Scottish Court of Session Decisions

Subject_1 HYPOTHEC.
Subject_2 SECT. VII.

Hypothec competent to Writers and Agents.

Ranking of Hamilton of Provenhall's Creditors

Date: 9 August 1781
Case No. No 58.

A writer's hypothec on the papers of a bankrupt, found preferable to another creditor's infeftment on his lands, though prior in date to the writer's account.

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In the ranking of Provenhall's Creditors, William Wilson, writer to the signet, produced an interest founded on an account of business done for the common debtor, and craved a primo loco preference, in virtue of his right of hypothec, on the papers which were still in his hands.

It was at first objected, That Mr Wilson had passed from his right of hypothec, by taking a bill for the sum in his account. But this objection being over-ruled by the Lord Hailes Ordinary, William Jamieson, an heritable creditor, reclaimed upon a different ground, viz. that his debt was completed by infeftment, prior to every article in Mr Wilson's account of business.

Pleaded for Mr Jamieson; That, by an heritable bond, not only the lands of the debtor, but the title-deeds of those lands, are conveyed to the creditor, and both become equally his property to the effect of securing him against every new contraction of the proprietor. Though, therefore, an agent is entitled to retain papers in his hands till paid his account, in a question with either the proprietor himself, or even a personal creditor, yet he cannot be preferred, or even come in pari passu, in ranking with an heritable creditor, who had previously a real lien upon the papers. Besides, Mr Wilson's claim is inconsistent with the security of real creditors, who always understand, that no right, which does not appear on record, can interfere with them.

Answered for Mr Wilson; That, by the law of Scotland, title-deeds or other writings in the custody of an agent, are held to be pledged in security of his account; nor can an agent be obliged to give up his hypothec without payment, any more than a wadsetter can be obliged to renounce his wadset, without payment of the redemption money. Both are redeemable rights, and both are equally inviolable till payment. As to the conveyance of writs and evidents in an heritable bond, it constitutes no real lien whatsoever, but merely a personal right to make them furthcoming from the debtor. Possession of the ipsa corpora is the only lien upon the title-deeds; and when it is observed that lands, and the title-deeds of lands, are really two different subjects, it will be evident that the custodier of the deeds has, by possession, as complete and distinct a right in that subject, as the creditor has in the lands by his infeftment. With regard to creditors trusting only to the faith of the records, it is by no means the fact as to matters of this kind; nor can it be, for the record does not inform a creditor where his debtor's papers are to be found, or how much of his agent's account is unpaid. A creditor need never be long at a loss in these matters; and a very little degree of attention may secure him against any danger; but, on the other hand, if an agent were always to make searches before could safely proceed to business, it would either oblige every man to be his own agent, or put an end to business altogether.

Cases quoted by Mr Wilson, Nasmyth contra Creditors of Lidderdale of Torrs, No 54. p. 6248.; Patrick M'Dougal contra Creditors of Castleswine, January 1780, See Appendix. Mr Wilson himself contra Creditors of Lainshaw, July 1780, See Appendix.

The Lords preferred Mr Wilson.

Lord Ordinary, Hailes. Act. H. Erskine. Alt. Morthland. Clerk, Orme. Fol. Dic. v. 3. p. 295. Fac. Col. No 82. p. 137.