Steiner Bros. v. Lowery & Co.

98 Ala. 208

• Court: Supreme Court of Alabama
• Decided: November 15, 1893
• Status: Published

Opinion

HARALSON, J.

This is a statutory claim suit to try the right of property in a stock of goods. The plaintiffs in the court below, J. S. Lowery & Co., the appellees, sued out an attachment in the Circuit Court of Jefferson county, on the 2nd of December, 1890, against L. Klein, and placing the same in the hands of the sheriff, caused it to be levied on a part of a stock of goods in a store house, No. 15 N. 50th Street, in Birmingham, Alabama, in which said L. Klein claimed to have carried on a clothing and furnishing store. Steiner Brothers, a banking-house in said city, the appellants, interposed a claim to the goods levied on, claiming to have purchased them from said L. Klein, on the 28th of November, 1890. The claim suit, on issue properly made up, under the direction of the court, was tried by and before the circuit judge of that judicial circuit, without the intervention of a jury, the same having been waived by the parties. The isgue was found in favor of tbe plaintiffs against tbe claimants, and tbe property condemned to tbe payment of tbeir judgment recovered against said L. Klein.

Tbe plaintiffs proved tbeir debt against tbe said Klein— about $7,000 — and tbat it was contracted and existed, before tbe 28tb November, 1890, tbe date of tbe alleged sale to claimants from said Klein.

In tbe trial of an issue of tbis character, as has been repeatedly held, tbe inquiry should be directed, (1) to tbe bona fieles of the debt, (2) the sufficiency of tbe consideration, and (3) whether there was a reservation of benefit to tbe debtor. Dawson v. Flash, 97 Ala. 539; Pollack v. Meyer, 96 Ala. 172; Hodges v. Coleman, 76 Ala. 103. Our investigations will be made with reference to these decisive tests of tbe validity of tbis transaction.

Tbe facts of tbe case, as set out in tbe transcript, are of voluminous recital, taken down, stenographically — questions and answers — just as they were propounded and answered by tbe witnesses, and we can do no more than to refer to such of tbe salient points, as lead us to tbe conclusion at which we have arrived.

The plaintiffs were merchants, doing business in tbe city of New York, and bad been extending a liberal and generous credit to tbe concern trading in Birmingham under tbe name of L. Klein, or Klein, whether it was composed of one or more persons.

A. I. Klein was a brother of L. Klein, and came to tbis country many years ago from Austria-Hungary. He did business, as a merchant, in Greensboro, Alabama, prior to tbe year 1879, and in that year, failed in business. He knew tbe claimants, there, as early as 1875, and tbe proofs show, tbat tbeir acquaintance lias been intimate and friendly, though said A. I. Klein testifies to having met them a few times only, since. B. Steiner testified tbat be went to Klein’s frequently; traded with him, was on good social terms with him; that tbeir families visited; tbat be knew him in south Alabama where be failed, and tbat be knew as much about him as a man knows about one. of bis customers. It was also shown, tbat said A. I. Klein consulted with, and said Steiner advised him, about tbe composition and settlements of those old debts which were banging over him. One can not resist tbe conclusion, on reading the evidence, tbat tbe parties were intimate, and tbat Klein’s financial embarrassments and attitude as a trader, were well known to tbe Steiners. They were such, as tbat said A. I. Klein could not undertake — in advance of a settlement of bis debts — to do business under Ms own name, and it is certain as circumstances can well make it appear, that be was doing business on bis own account, under tbe name of bis brother, L. Klein, as will presently very satisfactorily appear.

