Jackson ex dem. Saunders v. Cadwell

1 Cow. 622
CourtNew York Supreme Court
DecidedFebruary 15, 1824
StatusPublished
Cited by54 cases

This text of 1 Cow. 622 (Jackson ex dem. Saunders v. Cadwell) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering New York Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Jackson ex dem. Saunders v. Cadwell, 1 Cow. 622 (N.Y. Super. Ct. 1824).

Opinion

WOODWOB.TH, J.

If the question had been submitted to the jury," whether the judgments were paid, I think the plaintiff would have failed on that ground. The evidence does not satisfactorily establish the fact of payment. The Judge, at the trial, being of opinion that this inquiry was immaterial, decided that the title of the defendant could not be affected, he being a bona fide purchaser, without notice. The only question submitted to the jury was, whether the conveyance from Clark Saunders to Edward C. Saunders, was fraudulent. The exception is taken to the charge, but not to the opinion of the Judge, excluding Mary Saunders, as an incompetent witness.

The rule laid down in Frier v. Jackson, (8 John. 507) is, that a bill of exceptions does not draw the whole matter into examination, but only on the points to which it was taken; and that the party excepting must lay his finger on those points which might arise, either, in admitting or denying evidence, or in matier of law arising from a fact not denied, in which either party was overruled by the Court.

The plaintiff made out a title in Edward C. Saunders, which entitles him to recover, unless that title was divested by the sale under the judgments. The conveyance to Edward C, Saunders, jun. cannot operate as a bargain and sale, for want of a pecuniary consideration. If it operates at all, it must be by way of covenant to stand seised to uses. That species of conveyance is good, when made upon the consideration of blood or marriage. In such case the statute of uses transfers the title to the use appointed. If the parties be of [640]*640one blood, the law implies a good consideration, arising fronts natural love and affection. In this case the conveyancé provides, that the lease shall remain in the hands of Mary Saunders, for the use, benefit and support of her son, Edward, until he arrives at the age of 21, at which time he is to come into possession of the lease; If it be admitted that Mary Saunders is to be considered as a grantee, upon trust, for Edward C. Saunders, jun. there is no tie of blood between the grántor ánd grantee. The deed, therefore, must fail, as a covenant, to stand seised.

The cases bn this subject áre ably examined in Jackson v. Sebring, (16 John. 515.) The words'used in the instrument, although in the form of a deed, would seem to denote an intention to devise. There are many cases where á writing, in this form, has been proved as a will. (4 Ves. Junr. 565.) On this supposition, the result is the samé as to the présént interest of Saunders, the elder. It follows, then, that Mary Saunders had no interest in the premises, and ought to have been received as a witness;

The question to be decided is, whether a title can be acquired under an execution issued on a judgment that has been paid. It is certain that the judgment is no lien, after payment which, is matter in pais and may be established by parol testimony.

In Sherman v. Boyce, (15 John. 443) the defendant, aS Deputy Sheriff, sold the plaintiff’s personal property on ari execution, after the same had been paid. The Court say, “ the debt must be deemed satisfied as to the judgment creditor ; and that fact being established, the law, founded on wise policy, considers the officer as fundus officio. The direct and sole object Of the fi. fa. Was to raise the money to satisfy the judgment creditor. That object being attained, the power conferred by the writ is spent.” So, also, in Carter v. Simpson, (7 John. 535) the same doctrine is recognized; The plaintiff, in that case, was a purchaser of some hay, at k constable’s sale, on execution. The defendant contended, that it was necessary to prove the execution and judgment. It was held, that the plaintiff was bound to prove the athority under which the constable acted. It was observed, that [641]*641’x if the constable had no authority to sell the hay, the vendee had no title.”

It is well settled that a vendee, under a lawful judgment and execution, shall not lose his property upon a reversal of the judgment by writ of error. But no case admits a title in the purchaser, when the Sheriff acted without authority. (Manning’s case, 8 Coke, 96.) Whatever may be the rights of a bona fide purchaser, without notice, it must be conceded, that as between the parties, the judgment and execution are extinguished by payment. Consequently, Russel Clark, a plaintiff in one of the executions, who paid to the Sheriff the amount of the other, and afterwards assumed the control of it, can never set up his purchase as making out a title.

The action of ejectment, on the demise of Clark and his partners, against Edward C. Saunders, might have been successfully resisted, by proving payment of the judgments and executions under which the premises were sold; but the objection not being taken in that suit, Saunders was dispossessed on the 1th of May, 1820. The next day the defendant entered, claiming title under Clark. He proved an assignment of the original lease to him, dated May 8, 1820, for the alleged consideration of $700, but there is no proof that any thing was paid, or secured to be paid. Hale, a witness, testified, that in a conversation with the defendant the day before he purchased, it was mentioned that Edward C. Saunders laid some claim to the premises, but upon what it was founded nothing was said. The defendant afterwards informed the witness, that when he purchased, the company indemnified him.

Enough has not been shown, to entitle the defendant to the character of a bona fide purchaser, for a valuable consideration, without notice. It is, therefore, not necessary to discuss the more difficult question, whether a bona fide purchaser can be affected by payment of the judgments. Admitting he cannot, the present defendant cap derive no benefit, his title being no better than that of the purchasers at the Sheriff’s sale. It is not sufficient to shew merely a good conveyance in form—payment of the consideration must be made out. It must be not secured to [642]*642be paid, for otherwise the purchaser would not be huriv This doctrine is well settled in the books. (3 Atk. 304. 3 P. Wm. 307. 1 Atk. 538. 2 Atk. 630. 2 Mad. 255.) Be-' sides> h *s here stated that the defendant is indemnified, and if so, cannot incur loss, whatever may be our decision. The defence of a purchaser for valuable consideration, is generally confined to a Court of Equity, and may be resorted to' when the defendant has as good a claim to the protection of a Court of Equity, to defend his possession, as the plaintiff has to the assistance of the Court, to assert his right. In such case, the Court will not interfere on either side. It can never be made use of as a substantive ground of Equity,for offensive operations by a plaintiff. It is not ground for relief, though it is a good defence. (16 John. 544. Ambler, 292.)

The defendant not having .shewn that he is a subsequent bona fide purchaser, must stand on the same ground as if Clark, the purchaser from the Sheriff, had never conveyed.

On the question of notice, I think a knowledge that Saunders

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1 Cow. 622, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/jackson-ex-dem-saunders-v-cadwell-nysupct-1824.