Davis v. Arkansas Fire Insurance

Riddick, J., (after stating the facts.) The question before us is whether the evidence is sufficient to support the finding of the chancellor that the transfer of the cotton was fraudulent and void as to the creditors of Ward. The appellee first contends that the decree should- be affirmed, for the reason that Davis showed no interest in the property. But if there was no evidence on this point, this contention could not avail, for the reason that the complaint of appellee alleged that the cotton had been transferred to Davis by Ward, and the object of this suit is to set that transfer aside. The answers of both Ward and Davis admit that this transfer was made, and allege that it was made in good faith, and for a valuable consideration. It stands therefore admitted that Ward made a transfer of the cotton to Davis. There is no conflict on this point, but the dispute concerns the purpose and object of such transfer. Ward testified that, being indebted to his son in the sum of $2,500 for rent of a farm, with the consent of his son he turned this cotton over to Davis, to secure the payment of a note given by his son to the German Bank, and upon which Davis was indorser. If this be true, the conveyance was made upon a valuable consideration, for, if Ward owed his son money, it was immaterial whether he paid it direct to his son or to the creditors of his son, if his son consented to such payment. We think the evidence clearly shows that the son owed the bank; that Davis was indorser upon his note; and that Davis, since the commencement of this suit, has paid the note, amounting to over $3,000. As to whether Ward owed his son, there seems more room for doubt. But Ward testified that he did owe his son for the rent of a farm, and there does not seem anything to contradict him on this point. This transfer of cotton to his son-in-law, Davis, following soon after the commencement of a suit against Ward, coupled with the fact that he continued with consent of Davis to direct and superintend the sale of the cotton, was calculated to cast suspicion upon the transaction; yet we are unable to agree that, standing alone, it was sufficient to overturn the testimony of Davis and Ward, and justify a finding that the transfer was fraudulent. The fact that Davis permitted Ward to direct and superintend the sale of the cotton is not altogether inconsistent with '- an honest purpose, for the cotton was not transferred to secure a debt Ward owed Davis, but to secure the pay-, ment of a debt his son owed the bank, and for which Davis was liable as indorser. Under these circumstances it is not unreasonable that Davis should be willing to have Ward act as his agent in the sale of the cotton. When relief granted inequity There seems to us to be a failure of proof on another point. It was not shown that Ward was insolvent, or that this transfer tended in any way to hinder and delay the insurance company in the collection of its judgment. Courts cannot take judicial notice of insolvency, but it must be proved. The proof shows that several judgments had been rendered against Ward, but there is nothing to show the amount or value • of property he owned. He may, so far as this evidence discloses, have been a very rich man, and the property transferred may have in no way impaired his ability to pay his indebtedness. Formerly, the rule was that the creditor must first recover judgment at law, and have execution issued and returned nulla bona, before he could come into equity to ask that a transfer of property made by his debtor should be set aside as fraudulent. The courts of equity required the creditor to show in this way that the ordinary legal remedies were inadequate. The statute of 1887 dispenses with the necessity of obtaining a judgment before commencing a suit to set aside a fraudulent conveyance, and provides that in such cases “insolvency may be proved by any other method.” Secs. 3134 and 5919, Sandelsand Hill’s Digest. The former decisions requiring judgment, execution and return of execution unsatisfied were based on the rule that equity will not lend its aid when the remedy at law is full and adequate. It would therefore seem that, following the same reason, it is still necessary to show that the remedy at law was inadequate, by showing that the debtor has not other sufficient means from which the claims of the creditor may be satisfied, or showing other facts sufficient to call for the interference of a court of equity. But, apart from that question, in the absence of proof that the debtor - was insolvent, it would require much stronger evidence to overcome the testimony of the debtor that the conveyance was made in good faith and for a valuable consideration. • The fact that a debtor is insolvent is not of itself sufficient to establish a fraud in a conveyance made by him, but the financial condition of the debtor at the time of the transfer and afterwards, when taken in connection with other facts in proof, is generally an important circumstance in determining whether the transaction was fraudulent or not. Our conclusion is that the evidence is not sufficient to sustain the finding- that the transfer was fraudulent. The judg-ment of the chancery court must therefore be reversed, and the cause remanded, with an order that the complaint be dismissed for want of equity.