Witbin a short time after tbe failure of A. I. Klein in Greensboro, bis brother, L. Klein, tbe defendant in attachment, came to this country from Austria-Hungary, bringing with him, as be swears, $2,000 which be procured to be changed into American money, in Bremen, and after bis arrival in Birmingham, kept it in bis trunk, and did not deposit it in any bank. We do not wonder, that be did not risk a bank with his money on bis arrival, since be might not have known it would be safe; but, if be was cautious to take care of such possessions, as people generally are, it was contrary to tbe suggestions of safety, for him to have transported a sum of money so large and valuable to him, across tbe ocean and to Birmingham, on bis person, or in bis trunk, when it could have been done with no risk, and at little expense, by investing it in New York exchange. It was convenient, however, and perhaps necessary, in tbe trial of this cause, for him to appear to have bad $1,500 in Birmingham, without any ear-marks at all, when be and his brother claim that be started a clothing and gent’s furnishing enterprise in that place, in July, 1887. In March of that year, tbe said L. Klein and one Eisenberg bought out a clothing establishment from other parties, in which venture he invested $1,500. How much Eisenberg put in is not stated, but it is to be presumed, not a large amount. These parties immediately engaged the services of said A. I. Klein as manager and salesman, and in any other capacity in which his services might be required, at a salary of $2,500 a year, payable monthly, and this, notwithstanding the fact, they had a capital of only $3,000, (if each partner contributed an equal amount) with two partners, who for aught that appears, were capable of attending to the whole business, which did not exceed $20,000 or $25,000 of sales a year. This co-partnership arrangement lasted as might have been expected, only to the 15th of October, following, when L. Klein bought Eisenberg out, and the following very suggestive obligation was entered into by L. Klein with said A. I. Klein: “I hereby obligate myself and agree to pay-Alex. I. Klein, for services to be rendered as herein stipulated, the sum of $2,500 per year, granting him the privilege to draw the same per month if he so desires, and further agree and obligate myself to pay said salary to said Alex Klein, every year for as long a term as it may prove mutually agreeable and satisfactory, and that I will, under any circumstances, protect liim from loss of any balance due bim at any time hereafter, until said Alex 1. Klein may desire to quit his position with me. Signed and sealed this 25th October, 1887. L. Klein.” In addition to this, L. Klein gave A. I. Klein a general power of attorney to take charge, manage and control said business, and he did so, in such manner as to impress those who dealt with him, and -to create the belief generally, that he was the owner of the establishment. He bought the goods, sold them or had them sold under his direction, took out insurances, rented the store, and managed it as owner. The sign put up was “Klein” and “I. Klein.” In his correspondence with J. W. England, the representative of plaintiffs, lie speaks of “Kline,” as “this firm,” the “firm of AT.,” “the firm of L. K.,” and uses in connection with it, the pronouns “we” and “us;” and in one of his letters, he explains the sign “K,” and was not at all satisfied with it, and speaks of the time when “I can use my initials.” In referring to his brother in that immediate connection, he says, “I can never afford to trust him on any business questions, as I do not find him competent, and that’s the way matters stand and may remain so.”

In September, 1890, L. Klein went to New York to effect with the plaintiffs an extension of their claim against “Klein.” Ho says he saw Mr. Dixon, of the firm of plaintiffs, and asked him for an extension, and he was unwilling to give it. On returning to his hotel, he saw Mr. Sig. Steiner, one of the claimants, and asked him to go to Lowery & Co. and speak a good word for him, which he did, and afterwards, he arranged with Mr. Dixon; that while there, A. I. Klein sent him a statement to be used with plaintiffs, as a basis of credit, showiug a total assets of $32,937.96, with total liabilities of $23,014.66, leaving balance of $9,923.96. In this statement he represented the stock on hand as $26,782.44, fixtures $750, safe $143, cash and papers $2,500, good accounts $3,680, merchandise bought since J une, 1890, $5,313.65, and cash receipts, since that date, $8,801.39.

This statement was a remarkably good one for a business that had been in existence for about three years, starting on so small a capital. Having, through such a statement, and by the kind offices of one of the claimants, induced the plaintiffs to extend their claims through a period of twelve months, it requires explanation, such as we do not meet in the record, why it was that within about two months from that time, L. Klein should have sold out his entire possessions to the claimants to secure their debt to them of $6,412.37 — $4,332.00 due, as claimed, to said A. I. Klein, which claimants agreed to pay.

Coming to this last transaction, tlie evidence of L. Klein shows, and that of the Steiners confirm it, (and besides them we' are without any evidence on the subject) that the claimants, in November, notified L. Klein of his note of $1,000 maturing on the 1st of December. They sent him the usual bank statement to that effect. Thereupon, several days before the 28th November, 1890, Klein went and asked them for an accommodation for some money and also for an extension, and they informed him they could not let him have any more money, and desired him to pay the note that was nearly due. Klein informed them he did not have any money and could not get any, and proposed to them to take the stock for the money, which they agreed to do. The two Kleins are found, immediately following, taking and making-out an inventory of the stock, which amounted to $17,682.76, and at the foot of this inventory is the following receipt: “Received of Steiner Brothers payment in full of the foregoing account, in consideration of which I hereby sell and assign the goods therein named and described to them, November 28, 1890. Signed, L. Klein.” But, this receipt seems to have been unadvisedly given, and procuring the assistance of their attorneys, they had prepared and signed another agreement, executed by both parties, to the effect, “That party of the first part had bargained, granted and sold to ■ party of second part,” the goods in question, as shown by the inventory attached, at the price of $10,74 .37; “in consideration whereof, the party of the second part acknowledges the full payment to them of the debt due from said L. Klein to them, which is the sum of $6,412.37, and accept said goods in full payment thereof, and also agree to pay a certain note made by the said Leo. Klein, on the 26th November, 1890, payable to the order of A. I.' Klein, at the banking house of Steiner Bros, on the 28th December, 1890, amounting to the sum of $4,332, — in all $10,744.37.”

