Sterling v. Ripley

3 Pin. 155, 3 Chand. 166

• Court: Wisconsin Supreme Court
• Decided: June 15, 1851
• Status: Published

Opinion

JACKSON, J.

Levi Sterling, as the sheriff of the county of Iowa, by his deputy Jackson Richardson, seized upon a stock of merchandize in the possession of Benjamin Ripley, under and by virtue of a writ of attachment issued from the Iowa county circuit court, in favor of C. H. & H. P. Corwith, against Ephraim P. Vaughan and William J. Hammond.

Ripley claiming to be the owner of the goods, as the vendee of Hammond, instituted an action of trespass against the sheriff-for taking and carrying away the goods seized under the attachment, and recovered a judgment in his favor, in the Iowa county circuit court, for the sum of twelve hundred dollars, and to reverse this judgment, a writ of error is brought to this court.

Upon the trial of the cause in the circuit court, various legal questions arose, upon which exceptions were taken- to the rulings of the circuit judge, as well in relation to the admission of evidence as in refusing to give to the jury the instructions asked for by the defendant’s counsel.

First. Did the court err in permitting William J. Hammond to be sworn and examined as a witness, in behalf of the plaintiff, after it had been shown, by evidence, aliunde, 1. That Hammond was the vendor of Ripley. 2. That the goods were seized upon a writ of attachment issued against Hammond and one Ephraim P. Vaughan, at the suit of C. H. & H. P. Corwith; and, 3. That a part of the notes, taken from Ripley for the goods, were then outstanding and unpaid; and that one of the notes, amounting to five hundred dollars, had been transferred and indorsed over to one Benjamin H. Campbell, upon which there was an unsatisfied judgment in said court in favor of Campbell, and against the witness Hammond ?

It was insisted in the court below, and is contended in this court, that the relation in which Hammond stood towards Ripley, his vendee, and the Corwiths, his attaching creditors, rendered him an incompetent witness.

The weight of authority is clearly against this position. Taking into consideration the amount which the goods sold for, an amount exceeding the note transferred to Campbell, it did not appear that Hammond, at the time he was introduced by the plaintiff, and admitted by the court as a witness, had a disqualifying interest. The case, for aught which then appeared, was the very common one of a vendor being called by his vendee, to testify in a suit against the attaching creditor, or the officer who represents him. The point in controversy was, as to whether there "had been a fraudulent conveyance by the witness, who was also the judgment debtor.

On the compentency of such a witness, Mr. GreeNLEAF, in his treatise on evidence (2 Greenl. Ev., § 598) remarks: “ Where the question is wholly between his own vendee and the attaching creditor, his interest being balanced, he is a competent witness for either party ; but where a question remains between him and his own vendee as to the title, he is not a competent witness for the sheriff, to impeach it.” The authorities are numerous in support of this doctrine. 1 Phil. Ev., 64; 21 Wend., 169; Gardner v. Tubbs, 1 Pet., 37-39; McKenzie v. Hart, 3 Fairf., 371-373; Eldridge v. Wadley, 9 Pick., 139; Bailey v. Foster, id. 183; Pierce v. Shephard, 4 J. J. Marsh, 530-1-2; Ragland v. Wickware, 21 Pick., 70; Buchman v. Goddard, 5 Bos. and Pul., 331; Bland v. Ansley, 6 Mon., 616.

Nor does this conflict with the general rule of evidence (2 Greenl. Ev., 467), that the warrantor of title to the property, which is in controversy, is generally incompetent as a witness for his vendee in an action concerning the title. ‘ The doctrine of warranty cannot, with any propriety, be applied to a case of mutual fraud between the vendor and vendee, on which ground alone it is sought by the levying creditor to avo’id the sale. 3 Mon., 109-11-12 ; 21 Wend., 171; Gardner v. Tubbs, 1 Fairf., 71; Smith v. Hulls, 2 Cowen & Hill’s Notes, 1523. In cases of mutual fraud, between the vendor and vendee, courts, as between them, will not interfere to relieve either party, either by enforcing or annulling the fraudulent contract. 21 Wend., 171; 5 id., 579; 3 Paige, 154; 3 Mon., 109-11-12. The learned authors of Cowen & Hill’s Notes on Phil. Ev., 121-2, after referring to and commenting upon the leading cases of Bland v. Ansley, of Bailey v. Foster, of Pierce v. Shephard, and of Ragland v. Wickware, adopt this conclusion, that “ the general rule remains to us almost unin-cumbered by exception, that the vendor is a competent witness for his vendee, but not so for his levying creditor, who offers him upon the assumed ground of fraud.” There was no error then, in the first place, in permitting Hammond to be sworn as a witness. The question then recurs, Did Hammond, subsequently, in the course of his testimony, disclose any facts which should have excluded his testimony from the jury? Here arises the most important, if not the most difficult point to determine in the cause. If we were to adopt the rule laid down in some of the cases, notwithstanding the facts disclosed by bis testimony, we might bold him a competent witness.

