Perea v. Gallegos

4 N.M. 333
CourtNew Mexico Supreme Court
DecidedJanuary 15, 1889
StatusPublished

This text of 4 N.M. 333 (Perea v. Gallegos) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering New Mexico Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Perea v. Gallegos, 4 N.M. 333 (N.M. 1889).

Opinion

Reeves, J.

This is an appeal from the decree of the district court for the defendant and against the complainants in the district court, and appellants in this court. The appellee in the statement of the case, as appears from the brief of her solicitors, admits that the allegations and purpose of the bill were as stated by the appellants, as were also the proceedings down to the time of the reference to the master. The appellants in the statement of the case alleged in their bill of complaint that José L. Perea, in his life-time, filed his bill of equity therein, charging the defendant as a trustee in a resulting trust; alleging, among other things, that one José M. Gallegos, in his life-time, had borrowed of the complainant, José L. Perea, a large sum of money, amounting to about $10,000, and that he died insolvent in 1875, without having paid the same; that the appellee was his wife; and, that during his life-time, and while he was largely indebted to other parties, and after the accruing of about $3,500 of the indebtedness due to José L. Perea, deceased, José M. Gallegos, without any consideration, and for the fraudulent purpose of hindering and delaying his creditors, conveyed certain real estate described in the bill to his wife, the appellee; and praying that said transfer be declared fraudulent and void as to creditors, and that the' appellee be declared a trustee of an implied trust for their benefit, that the property be sold to pay complainant’s debt, and that an account be taken of the portion of the property sold by the appellee, and of the rents and profits received by her, and for general relief.

After the filing of the original bill, José L. Perea died, when the complainants were appointed administrators of his estate, and the suit revived in their names, and the amended bill of July 7, 1884, set out in the transcript filed. To this amended bill the appellee filed a demurrer and an answer. The demurrer was sustained as to part of the bill. Respondent in her answer denied the insolvency of José M. Gallegos. She admitted his liabilities as one of the sureties on the bond of Beall as administrator, and the settlement and discharge of such liability as stated in complainant’s bill. She admitted that José M. Gallegos conveyed to her the real estate mentioned and described in the bill of complaint, but denied that it was for the fraudulent purpose of covering up his property so as to hinder and delay his creditors. She denied that conveyance was without consideration, but averred that it was made to satisfy her for an indebtedness due her by José M. Gallegos; that she accepted the conveyance in satisfaction of such indebtedness; and also, as a further consideration, she risked her own individual and unincumbered real estate. The complainants filed a replication to the answer, and the cause was referred to G. W., Bitch as a special master, with direction to take proofs as to the truth of the material allegations contained in the pleadings, and report the same to the court, with his findings thereon.

The charges that José Manuel Gallegos was insolvent, that his conveyance to the respondent was without consideration, and made to defraud his creditors, were the material allegations in the complainant’s bill. The denial of these allegations by the respondent, and the averment that the conveyance to her was made to satisfy José Manuel Gallegos’ indebtedness to her, and that she so accepted it, were the material allegations of her answer.

Abraham Staab, a witness for the complainants, testified that José Manuel Gallegos, with others, were sureties upon an administration bond, upon which bond a judgment was obtained against the bondsmen in the sum of about $60,000. That the judgment was compromised at about $22,000, of which sum Gallegos was to pay $4,000, as agreed among the sureties. Gallegos, not being able to pay the amount at the time, gave his note for the $4,000, with Probst and Kirehner as sureties, and, in consideration of their indorsement, he agreed to give them a mortgage upon his residence property in Sante Fe. When it was discovered that the title to the south portion of the property was vested in the respondent, and the title to the north portion of the property was vested in José Manuel Gallegos, Probst and Kirehner declined to become .sureties on the note. That the witness and one of the sureties called on Mr. Gallegos to arrange the matter in order for him to pay his portion of the judgment. Mr. Gallegos then, in presence of witnesses, Sigmund Seligman, William Rosenthal, and the respondent, agreed to convey his portion of the prop•erty to the respondent, with the understanding that she would join in the mortgage to secure Probst and Kirehner, his indorsers on the note.

Henry L. Waldow, a witness for complainants, testified that he was called upon by Probst and Kirehner to draw some papers, and guard their interest in a transaction they were about to have with José Manuel Gallegos, growing out of a settlement or compromise of a debt by the Beall sureties, of whom Mr. Gallegos was one. Gallegos not being able to pay his share, it was agreed to take his note for about $4,000, with good sureties. Probst and Kirehner had agreed to become such sureties, provided they were properly secured, and Gallegos had agreed to give a mortgage for such surety upon his residence property in Sante Fe, which surety was acceptable to Probst and Kirehner. At that time Gallegos lived on the inside of the plaza, in the northern part of the house, occupying rooms also on the eastern side of the plaza. At the time witness supposed that the title to the whole of the property was in Mr. Gallegos, and witness drew a mortgage covering all of what was known as the “Gallegos House,” including other property adjacent to it, which he considered belonged to the same property; and he went to Mr. Gallegos for the purpose ■of getting him and his wife, the respondent, to execute the mortgage. When the respondent came into the room, witness explained the nature of the transaction to her, when he discovered from her statements that the south part of the property was in her name, and she refused to execute the mortgage unless Mr. Gallegos would convey to her that part of the property which was in his name to secure or indemnify her against loss by reason of subjecting her portion of the property to the mortgage. The witness explained to Probst and Kirehner this difficulty about the title, and informed them that the respondent refused to sign the mortgage. Probst and Kirehner insisted upon having the whole of the title included in the mortgage. When witness again saw Mr. and Mrs. Gallegos it was agreed that Mr. Gallegos should convey to Mrs. Gallegos his part of the property to induce her to sign the mortgage. Witness thinks the deed and the mortgage were executed on the same day.

The complainants offered in evidence a copy of the deed from José Manuel Gallegos to the respondent, bearing date March 16, 1874; also the mortgage to Probst and Kirehner, dated March 16, 1874; also the promissory note executed by José Manuel Gallegos, with Probst and Kirehner as sureties, for $4,000, dated March 16, 1874.

The respondent testified, in her own behalf, that José Manuel Gallegos gave her the deed in consideration of the $4,000 which he owed her. The $4,000 was on account of 500 sheep, 40 cows, the rent of her own house, which he collected, and for board which he received from boarders. After the evidence was taken the complainants filed an affidavit of surprise, and moved the ■court for leave to amend their bill so as to make it conform to the facts proven.

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Bluebook (online)
4 N.M. 333, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/perea-v-gallegos-nm-1889.