The same day this transaction occurred, the said Klein turned over to Mrs. A. I. Klein $1,500 worth of goods out of the store, in payment of an alleged indebtedness to her by him for that amount, and for an individual debt he owed England of $3,4 0, he transferred the goods at his branch store, inventoried at $3,300, reserving the notes and accounts due the house as his exemptions, on which he says he has collected only $800.

No reason is given, though called for by the plaintiff, why he did not transfer to A. I. Klein $4,332 worth of goods in payment of Ms alleged debt to bim, as be did to tbe wife of said A. I. Klein, to Steiners and England. But, tbe reason is obvious in tbe after transaction and dealing with Steiner Bros, as to tbis alleged debt. A conveyance of goods to pay that note could not bave withstood tbe test of judicial en-quiry on tbe attack of an attaching creditor, and its chances to run tbe gauntlet purporting to have been paid by claimants as a condition and consideration of their purchase, were deemed, no doubt, far more favorable, especially if it should appear, as they proposed to make it, that they paid without any knowledge of or participation in tbe fraud, if it should be shown to exist.

A. I. Klein claims that under tbe contract of L. Klein with bim, L. Klein owed bim, on a settlement made between them on the 26th November, that sum of money. A statement of that settlement was introduced in evidence, showing an indebtedness of $9,995.98, with credits. reducing it to $4,337, as stated. Tbis statement was made by A. I. Klein, and L. Klein shows be did not know whether it was correct or not.

Tbe plaintiffs endeavored in vain to get tbe Kleins to produce tbe book of “Kline” in which tbis account was kept. They each stated that the account was on tbe book, and they produced tbe transcript, but were unable as they said to find tbe book from which it was taken, .leaving very grave suspicion of its ever having been kept as stated by them on any book of accounts. As corroborative of such a suspicion, tbe fact appears that when A. I. Klein made out and forwarded to tbe plaintiffs in September, 1890, as a basis of credit, tbe statement of L. Klein’s indebtedness, it did not contain any mention of tbis large debt.

A. I. Klein makes another incredible statement touching tbis transaction. He swears that be did not know that bis brother was going to sell out to tbe Steiners. Yet, we find bim engaged with bis brother, taking an inventory at an unusual time, and at tbe same time we find bim making out tbis great claim against bis brother. Why should be bave made it out at that time, and taken a note for tbe balance, unless be knew what was going on? And can any one be found to believe that be, who claimed to control, and who did manage tbe whole' business, in which L. Klein, according to bis representations, was a mere figure bead, did not know what was going on between tbe Steiners and bis brother? Besides, Leo Klein swears that when be gave bim tbe note, be told bim, according to bis best recollection, that tbe Steiners would pay it.

Just at tbis point another very convenient actor appeared upon the stage,- — one Bernheim,— the brother-in-law of A. I. Klein. The evidence tends satisfactorily to show that he was acquainted with what was going on; he was in attendance, around and about, as an interested participant. He had written to plaintiffs, on September 8, 1890, that if L. Klein succeeded in extending his debts with them, A. I. Klein had his assurance, and he would gladly lend him his support to meet those obligations. This proffer, together with the kindly offices of Sig. Steiner, had much to do, we may believe, in allaying the apprehensions of the plaintiffs, and preventing them taking steps which would have placed them in the front in an effort to recover their debt.

When A. I. Klein got this note from his brother, instead of taking it to the Steiners to pay, as his brother says he told him to do, and which note Steiners had given their obligation to pay, he says he sold it to Bernheim for $3,500, $1,850 in cash, and $1,650 for claims for cash that Bernheim says he let him have at different times, from April to July, 1890. It would seem that with a business so prosperous as A. I. Klein had represented to plaintiffs in September, this one was, with the amount of cash he was taking in, and with over $4,000 due him for wages, he would have been under no necessity of making a convenience of his brother-in-law. Yet he says, and Bernheim confirms the statement, that he lost $852.00 by transferring it to Bernheim. And another singular circumstance which cannot be explained, and which, of itself, characterizes this whole transaction is, that A. I. Klein, when he transferred the note to Bernheim, payable— not as the bill of sale, in the haste with which it was prepared, inadvertently states, on the 28th November, but — on the 26th December, 1890, endorsed the note, not without recourse, but so as .to bind him; and when Bernheim carried it to Steiners, on the 28th November, instead of paying it according to obligation, they discounted it at one per cent, a month, which they required him to pay, or which he did pay in cash, by giving them a check on Moses Bros., of Montgomery; and Bernheim endorsed a note to them, and waived protest on it, and Steiners acquired it in a manner to make it binding on him, and they hold it to-day, from aught that appears, as an obligation on both A. I. Klein and Bernheim. And, inconsistent as all this is, we are met by that other contradictory fact, that Bernheim, when he discounted the note, says he did not need the money, and Steiner asked him to leave it.there, which he did, on deposit without interest, so far as is shown, until the 7th of May — about six months — before he drew it out. All this is utterly at variance with ordinary, open, fair and intelligible dealing. The only explanation that can be given to the transaction, as thus exposed, is that the note was simulated, and never intended to be real by either the Steiners, Bernheim. or the Kleins.