But a majority of the court are of opinion, that after the witness bad shown, by his testimony, that he had transferred to Kirkpatrick, two of the notes for five hundred dollars'each, received from Bipley, as collateral security for the sum of about three hundred dollars, which witness owed Kirkpatrick, such an interest in the event of the suit was then disclosed, as rendered him an incompetent witness; his direct liability on the notes which he had transferred and indorsed over, exceeding in amount, the sum arising from the sale of the goods, which had been applied to the payment of the witness’s debt. Eor this reason, therefore, the court erred in'instructing the jury that Hammond was a competent witness; and, on this ground, a new trial must be awarded.

It must be admitted that in many cases, and more especially in cases of this character, the boundary lines between competency and incompetency are so faintly drawn that it often becomes extremely difficult to make any safe application of a general rule; and for this reason the tendency of courts at the present day is to let these questions of interest go rather to the credibility than to the competency of a witness. 4 Denio, 515; 6 Hill, 444. Indeed, it is not improbable that the views so cogently expressed by Lord Chancellor Brougham, on this branch of the law of evidence, may ultimately be adopted by the courts of this country. “ The ancient doctrine upon this point,” says this great jurist in his masterly speech in the House of Commons, 11 on the state of the law," delivered in 1828, “ has of late years been so much restricted by our courts of law, so little is left of the principles on which this objection to competency rested, that, for my own part, I will confess that I cannot see any adéquate 'reason why all witnesses of good fame, that is, all not convicted of an infamous offense, should not be admitted, leaving the question of their credibility, and the weight of their testimony, to the consideration of the jury. In tbe case of Bent v. Baker, an action against oné underwriter of a policy, tbe court held that another underwriter of the same policy was a competent witness for the defendant, because 'the verdict could not be evidence in an action against himsélf, although it was clear that the first action must, in- fact, decide both claims. After that decision, it cannot be said that there is any rational ground for exclusion on account of interest in the event, any more than interest in the question. The rule thus established has ever since been followed, and now, in all cases, a person is competent, whatever bias -lie may have from interest, provided the verdict cannot be given in evidence for or against him in another cause; the bias under which he swears being only a circumstance that goe3 to his credit. After this, it is in vain to exclude any evidence upon the ground of interest in the event, and the principle should be extended to all interest, direct or indirect.”

Although a new trial must be granted in this cause, for the reason which we have stated, yet it may be important, in the disposition 'of other cases, to pass upon the points raised by the defendant’s counsel, and which are embraced, as well in the instructions given, as in those refused by the court to the jury. ’ '

_ _ > With the exception of the instructions given by the court as to the competency of Hammond as a witness, we see no error in the charge of the court. The whole charge of a court must be taken together, and not decided by detached and disconnected parts of it.

The rules of law laid down by the circuit judge, as applicable to the case, are fully sustained by the authorities.

Second. Did the court err in refusing to give the instructions asked for by defendant’s counsel ?

Now, these rules are to be applied to the refusal of a court to give the instructions asked for: 1. A court is not bound to instruct a jury upon an abstract point or question of law, not raised by the testimony of a party in the case. 2. Where an instruction is asked for, wbicb is good in part and bad in part, a court need not alter or modify such instruction, but may re fuse it altogether. 5 Mon., 280-2; 1 Cranch, 309-18; 4 Peters, 80-1; 1 id., 328; 2 Cow. & Hill’s Notes, 790. A judge may, it is true, modify or qualify an instruction, and it is very proper to do so, in order to make it conform to the law of the case. But it is not error to neglect or refuse to do so, if the instruction, as originally asked for, cannot be given. The first instruction asked for by defendant’s counsel, although presented in the shape, of an abstract proposition, is not correct. It must, of course, refer to the tortious acts of a deputy, done under color of office. Eor such acts the sheriff is clearly liable, as well at common' law, as under the statute. 2 Greenl. Ev., see. 580; 2 Esp., 507; 2 Phillips’ Ev., 376; 1 Mass., 530; 12 id., 449; 15 Wend., 575; E. S., ch. 10, sec. 81.

