Buck v. Pike

11 Me. 9
CourtSupreme Judicial Court of Maine
DecidedJune 15, 1833
StatusPublished
Cited by3 cases

This text of 11 Me. 9 (Buck v. Pike) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Supreme Judicial Court of Maine primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Buck v. Pike, 11 Me. 9 (Me. 1833).

Opinion

Weston J.

at a subsequent term, delivered the opinion of the Court.

Waiving for the present the effect of the mortgage made by Brewer to Downes, in April, 1827, and its assignment to the de-. fondant, it becomes necessary to consider, whether, while Downes held the land jn controversy, he held it in' trust for Brewer, There was jio declaration of trust in writing, and if any existed, it must have been what is termed in law a resulting trust. As jurisdiction of trusts generally, without qualification or exception, is given to this Court, wherever they arise, according to the settled practice of a court of equity, they must be recognized and enforced. Sugden, in his law of vendors, 443, Philadelphia edition, states the law to be, without a single exception, bearing upon this point, that if one man purchase an estate in the name of another, a trust results to him, who advances the purchase money. He cites a large,number of authorities to sustain his position, to which cases in this country are added by the American editor. It is treated by Chancellor Kent, in Boyd v. McLean, 1 John. Chan. 582, as a well known and a universally admitted rule in equity. As it is not controverted by the counsel for the defendant, it cannot be necessary to advert further to the authorities. But it is a well settled part of the doctrine, that it should appear [24]*24that the payment, from which the trust results, was a part of the original transaction, at the time of the conveyance; and that it cannot arise from subsequent payments. It is further holden that the facts creating the trust must be clearly and fully established; to prove or to repel which, parol testimony is admissible.

It is contended that, as in the deed from Munroe to Downes-, it is recited that the consideration was paid by the latter, parol evidence is not to be received in contradiction to the deed, unless in case of fraud, to prove that it was paid by Brewer. Upon this point, the case of Botsford v. Burr, 2 John. Chan. 405, is cited. The plaintiff there relied upon the assignment of a note to the defendant, in addition to other testimony, to establish a resulting trust. It was holden that it could not have that effect, it being subsequent to the original transaction. The Chancellor further states that the formal assignment of that note to the defendant by an instrument under seal,' could not be contradicted by parol. But in the case of Boyd v. McLean, Chancellor Kent went into an elaborate consideration of the point raised, whether such a resulting trust be within the statute of frauds, and whether the fact, on which the trust arises, may be shown by parol proof in opposition to the language of the deed, and even in opposition to the defendant’s answer. And although he admits that such evidence may be dangerous in its consequences, he felt himself constrained to come to the conclusion that such proof was admissible in courts of equity. The Chancellor examines the cases with his usual ability, and without going over the same ground, which we cannot regard as necessary, we find ourselves compelled by the weight of authority to adopt the same opinion, however distrustful of its policy. In this case however, in the transactions between Brewer and Downes, there was an attempt to put the property out of the reach of the creditors of the former, in a manner which is deemed fraudulent in law. And of this, the defendant, taking an assignment of the fictitious mortgage, without consideration, could not be ignorant.

In regard to the circumstances attending the conveyance from Munroe, there is no conflict of testimony. Brewer made the bargain with him, gave his notes for the purchase money, with Downes as his surety, and by his request the deed was made to [25]*25Downes, who held the land only as security for what he might have to pay, and for what he might advance. Had Downes lent the money to Brewer to pay Munroe, and taken the deed in his own name for security, it would have been a payment of the purchase money by Brewer, to whom a trust would have resulted. So it was decided in Boyd v. McLean, upon such a state of facts. In this case Downes did not in the first instance lend the money, but lent his name to Brewer as surety. Shall he be held a trustee if he lends money, and shall he hold the land free of the trust, if he only lends his credit ? There is no ground in reason or justice for such a distinction. He always regarded Brewer as the purchaser, and the real debtor of Munroe; and that the land was conveyed to him to secure any sum he might have to pay as Brewer’s surety. The defendant, at the request of Brewer, paid to Botones the money he paid to Munroe. At the time of the original transaction with Munroe, Brewer was the purchaser, his note was accepted with such surety, as he had it in his power to offer. This was virtually payment at the time. If upon this security the deed had been made to Brewer, and he failing to pay, Downes had been called upon and paid, could it be said that a trust resulted to Downes, from the payment of the consideration ? If so, every man, who signs as surety for another, for the consideration, in the purchase of real estate, will be secured by a resulting trust, if he has to pay the money. And yet this cannot be pretended. The question who is the purchaser, does not depend upon who is ultimately compelled to make actual payment. If the surety pays, he will be entitled to be reimbursed, upon the implied assumpsit of the principal; hut he has no lien, trust or interest in the land, unless it has been conveyed to him, and then he will hold it only, as in Boyd v. McLean, by way of pledge.

If the consideration was paid or secured to Munroe by Brewer, a trust resulted to Brewer, while the land was in the hands of Downes, charged with his claim for indemnity. Had the defendant notice of the trust ? He denies that he himself was to hold the property in trust for Brewer, or that there was any agreement or understanding between them to this effect, but he was apprized and does not deny, that Downes was ready, upon being indemni[26]*26fied, to convey at the request of Brewer. He did so. The defendant received the conveyance by Brewer’s procurement and direction. He denies any knowledge of the plaintiff’s title; but does not deny that Brewer had an interest in the property, after paying the amount of Downes’ claim. He knew that was less than seven hundred dollars, and that the property was worth more than fifteen hundred dollars. Indeed he admits that he was induced to take the conveyance, to avail himself of the excess of value, over what he would have to pay to Downes, to indemnify himself from loss incurred, or apprehended, from Brewer’s firm. With regard to the legal title, he was truly informed that it was absolutely in Downes; but from the bill and answer, aside from the proof, it is not going too far to hold that he had notice that Breiver had a valuable trust interest in the land, which had been conveyed to Downes.

If we look at the proof, the existence and notice of the trust is. very clearly established. An objection is made to the testimony of Brewer as an interested witness.

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Bluebook (online)
11 Me. 9, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/buck-v-pike-me-1833.