Bowlby v. De Wit

34 S.E. 919, 47 W. Va. 323, 1899 W. Va. LEXIS 162
CourtWest Virginia Supreme Court
DecidedDecember 9, 1899
StatusPublished
Cited by17 cases

This text of 34 S.E. 919 (Bowlby v. De Wit) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering West Virginia Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Bowlby v. De Wit, 34 S.E. 919, 47 W. Va. 323, 1899 W. Va. LEXIS 162 (W. Va. 1899).

Opinion

Brannon, Judge:

Bowlby broug-ht a suit in equity in the circuit court of [324]*324Ritchie County against De Witt to recover a debt arising from judgments against De Witt in Pennsylvania, and sued out an attachment against the estate of De Witt on the ground of his nonresidence and fraud, which was levied on the eighth interest of De Witt in certain oil leases and personal property, and certain other personal property in which he owned the entirety. The property levied on was conveyed by Rowland to Dewitt by deed dated June 8,1898, and was levied on July 5, 1898, and reconveyed by De Witt to Rowland August 3,1898. Rowland filed his petition setting up his claim to the property as exempt from the attachment. The case ended in a decree for Bowlby’s debt against De Witt, — he having answered, — and directing the sale of the property levied upon, and De Witt alone appealed.

It is assigned as error that equity has no jurisdiction of the case, as there is adequate remedy at law. I take it that it is unnecessary to do more than say that equity has jurisdiction of a suit upon a purely legal demand against a nonresident, with an attachment levied on property. Code, c. 106, s. 1; McKinsey v. Squires, 32 W. Va. 41, (9 S. E. 55).

It is assigned as error that the Sunlight Oil, Gas and Refining Company is not a party. Why should it be? The bill did state, as showing fraudulent transfers by De Witt to defeat the plaintiff’s recovery of his debt, as one of his acts, that De Witt had transferred some property to that company, but did not charge fraud on the company, nor ask, nor did the plaintiff get, any decree against that property. That property was not levied upon under the attachment, nor proceeded against in the bill, nor touched by the decree. It was pretended by Rowland that he transferred some property, to De Witt, as agent for that company, for advances of money on work Rowland was to do for it; but, if this was the truth, it was not so stated in the deed, and Rowland swears positively that the company had been repaid and its right ended, and DeWitt distinctly swears the same; and he conveyed back to Rowland, and thus said company had not a shadow of interest. Its rights would be void for want of record, if it had any. Poling v. Flanagan, 41 W. Va. 191, (23 S. E. 685).

[325]*325It is assigned as error that the claim to the property set up by Rowland was disallowed. Rowland aid not unite in the appeal, but it -is argued that the appeal of De Witt brings the whole case up. We are referred to Walker's Ex'r v. Page, 21 Gratt. 636, to show that where parties appealing stand on the same ground as those not appealing, and their rights are involved in the same question, and equally affected by the same decree or judgment, the court of appeals will settle the rights of all. ■ But the rights of De Witt and Rowland are not equally and likewise affected. The decree is personal against De Witt, — not against Rowland at all. De Witt disclaims title in the * property sold. Rowland alone claims it. It is Rowland’s property that is held liable. His title only is affected, and, if dissatisfied, he should defend it by appeal. If the decree wére reversed as to Rowland, De Witt would not get the property or profit by it. The case cited shows that where the rights of two parties are separate, and not equally affected by the decree, the appeal of one will not bring up the rights of the other for adjudication. So does Shoe Co. v. Haught, 41 W. Va. 275, (23 S. E. 553). If Rowland were appealing, he could complain that the debt was wrongly decreed against De Witt, because interested in that question, as it established a debt affecting his property; but De Witt loses nothing in the property, because he expressly disclaims interest in it. Tate v. Liggat, 2 Leigh, 84, was a suit to cancel a fraudulent deed from A. to B., and B. appealed. Though the decree as to B. was reversed, yet the decree against A. for the debt could not be on B.’s appeal. This shows the separate interests in our case. As the decree is good as to De Witt, we could not reverse that clause of it denying, validity of Rowland’s claim, — he not appealing, — merely on De Witt’s 'request. But, Rowland having appeared in this court and assigned error, I think that we must consider his case, as if he had appealed, because he thus unites in the appeal, and because an affirmance would bind him, as a finality, and therefore he ought to be heard. Blowpipe Co. v. Spencer, 46 W. Va. 590, (33 S. E. 342). Rowland purchased ot De Witt some time after the levy- of the attachment. Code, c. 106, s. 9, gives a lien from levy. Anybody purchasing of the debtor [326]*326after levy is by common law a pendente lite purchaser, and takes subject to the lien of the attachment, whether he had notice or not. “A purchase made of property actually in litigation, pendente lite, though for valuable consideration, and without actual notice, is yet subject to the decision of the suit; and this doctrine is based, not on the presumption of notice, but on reasons of public policy, which make it indispensable, in order to prevent an indefinite multiplication of suits, and give effect to the determination of courts.” Bart. Ch. Prac. 1087; Wilfong v. Johnson, 41 W. Va. 283, (23 S. E. 730); Stout v. Mercantile Co., 41 W. Va. 340, (23 S. E. 571). A purchaser takes subject to the attachment. 3 Am. & Eng. Enc. Law (2d Ed.) 215. An attachment at common law is notice of its lien. This doctrine of notice arising from the mere pendency of a suit to recover specific property, real or personal, is still the law. The act requiring record of lis pendens (Code 1891, c. 139, s. 13) applies only to suits to charge real estate with debt, not to suits to recover it. O'Connor v. O'Connor, 45 W. Va. 354, (32 S. E. 276). It applies neither to suits to recover nor suits to charge personalty. Osborn v. Glasscock, 39 W. Va. 749, (20 S. E. 702). But it is claimed that by section 9, chapter 106, if no bond be given under section 6 to authorize the officer to take possession of the property levied on, and the property is sold by the debtor for valuable consideration, the lien of the attachment ceases. Undoubtedly this works a change from the rule of the common law as to pendente lite purchasers. Under it the mere suit is not notice. But it works such change only in favor of an honest purchaser, — one without notice of the attachment. The statute does not mention notice, but it is to be implied; for it cannot be possible that as the statute gives a lien, though no bond be given, it intended to nullify that lien in favor of one having full notice of the creditor’s prior right, and thus overturn, in this particular instance only, the law which in other cases (such as second purchasers or mortgagees taking with notice of prior conveyance or mortgage or judgment) subordinates the second man to the prior purchase or lien. It does not give such premium to fraud. The said statute requiring alis pendens of suits affectingland to be recorded expressly [327]*327says it shall npt be necessary as to pnrchasérs with notice. That applies to attachments. One purchasing land with notice of it is affected, though no lis pendens is recorded. Of course one purchasing chattels with notice of an attachment would be in no better condition. The attachment levied is a lien without bond. That is only necessary if desired to take the actual possession by the officer.

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Bluebook (online)
34 S.E. 919, 47 W. Va. 323, 1899 W. Va. LEXIS 162, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/bowlby-v-de-wit-wva-1899.