Williams v. Murphy

1 Port. 40
Supreme Court of Alabama·Decided June 15, 1834·Published·Cited by 2 cases

Opinion

By Mr. Justice Saffold :

This cause having been' submitted, without argument, on voluminous documents, few of which are entitled to influence in the decision, such only will be noticed as are considered material to the present determination.

This bill having been filed by Murphy, alleges, among other things, that the matters in controversy, which related to the settlement of the partnership transactions between these parties in Kentucky, so far as the facts were then known, were referred, with all the proceedings, on a former bill filed by him, to arbitrationt — hat this was under an agreement and submission, that the award to be rendered should be made the basis of the decree in said chancery suit; that accordingly it was awarded, and thereupon decreed, that Murphy should pay to Williams (besides the amount of a judgment which had been enjoined) eight hundred dollars ; and that the latter should deliver to Samuel McKee, of Kentucky, or such other person as he should designate, all notes and accounts due to said firm, amounting to thirty-seven hundred dollars, (according to an exhibit made by Williams in this suit,) to be collected by said McKee, or such other person, for the joint benefit of both partners ; that at the time [42] of said arbitrament and decree, the complainant Murphy, was induced by Williams to believe, that all the debts for “which he was liable, as a partner, had been paid, but he af-terwards discovered that a considerable amount remained unpaid, for which, he, as one of the firm, would be ultimately. liable. He charges, that a debt of about three hundred dollars, collected by the firm for S. Tams of Philadelphia, which was received by Williams and applied to his own use, and not carried to the credit of the late firm, remained thus unpaid (and which is understood to be t, e item on account of which the throe hundred dollars, hereinafter mentioned, was enjoined by this bill) — Murphy also charges, that so far as he had been informed, Williams had not complied with the requisitions of the former decree, by delivering over the notes and accounts to McKee, or any otlier, which as he conceived, was intended by the decree to be performed as a con-' dition precedent to Williams’ right to collect the eight hundred dollars, which had been decreed to him as aforesaid. He also alleges his information and belief, that Williams was insolvent, or had so fraudulently conveyed and covered his property, as to bid defiance to the law. He also charges, and makes reliance on the fact, that Williams is a resident of another state, so that should he make further collections, being without the jurisdiction of the court, he complainant would be without remedy. The complainant, therefore sought a review of the proceedings in his original bill, and in conjunction with the new matter herein referred to, asks, that the former decree should be so modified as to secure him in the premises, and in the meanwhile, that the collection of the sum previously decreed against him should be enjoined, &,c.

. Williams’ answer denies the existence of any grounds for a bill of review — insists, there is no palpable error in the face of the original decree, or subsequent discovery of any written evidence of new facts, that would have been material in the trial-of the cause prayed to be reviewed — except the alleged insolvency of Williams, and his non-compliance with the de[43] cree ; botb of which, he "says, are utterly false. He adds, respecting his solvency, that he is able to pay whatever the complainant may be entitled^ to from him. He avers, that" he had placed all the partnership notes and accounts in the hands of McKee, exhibiting a schedule thereof, amounting to something over the thirty-seven hundred dollars "aforesaid— but that McKee being much engaged ill other business, and about to leave Kentucky, he had deposited said notes and accounts with him, Williams, requesting, that during his absence, he would safely keep and endeavor to collect them, both of which he had done. He admits, that the debt alleged to be due to Tams, still remained due, and says he would thank Murphy to pay it; that the greater portion of the debts and accounts due, he cannot hope to collect, &c.

At a subsequent" term, a heariug was had on the bill, answer, and exhibits, when the injunction was dissolved, and by consent of parties, the cause was set down for final hearing, with leave to take testimony. At a still later term, it' having been made appear to the court, that McKee, the former receiver, as aforesaid, was dead, the court appointed H. Owsley.in his stead, and ordered, that Williams should put in his possession the unsettled notes and accounts due the firm, of tha t he should execute to Murphy a bond with surety for the faithful application of the debts he might collect— which latter was done. At the October term, 1830, on a final hearing, on bill, answer, and exhibit, it was decreed, that the injuncion be rendered perpetual as to the sum of three hundred dollars, and that the complainant] recover his costs.

It is sufficient to notice such only of the assignments of. • error, as bring into review this final decree.

So far as this is to be regarded merely in the light of a bill of review, the principles as recognised in the case of Caller Malone, and in Bradshaw, Adnir, and Garrett and Wife, decided in this court, are justly applicable to this case , also. In the absence of error obviously on the face of the for*' [44] mer decree, there must be new and material matter pressing upon it, which has arisen, or been discovered at too late a pe- “ riod to have been made available by proper diligence on the former hearing. If, however, the directions of the former decree have not been complied with, according to a just interpretation of their object and intent; or if a material matter might have been adjusted by the former decree, and was supposed to have been done, but by the artifice or evasion of the party complained of, has been omitted or defeated, and which his fiduciary capacity enabled him to effect, chancery is competent to afford redress.

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Williams v. Murphy, 1 Port. 40 (Ala. 1834).

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