The second instruction was substantially given as asked. The third instruction asked for was. erroneous.. Whether the sheriff acted under the direction of Corwith, or not, does not affect his legal liability.

The fourth instruction asked for could not be given, for the reason that the order of the court, made under the statute, authorizing a sale of the perishable property attached, could only protect the officer, so far as the sale; under the order, was concerned, but could not affect the original taking, or the question as to the right of property in the goods attached.

The fifth instruction was properly refused, for the reason that the question of the competency of a witness, by reason of •interest in the event of the suit, is a question of law to be determined by the court. 2 Greenl. Ev., 425; 1 Phillips’ Ev., 18; 2 Smith’s Lead. Cases, 102; Note to case of Bent v. Baker, 1 Watts & Serg., 229; 12 Conn., 392; 8 Pick., 390; 5 Johns., 256; 6 Hill, 534.

The sixth instruction asked for is entirely too broad. Consanguinity is certainly not in itself a badge of fraud. It might, under certain circumstances, be a proper matter to submit to,a jury, in connection with other facts, in order to enable them to determine the question of fraud. But in itself, it could-not, by any known rule of law, be considered a badge of fraud.. 4 Hill, 296.

The seventh instruction is liable to the same objection.

The eighth instruction, under the facts in the case, could not be given without some modification or qualification, and was therefore properly refused.

The tenth instruction could not be given for the reason that the plaintiff was not restricted to the action of trover, if it :would.-lie. He was entitled to his action of trespass, if he chose to pursue it. 17 Mass., 244.

The eleventh instruction could not be given for the reason, that in order to avoid the sale on the. ground of fraud, as against creditors, it was'necessary to connect both Hammond and Ripley, with fraudulent design. 2 Met., 104; 14 Mass., 245; 9 Conn., 135; 17 Pick., 453.

In Marden v. Babcock and another, 2 Met., 104, Chief Justice Shaw, in delivering the opinion of the court, says: “ To avoid a-conveyance as fraudulent against creditors, the intent to defraud, delay or defeat, must be known and entertained by both parties.” This instruction assumes that because certain facts might, with reasonable care and caution on his part, have been known to Ripley, a conclusive case' of fraud is established. The jury might have been ■ told that-if they believed from ■ the evidence that Hammond made the sale in order to hinder and delay his creditors, and that Ripley had knowledge of, and participated in that design, then that sale was fraudulent and void as against creditors, and- their verdict must be for the defendant, . ■ •

The twelfth -instruction could not be given in-the form and in the language in which it was asked. Under a given state of facts - the law raises a presumption of fraud, as where there is no change of possession of the goods sold. And while the ■presumption of fraud which the statute raises in such a case becomes conclusive, unless good faith and absence of intent, to defraud be made to appear, yet where it is shown that the sale or assignment thus sought to be impeached was made in good faith, and without any fraudulent intent, then the presumption of fraud raised by the statute is rebutted. R. S., ch. 76, § 5. But our statute further declares in ch. 77, § 4, relating to fraudulent conveyances and contracts, that “the question of fraudulent intent in all cases arising under the provisions of this title, shall be deemed, a' question of fact, and not of law.” 'This provision of our statute is copied from the'revised statutes of New York. The conflict of decision, both in the courts of England and in this country,-under this branch of the statutes of frauds, from the time of Twyne's- case in the reign of Elizabeth, down to 1880, induced, as is :well known, the legislature of New York to incorporate this provision into its revised statutes in order to settle the law in that state on .this subject.

This provision of the statute is too clear, and unequivocal in its terms to admit of any doubt or uncertainty in its interpretation. And if, for a few years after its enactment in New York there was some conflict in the decisions of the .courts of that state in applying this provision, that conflict has finally yielded to the clear and-positive terms of the statute itself ; and the decisions of the courts of that’ state are now,in harmony with and in conformity to it. 23 Wend., 653.; Smith v. Hoe & Acker, 4 Hill, 272; Hanford v. Archer, 6 id., 436; Vance v. Phillips, id., 442.

Although we discover- no error in the refusal- of -the circuit ' judge to give the instructions asked for by the defendant’s counsel,' yet for the reason already assigned,, the judgment of the court below must be reversed. .

Judgment reversed, and a new trial granted, with costs.