Meech v. . Patchin

The object of the statute requiring mortgages of personal property to be filed is the same with that of the registry acts respecting mortgages of real estate, namely, to prevent imposition upon subsequent purchasers and mortgagees. (Gregory v. Thomas, 20 Wend., 19.) While the chattels mortgaged remain in the hands of the mortgagor, persons dealing with him respecting them are led to believe that he is the owner, and may thus be defrauded, or at least disappointed. To remedy this inconvenience, the statute required the mortgagee, where possession was not delivered, to file the mortgage or a…