Russell v. Haltom

McCuuuoch, J. Appellant, as trustee of the estate of Mrs. H. E. Breathwit, who had been adjudged a bankrupt, commenced this suit to recover of the defendants, Haltom & Hester, thirty-two mules, two wagons, thirty sets of harness, and two saddles. The defendants answered, claiming to be owners of the property by purchase and delivery from Mrs. Breathwit before the adjudication of bankruptcy, and exhibited a written bill of sale from her, purporting to convey the property to them absolutely in consideration of the sum of $2497,21 paid in cash. It is undisputed that, at the time of the execution of the bill of sale by Mrs. Breathwit, she was indebted to the defendants in the sum named in the bill of sale for balance due on the price of a lot of lumber bought from them a few months previously. The defendants, as security for the purchase price, retained title to the lumber until the price should be paid. A part of the lumber was on hand when the bill of sale was executed, and defendants had forbidden the shipment of any more pf the lumber until the debt should be paid in full'. Appellant contended that the bill of sale, though on its face purporting to convey unconditionally the title to the property, was intended only as security for the debt, and he introduced testimony tending to establish that fact. J. L. Breathwit, who, as agent for Mrs. L. E. Breathwit, conducted the dealings with appellees, and- executed the bill of sale, testified that the instrument was intended as security, and that the property was worth $4250. He also testified that it was agreed between the parties that the transaction should be kept secret, and that the bill of sale should not be placed of record. T. P. Lester, one of appellants, testified that the conveyance was intended to be absolute, and that there was no agreement or understanding that it should operate only as a security for debt. He and other witnesses introduced by appellees testified that the price named in the bill of sale was a fair market value of the property. The case was tried below by appellant upon the theory that the conveyance was intended only as security, and that the same was a fraud upon the rights of other creditors of Mrs. Breathwit. The court submitted it to the jury upon this theory, and, in returning a verdict for the defendants, the jury necessarily found that the transaction was free from fraud, and that an absolute .^conveyance of the title was. intended. The court by its instructions, in effect, told the jury that they must find these facts to exist before they could return a verdict for the defendants. The instructions of the court were as .favorable to appellant as the testimony warranted, and we find no errors in them prejudicial to his rights. The testimony- was conflicting, and quite sufficient to warrant the verdict. Counsel for appellant contends that there was no delivery of the property under the bill of sale, and that the title did not pass against'creditors. On this issue, too, the verdict of the jury settled the question against appellant’s contention. It was shown that the delivery of the property was made at the time of the execution of the bill of sale, and that the same was left in the possession of one Grayson, an employee of appellant, to hold for appellees. Counsel contends that this was equivalent to retention of possession by appellant, and that no title passed. This contention is not, however, sound, for the reason that Grayson, though an employee of appellant, could have been constituted the agent of appellee for the purpose of holding the property, and the evidence shows that such was a fact. This constituted not only a constructive delivery, but an actual change of possession. Either is sufficient to complete a sale free from fraud. Shaul v. Harrington, 54 Ark. 305; Lynch v. Daggett, 62 Ark. 592; White v. McCracken, 60 Ark. 613. It is also contended that the court erred in refusing to permit witness J. E. Breathwit to state what his intention was in executing the bill of sale. Such testimony was inadmissible, and was properly excluded. The court had already permitted the witness to state that appellees demanded the conveyance as security for their debt, and that he executed the same only as security. • I't was incompetent for him to state what his intentions were in the transaction. Affirmed.