Hoye v. Penn

1 Md. Ch. 28
CourtHigh Court of Chancery of Maryland
DecidedMay 1, 1811
StatusPublished
Cited by1 cases

This text of 1 Md. Ch. 28 (Hoye v. Penn) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering High Court of Chancery of Maryland primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Hoye v. Penn, 1 Md. Ch. 28 (Md. Ct. App. 1811).

Opinion

Kilty, Chan.

The Chancellor has considered the arguments of the counsel on each side in their notes in writing; and has examined the proceedings in the suit. Several grounds of defence are taken; first, that Pigman was in prosperous circumstances at the time- he purchased the goods from Gwinn, and remained so more than seven years after. It does not appear how [31]*31this can affect the right of the complainants; unless some fraudulent delay or collusion was proved to the injury of Penn.

The bond to Edward Gwinn was dated the 21st of September 1788, but was not payable until the 21st of September 1792. And although it seems to be admitted, that Pigman was the principal, and the other obligors the sureties; yet they all appear as principals in the condition of the bond.

Suits were not brought on the bond until April 1795; but such forbearance is not unusual, and does not affect the right of the obligee. And the sureties, if they thought proper to pay off the bond, might have had it assigned to them, and have brought suit against the principal. The judgments, against Pigman and against Charles Penn, were obtained at October term, 1796, with a stay of execution till the 1st of January 1797. The judgment against Pigman was removed in February 1797, as appears by the record, although the writ of error bond is left blank as to the dates; and admitting, that this bond was executed by Deakins and Stoddart to oblige Pigman, there is nothing suspicious in the transaction; and it appears also, that a similar bond was executed, about the same time, by Charles Penn, with the same sureties. Ediuard Gwinn died before November 1798, at which time his administratrix had appeared, and the judgment was affirmed. There is nothing to shew, that she was disposed to favour Pig-man; and it is presumed, that she would have recovered the money from him or Charles Penn, by execution, if in her power. But suits were brought against the executor of Deakins and against Stoddart on the appeal bonds, and judgments obtained thereon at May and October term 1801, against them as sureties for Penn, as well as for Pigman. The money was paid by them on the 1st of May 1802, and the judgment against Pigman only was assigned to them. This was the commencement of their claim against Charles Penn or his heir or representatives, and they filed the present bill in July 1802. It appears by the testimony of Benjamin Ray, that execution's were issued against Pigman, and Penn, which were both served, so that there was no neglect on the part of Gwinn to, pursue his legal remedy, supposing, that he was obliged so to do, which was not the case. If Pigman had been possessed of visible property, a resort to it would have been preferable to a suit on the writ of error bond. And as to Penn it is to be observed, that the conveyance of his lands in 1792, prevented their being taken on the judgment, and affirmance in 1798 and 1798, by which [32]*32the debt might have been satisfied, and the complainants relieved from their engagements.

It is also contended, that there was an intention to defraud at the time the conveyances were made. This point is not very clear on considering the time; which was in the year when the bond to Gwinn became due; and on adverting to the evidence of Benjamin Ray, and George Ray. But the Chancellor considers them as voluntary conveyances, which, though founded on a good and meritorious consideration as to his children, and grand children, were not bona fide as against creditors, but were a badge of fraud in legal contemplation; and so strong a one as not to require any further proof of the intention, the grant or being indebted at the time.

A third ground is, that the deeds were made to confirm gifts before made to the children, or in consequence of their being settled on the lands which their father had intended to give them. On this ground the Chancellor does not perceive, from the evidence, any acts or declarations, that would have obliged Charles Penn, the father, to make the conveyances; and even if he had gone so far as to make them, and had kept them in his own power, it would not have bound him.

The other ground, of the payment having been made to Deakins, is not supported by the testimony.

The Chancellor is, therefore, of opinion, that the complainants are entitled to relief against all the defendants; but the manner, and the proportionrin which they ought to contribute, he has not considered; nor the specific manner of granting the relief; both which will be determined, on the counsel for the complainant preparing a decree.

Nathan Waters, and Evan Gaither wmre named as defendants in the bill. There are no answers by them, and it is not perceived how they axe disposed of, although Evan Gaither’s will is among the papers.

After which, the case was again brought before the court by the plaintiffs, who asked for instructions as to the form of the final decree.

18th September, 1811. — Kilty, Chan. — The Chancellor has again examined the papers in this suit. It appears that Penn and Waters were equally liable; whether as principals in the bond to Gwinn, or as sureties. Waters was not taken on the writ against him, but his property might have been made liable.

[33]*33The appeal bond was given on account of Pigman, and a similar bond on account of Penn; but' the payment was made on a judgment on the appeal for Pigman, and the relief is prayed on the ground of substitution for Gwinn.

The object of the bill was to affect the land conveyed by Penn; and also that conveyed by Waters to Evan Gaither, who was made a defendant. And the prayer was, that' the aforesaid defendants might respectively pay, and contribute in satisfaction of the money paid by the complainants, such sums as might be proper.

The defendant, Gaither, is since dead, and has devised the land in question to the defendant, Waters ; and his wife, Susanna Waters, the sister of Gaither. Waters has not appeared; and an attachment, renewed in April last, for his appearance, has been returned non est.

Before a decree can be made, some further proceeding is necessary. Either, that Waters should, on application for amendment, be struck out of the bill, if the complainant’s counsel should think it safe and advisable to make such an application; or, that he should be compelled to appear; or the necessary orders be applied for, and passed for taking the bill, as against him, pro confesso : and also, that his wife, the other devisee, should be made a party in order to have her interest in the' land affected. After which the decree should be for a sale of the interest of Waters and wife for half of the debt; and Penn's for the other half, in the first instance; but leaving each eventually liable for the whole.

On the 19th of September 1811, the plaintiffs filed a bill of revivor, in which they stated, that Evan Gaither was dead, and, by his will had devised his interest in the property in dispute to JVathan Waters and Susanna his wife; against whom the plaintiffs- prayed relief,, a

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
1 Md. Ch. 28, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/hoye-v-penn-mdch-1811.