H. B. Claflin Co. v. Grashorn
This text of 74 N.W. 783 (H. B. Claflin Co. v. Grashorn) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Wisconsin Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.
Opinion
The verdict in this case was rightly directed. It is not denied that Brown & Frost justly owed the plaintiff the entire amount, named in the mortgage, when the mortgage was given and possession of the stock taken. It was a mortgage given to secure a pre-existing bona fide indebtedness. In such a case there must be actual participation by the creditor in the fraudulent purpose of his debtor, in order to avoid the mortgage. Mere knowledge by the creditor of his debtor’s fraudulent purpose will not be sufficient, so long as the creditor’s purpose is simply to secure his debt. Bleiler v. Moore, 94 Wis. 385. We have examined the evidence, and have found nothing tending to ..show participation by the plaintiff in any intended fraud, even if it be conceded that fraud was intended by the firm of Brown & Frost. It seems to have acted with the simple purpose of securing its just debt. The fact that the notes held by it were guaranteed by a third party is certainly no evidence of fraud. It had the same right to take security from the principal debtors which it would have had in the absence of such guaranty.
By the Gourt.— Judgment affirmed.
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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack
74 N.W. 783, 99 Wis. 356, 1898 Wisc. LEXIS 33, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/h-b-claflin-co-v-grashorn-wis-1898.