Youngs v. Wedderspoon

70 Misc. 171, 126 N.Y.S. 375
CourtNew York County Courts
DecidedDecember 15, 1910
StatusPublished
Cited by2 cases

This text of 70 Misc. 171 (Youngs v. Wedderspoon) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering New York County Courts primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Youngs v. Wedderspoon, 70 Misc. 171, 126 N.Y.S. 375 (N.Y. Super. Ct. 1910).

Opinion

Kellogg, J.

This is an appeal from a judgment rendered in justice’s court, in the town of Middlefield, in this [172]*172county, on the 15th day of June, 190'8, in favor of the plaintiff for the sum of $200' damages, and $3.10 costs.

The action was commenced for the purpose of recovering •articles of personal property of the alleged value of $200, consisting of pool tables, chairs, glasses, canned goods, liquors, cigars, pictures and furniture, which were in a certain saloon known as the Stone Jug in the village of Gooperstown, levied upon -and sold by virtue of executions in favor of B. W. Hoye and Frank Battridge, by the defendant, as sheriff of Otsego county.

It .appears that one A. V. Bowne had been conducting this saloon for about three years and a half, and that he continued as proprietor of the same until April 30, 1908, the date of the expiration of the lease. S'onie time prior to the 37th day of January, 190'8, .actions had been duly commenced by Hoye and Battridge to recover the purchase price of supplies furnished to said Bowne, and were returnable on the twenty-eighth and twenty-ninth days of January, at which time each of said plaintiffs recovered judgment.

On the 2.7th day of January, one and two days, respectively, prior to the return day of the above causes, Bowne executed and delivered a bill of sale of the property in the saloon above described to his father-in-law, A. E. Young, this plaintiff, the consideration expressed therein being the sum of $200; and this bill of sale was filed in Otsego county clerk’s office on the same day. On the third day of February, following, executions were duly issued upon the judgments mentioned and placed in the hands of the sheriff, the appellant herein, who caused a levy to be made upon the articles of personal property mentioned, took possession of the same and sold the same at public auction by virtue of' said executions on the sixth day of April,- the sale thereof having first been forbidden by 'Young, he claiming title thereto under the said hill of sale.

The appellant contends that the alleged transfer was made with the intent to hinder, delay and defraud creditors, and is void as against Hoye and Battridge, as creditors, and is also fraudulent and void as against them as judgment creditors.

[173]*173It appears from the evidence that the respondent, Young, was the father-in-law of Bowne; and his testimony is that •the conversation relating to the bill of sale took place at the saloon, and “ that Bowne wanted to know if he would buy, and he said he would, and did make bargain for goods for the two hundred and paid the money and Bowne gave bill of sale.”

Bowne, who was called as a witness for the plaintiff, testified that the pictures were hanging on the walls, pool tables were used, liquor decanters, cigars and canned goods were back of the bar and in the cases, and were in the same place they were on the 27th day of January. “I was in possession of the two copper work hoards. The license was in my name until the 1st of May, and I had a lease from Mr. Wyckoff. My sign was up in my name, and beer signs. These were the only signs advertising the nature and proprietor of the business. I was there when the sheriff made the levy, in possession of the goods, and kept doing business until 3'Oth of April.”

Sheriff Wedderspoon, who was called as a witness by both of the parties, testified that he was present when the levy was made and the inventory of the goods taken, and that he found Bowne in possession and in charge; that all the goods claimed by the plaintiff were in their usual and customary place, in and about the saloon, and were being used in the business of operating it.

Thus, we have not only the evidence of the plaintiff’s witness Bowne, but the testimony of the sheriff as well, that Bowne was in possession of the property at the time of the levy. _

_ It is provided by section 35 of .the Personal Property Law (Laws of 1909, chap. 45), “ Every transfer of any interest in personal property or income, made with the intent to hinder, delay or defraud creditors or others of their lawful suits, damages, - forfeitures, debts or demands, and every bond or other evidence of debt given, suit commenced, or decree or judgment suffered with such intent, is void as against every person so hindered, delayed or defrauded.”

Again, it is provided by section 36 of this same statute:

[174]*174“Every sale of goods and chattels in the possession or under the control of 'the vendor, and every assignment of goods and chattels by way of security or oil any condition, but not constituting a mortgage-nor intending to operate as a mortgage, unless accompanied by an immediate delivery fol-. lowed by -actual and continued change of possession, is presumed to be fraudulent and void as against all persons who are creditors of the vendor or person making the sale or assignment, including all persons who are his creditors at any time while such goods or chattels remain in his possession or under his control or subsequent purchasers of such goods ■and chattels in good faith; and is conclusive evidence of such fraud, unless it appear, on the part of the person claiming, under the sale or assignment, that it was made in good faith, and without intent to defraud such creditors or purchasers.” .

It has been held that none but established creditors of, and subsequent purchasers from, a vendor of chattels are allowed the benefit of this section, or permitted to allege fraud under this section, so as to invalidate a sale, valid as between the parties. Clute v. Fitch, 25 Barb. 428; Frisbey v. Thayer, 25 Wend. 896; Skilton v. Codington, 86 App. Div. 166. But .this section (36) expressly includes among creditors those who -are such at any time while the goods, remain in the vendor’s possession, or under his control. Stimson v. Wrigley, 86 N. Y. 332; Reynolds v. Ellis, 103 id. 115; Knight v. Forward, 63 Barb. 311; Wallace v. Nodine, 10 N. Y. Supp. 919.

FT-o reason appears to have been assigned why the transfer of this property from Bowne to his father-in-law was made one day prior to the rendition of the judgment again-st Bowne, in the Hoye action, and two days prior to the rendition of the judgment in the Pattridge 'action. There is very little evidence in the case in relation to the transaction, nor does it appear that Bowne -and his father-in-law stood in relation of debtor -and creditor. Even in order to make a transfer from á debtor to a creditor valid, it is necessary that there should be a v-alid indebtedness, that the property be conveyed to secure the debt -and be reduced to possession.

[175]*175It is claimed by plaintiff that he paid Bowne $300 for the goods and stock, but not the slightest evidence appears in the case as to what became of the monej- or that Bowne paid any of his debts. It was incumbent upon the plaintiff to show the bona fides of the sale, but there is no such evidence in the case.

It also appears, and is practically undisputed, that Bowne remained in possession of the saloon, in possession of the property, and conducted the business down to the expiration of his lease -and license.

It has been said that an honest purchaser buys because he wants the property' and its possession and, therefore, naturally and usually takes it. The absence of this fact indicates some purpose different from that of an honest purchaser— good faith and honest intention.

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Bluebook (online)
70 Misc. 171, 126 N.Y.S. 375, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/youngs-v-wedderspoon-nycountyct-1910.