Poppenhusen v. Poppenhusen

68 Misc. 548, 125 N.Y.S. 269
CourtNew York Supreme Court
DecidedAugust 15, 1910
StatusPublished
Cited by2 cases

This text of 68 Misc. 548 (Poppenhusen v. Poppenhusen) 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
Poppenhusen v. Poppenhusen, 68 Misc. 548, 125 N.Y.S. 269 (N.Y. Super. Ct. 1910).

Opinion

Putnam, J.

This action is hy the widow of Herman C. Poppenhusen (who died March 1, 1891) for her dower in a lot of land on the northerly side of Bradford avenue, Flushing— now the third ward of the borough of Queens. Title to Herman 0. Poppenhusen is claimed by a conveyance from Orange Judd and wife, dated May 1, 1869, and recorded on July 1, 1869.

About 1870 the lot was built upon as' part of a railroad station hy the corporate predecessor of the defendant the Long Island Railroad Company, and has since been occupied as the Flushing station.

There are here concerned two railroad companies, namely, “The Hew York and Flushing Railroad Company,” incorporated March 22, 1869 (which was operating a railroad into Flushing), of which Oliver Charlick was president, and the Flushing and Horth Side Railroad Company, organized in April, 1868. Prior to the deed in question, the directors of the Hew York and Flushing company had been considering a change of location of the Flushing depot from Main [550]*550street- back to Bradford avenue. In 1868 Hr. Oharlick directed Mr. L. Bradford Prince, an attorney, to purchase land on the north side of Bradford avenue for the railroad, but requested that the -acquisition be kept- secret. In October, 1867, three lots (including one here in question) had been bought at auction by David D. H. Haster who had given back a 'purchase-money mortgage. Hr. Prince sought out Hr. Haster and obtained "a conveyance of these lots, subject to this purchase-money mortgage. Hr. Prince drew the deed, dated April 1, 1868, but left the name of the grantee blank, and procured its execution by Hr. Haster, and paid the consideration from funds supplied by Hr. Oharlick. After passing the deed in this form to Hr. Oharlick, it appears that the name of the grantee inserted was Orange Judd, who was an officer and director of the Hew York ■and Blushing Railroad Company. Hr. Judd was also one of the incorporators and directors of the Blushing and Horth Side Railroad Company, then incorporated. Conrad Poppenhusen, father of plaintiff’s husband, having been interested in the extension of railroads toward College Point and Whitestone, was active in this new enterprise. Some negotiations had been started looking to the purchase by the new company of a part of the old line into Blushing.

On June 26, 1868, under the presidency of Hr. Oharlick, a meeting of the directors of the Hew York and Blushing-Railroad Company was held, -at which it was voted to change the site of the depot to Bradford avenue, and a map thereof was filed in the office of the clerk of Queens county, on June 28, 1868.

On August. 11, 1868, the Poppenhusens entered the directorate of the Hew York and Blushing company, Orange Judd being then chosen president and treasurer, with Conrad Poppenhusen and Stephen P. Gooding upon the executive committee.

At other meetings later in 1868, the subject of consolidation with the new company was considered. On Hovember 30, 1868, Herman C. Poppenhusen became director of the Hew York and Blushing company -and acted as secretary for that meeting.

[551]*551On January 19, 1869, the deed above mentioned which Mr. Prince had obtained from Mr. Master with the name of the grantee in blank, in which appeared Mr. Judd’s name as grantee, was recorded. On April 6, 1869, a special act (Laws of 1869, chap. 142) was passed for the purpose of consolidating the two roads. On April 26, 1869, the directors of the new Flushing and Forth Side company, being about to consummate the corporate union, elected H. 0. Poppenhusen treasurer, to take effect May first, and passed resolutions providing that, after consolidation, a general mortgage should be issued upon the entire line, but before giving this mortgage, that “All lands not required to be used for railroad purposes shall he conveyed to Herman 0. Poppenhusen to be held in trust for the benefit of this Railroad Company and that the President and Secretary be authorized to execute to Herman C. Poppenhusen proper deeds of conveyance of such lands.”

Mr. Judd was then president and the nominal grantee of these lots, which, however, would be required for the new station if the plans of the older road were to be carried out.

The deed of partial consolidation of the two railroads was dated May first, but Avas not acknowledged till June 30, and recorded July 6, 1869.

At a meeting on June 30, 1869, of the directors of the old Few York and Flushing company, at Avhich both Orange Judd and IT. 0. Poppenhusen were present, this deed of partial consolidation was authorized, and at the same meeting it was unanimously Amted; “That in transferring the property to the said Flushing and Forth Side Railroad Company, the President and Secretary be authorized to convey the several lots of land of this company in Flushing to IT. 0. Poppenhusen, as may be directed by the directors of the Flushing and Forth Side Railroad Company who shall furnish order for the same.”

As already stated, the deed from Orange Judd and Avife to the plaintiff’s husband is acknowledged on the same day ■—'June 30, 1869. On that day also was acknowledged the general mortgage, though dated May first.

There is also evidence tending to show that the deed itself [552]*552from Mr. Judd to Mr. H. 0. Poppenhusen was delivered to counsel for the railroad company; and, after being recorded, was listed in Mr. Hinsdale’s register among the deeds and papers of the Flushing and North Side Railroad Company. It was also testified that later the deed had been transferred, with other documents, to the auditor of the railroad, at Long Island City, where, however, it has not been since traced. The original deed from Judd to H. 0. Poppenhusen is also produced from the files of the railroad company and not by the Poppenhusen family.

There is also evidence showing that the interest on the purchase-money mortgage upon the lot in question was regularly collected from the railroad company up to the year 1871, which was as late as the records of Mr. Prince were procurable. It also appeared that Mr. H. C. Poppenhusen was thereafter on the executive committee of the consolidated railroad company, and that as such he was officially cognizant of the erection of the present brick station-house on the lot in question; and, so far as appears, never made any claim to the ownership thereof.

It is, however, urged, that the railroad company, cannot show any beneficial interest in this lot, because the New York Statute of Uses, since 1830, has abolished resulting trusts when the consideration for the grant is paid by another than the grantee. The statute declares that no rise or trust results from such payment (except as to creditors), unless the grantee either —

“ 1. Takes the same as an absolute conveyance in his own name, without the consent or knowledge of the person paying the consideration; or

“2. In violation of some trust, purchases the property so conveyed, with money or property belonging to another.” Laws of 1909, chap. 52, § 94; 2 R. S., pt. 2, chap. 1, tit. 2, §§ 51-53.

1. It now appears that the railroad company had previously purchased the land, and it was in connection with this deed to Judd that the consideration was paid by another than the grantee. Judd, the plaintiff’s grantor, had since been holding the title for his company. Even if the railroad [553]*553company as against him could not have enforced a resulting trust, Mr.

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Bluebook (online)
68 Misc. 548, 125 N.Y.S. 269, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/poppenhusen-v-poppenhusen-nysupct-1910.