the opinion that the demurrer was properly overruled. A copy of the mortgage is made an exhibit to the bill. The fourth paragraph avers that a mistake was made in the description of the real estate of Isaac C.J. Warren intended to be conveyed by said mortgage. The description of the same as appears in the mortgage is then given, and it is also averred that this description fails to include about 37 acres, which was omitted therefrom by inadvertence or mistake on the part of the draftsman of the mortgage. The fifth paragraph describes the property as it should have been described according to the contention of complainant, and concludes with the averment, in substance, that such was the express intention and understanding of all the parties. Paragraph 6 also purports to give a correct description of the real estate which--to use the language of said paragraph--"was agreed and intended to be conveyed in said mortgage deed." It is also averred in the eighth paragraph that a correct description of said real estate is shown by a plat of the land made by a certain surveyor, which "said plat was submitted to Chas. M.T. Sawyer, the draftsman of said mortgage, by the respondents, as a description of the real estate intended to be conveyed in said mortgage, at the time and before said mortgage was drawn."

Other averments not here noted, in...