But, we weary in pursuing the details of this transaction. As much remains as has already been said, to show the invalidity of this sale. We hasten through, with but slight references to other phases of the evidence. Without discussing at length the evidence tending to show it, we feel safe in saying that the goods sold to Steiners, according to a fair interpretation of the evidence, were worth more than the consideration recited in the bill of sale. The judge who tried the case found they were worth $12,000. His finding is conservative, and we approve it. The Kleins inventoried the goods at $17,582.76, when they were preparing to sell to Steiners. When the sheriff levied on the goods and appraised them by-competent men, the valuation put on them was $14,500. T. W. Smith, the deputy sheriff, J. W. England and E. O. Dickson testified, they were worth $14,500. M. Israel who occupied a part of Klein’s store for about 18 months, who assisted in making the inventory, and who shows himself to be competent, estimated their value at fifteen or sixteen thousand dollars. After the claimants had executed their claim-bond and re-taken the goods, they had an inventory of their own, taken, showing their value to be $7,907.47, but the evidence shows that this valuation is too low, and it certainly is not as reliable as the one taken by the sheriff.

Tlie Steiners claim, as a part of the consideration of said purchase, that they assumed and promised to pay certain small bills of Klein’s, about town, amounting to $448.58, about half of which was for insurance premiums on policies taken out by Klein on the stock of goods, in October, 1890, to run a year. These policies, as was shown, were transferred to Steiners, but they are not mentioned in the inventory of goods, nor is anything said about them, or any part of this $448 claim, in either of the two bills of sale of the goods executed by Klein to claimants. After the sale to claimants, it was their business to insure their own property, and, if instead of allowing the old policies to lapse and take out new ones, they paid the premiums on the old, it was their debt and not Klein’s, and this claim, so far as insurance premiums go, was certainly no part of the consideration of said purchase. The evidence shows, that .when Steiners afterwards, disposed of the stock of goods to one Dreyfus, lie transferred these policies to him. The assertion of this claim favors an effort, merely, to bring the price alleged to have been paid, and the value of the goods, that much closer together.

After, the sale to claimants, they employed A. I. Klein to close out the goods for them, at a salary of $2,500 a year. Having executed their claim-bond, and becoming re-possessed of the goods, they placed him in charge again, on the same pay. They transferred the goods to one Sol. Dreyfus, of Montgomery, the father-in-law of A. I. Klein, and he and D. S. Dreyfus and H. W. Bernheim, two of his brothers-in-law, also of Montgomery, in March, 1891, chartered what is called the Klein Furnishing Company, at the same old stand, and A. I. Klein was installed as manager and salesman, at the same old salary, and thus the transaction ends where it began. The incorporation of this company, is not of itself evidence of fraudulent combination between the parties. Consulting our general observation in reference to such matters, however, and taking it in all its bearings and surroundings, we are not prepared to believe, that the end is worse for the Kleins than the beginning.

There were, it may be added, striking inconsistencies, if not contradictions in the evidence of some of the more important witnesses examined for the claimants, as between themselves and between them and others, and an indisposition on the part of some of them, to answer some questions which were pertinent, and which it required the stimulating-suggestions of the court to allay, all of which, are disparaging to the claimants and their cause.

Our conclusion is, that L. and A. I. Klein were both interested in the mercantile establishment which was sold to the claimants, and that this sale, when tried by the tests with which we commenced the investigation, can not be upheld. The bonafides of the Bernheim note, alleged to have been paid by claimants, as a part consideration of the sale, has not been established, and claimants are not, in respect to that claim, in an attitude of bona fide purchasers. The fair value of the property purchased was materially in excess of the real consideration paid for it, and in the transaction, there was a reservation of benefit to the Klein brothers.

The judgment of the court below is affirmed.

Affirmed.