Findlay's Ex'rs v. Bank of the United States

9 F. Cas. 62, 2 McLean 44
CourtU.S. Circuit Court for the District of Ohio
DecidedDecember 15, 1839
DocketCase No. 4,791
StatusPublished
Cited by2 cases

This text of 9 F. Cas. 62 (Findlay's Ex'rs v. Bank of the United States) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering U.S. Circuit Court for the District of Ohio primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Findlay's Ex'rs v. Bank of the United States, 9 F. Cas. 62, 2 McLean 44 (circtdoh 1839).

Opinion

OPINION OF THE COURT. This bill was filed by the complainants to procure certain credits on certain judgments obtained by the Bank of the United States, against Findlay, in his lifetime, as the surety of Sutherland. Findlay, and one Thomas Irwin, who some years ago deceased, indorsed three several notes to the Bank of the United States, for Sutherland, on which judgments were entered the 13th July, 1824, for $5,-619 71; the 7th June, 1823, for $5,330 13; the 23d July, 1828, for $5,50S 75. To secure the payment of these notes a mortgage to the bank was executed by Sutherland, the 25th September, 1829; and at December term, 1S2S, a decree was entered for $20,623 32, and a sale of the mortgaged premises ordered. Another mortgage, bearing the same date, was executed by Sutherland to the bank, to secure the payment of four several notes — two of which were indorsed by Joseph Hough. On the two unindorsed notes [63]*63judgment was entered the 15th July, 1824, for$2,726 25, and the 23d July, 1827, 'on one of the other notes for $4,84136. On the other note, for $4,346 00, due 25th August, 1827, no judgment was obtained. A scire facias was issued on this mortgage, and a judgment obtained for $16,01100 at July term, 182S. The judgment for $5,619 71, against Findlay, Sutherland and Irwin; and that for $2,726 25, against Sutherland only, were levied 10th November, 1S24, on certain real property. On the 5th November, 1S21, John Busenbaeh obtained a judgment in the court of common pleas, for Butler county, against Sutherland, which was levied 27th October, 1826, on a part of the property covered by the prior levy. The above judgments against Findlay, were, also, levied on his property the- 16th June, 1827. In the spring of 1829, Findlay and Sutherland frequently solicited the bank to take the property mortgaged and levied upon at certain prices stated; and afterwards, the 29th June, 1829, an agreement, in writing, was made between the bank and Sutherland, by which the latter agreed to convey to the bank the property levied upon, and, also, that covered by the mortgages, for the > sum- -of $25,-794. This sum was produced, probably, by adding to the prices originally talked of,. $1,-000 upon a lot in Cincinnati, and deducting from the same $1,260, the balance due on the Busenbaeh judgment.

In addition to the above sum, the bank agreed to pay Mrs. Sutherland $3,000 for her right of dower; and it was agreed that the proceeds of the land covered by the mortgage, to secure the payment of the two unin dorsed notes of Sutherland, and the two notes indorsed by Hough should be first applied in payment of Hough’s liability; and that the residue of such liability should be discharged out of the proceeds of the property conveyed, exclusive of that which was mortgaged to secure the payment of the notes indorsed by Findlay; and it was stipulated that the property should be offered by the marshal at public sale. Sutherland executed the conveyances in pursuance of the agreement; and the property was publicly sold by the marshal, and credited by him on the several executions and order of sale, under which it was sold. The proceeds of the mortgaged property were applied in discharge of the liabilities which the mortgages were intendeu to secure; and the proceeds of the levied property were apportioned between the judgment against Sutherland and Hough, and the two against Sutherland only. The bank purchased the property at the marshal’s sale, for less than the contract price. For the property levied on, the bank agreed to give the sum of $5,039, and this property was struck off by the marshal at the sum of $5,206 53. On the 10th September, 1S30, the bank conveyed the lot in Cincinnati (conveyed to it under the contract with Sutherland for $10,-000) to D. Grillen for the consideration, as named in the deed, of $19,000. These are the principal facts out of which this controversy has arisen.

Before the merits of the case are considered, it may be proper to notice an objection which arises to the jurisdiction of the court, from the parties to the suit The complainants are citizens of Ohio, and Timothy Kirby, alleged to be the agent of the bank, and Samuel Gray, administrator of Sutherland, and Thomas D. Carneal and Lewis Whiteman, administrators of Irwin, whose citizenship is not alleged, are made defendants. To give jurisdiction to the court it is as necessary to allege the citizenship of the defendants as of the complainants. This is in the nature of an original bill, and calls for the exercise of chancery powers; and if the defendants named are citizens of Ohio, it is clear the court, cannot as the parties now stand, take jurisdiction of the case. It is true, the whole object of the bill is to have certain credits entered on judgments of this court; but the right of the complainants depends on the construction of an instrument, dated long after the judgments, and of certain equitable liens as between-.the -sureties of Sutherland. This objection may be obviated by discontinuing the bill as to Kirby, who is not a necessary party; by making the administrators of Irwin co-complainants, and by discontinuing the bill as to the administrators of Sutherland.- ■ If the estate of Sutherland cannot be affected by a decree in this case, as it most clearly cannot be, his administrators are not indispensable parties in the case. In addition to this, the proof in the case shows that Sutherland died insolvent. With this intimation, which may be a matter for future consideration, the questions made in the argument will be examined.

The complainants insist that they are entitled to a credit on the judgments against Sutherland and Findlay, for the fair value of the Cincinnati lot, or the sum for which it was sold by the bank, deducting therefrom a reasonable amount on account of dower. At the time Sutherland conveyed this lot to the bank, the title was, to some extent, embarrassed; and there is no proof that the sum at which it was estimated was less than its value. There is no allegation of fraud in the conveyance of the lot to the bank, for the price agreed; and if such an allegation were made, it would not be supported by the fact that some fifteen months after-wards, the lot was sold by the bank at an advance of eight thousand dollars. Within this time an outstanding claim was bought in by the bank, the right of dower was paid for, and the property may have risen in value.

A debtor has an undoubted right fairly to convey his property in satisfaction of a debt, without the assent of his surety. If such conveyance be made fraudulently, with the view of injuring the surety, it should be set [64]*64aside. But if the parties act in good faith, ■and the transaction is characterized by fairness and propriety, though without the knowledge of the surety, he has no ground to complain, much less to 6et aside the conveyance. But in this case there is satisfactory evidence that Findlay, admitting him to be the surety of Sutherland, was desirous that the lot should be conveyed to the bank for a sum less than that which was agreed to be paid for it. The conveyance of this lot, and the other property, was made by Sutherland under the agreement which fixed the price 'at which the whole property was taken by the bank; and if this agreement, in so material a part as this, shall be set aside, how can any part of it be enforced? And if the agreement does not stand, the sales by the marshal* being public and in pursuance of legal process, must stand. This would reduce the gross sum for the property much below the price allowed in the agreement.

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
9 F. Cas. 62, 2 McLean 44, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/findlays-exrs-v-bank-of-the-united-states-circtdoh-1839.