Taylor v. Bacon

Hart, J., (after stating the facts). Counsel for the defendant contend that, under the laws of the State of Kentucky, she is entitled in a collateral action in that State to set up the fact that she was a married woman at the time of the execution of the notes and at the time of the rendition of the judgment in the Jefferson County Chancery Court of Kentucky, and that she became bound merely as a surety. In short, they contend that the personal judgment rendered against her in the chancery court of Jefferson County, Kentucky, was void. They rely upon the cases of Stevens v. Deering, 10 Ky. Law Reporter, p. 303 and Parsons v. Spencer, 83 Ky. 305. It is true that in those cases it was held that a personal judgment against a married woman upon a contract made by her during coverture is void, and that she may resist its enforcement against her general or separate estate. The reason given by the court for its ruling was, that, legally speaking, she had no personal existence. But the law of that State in this regard has been changed by the act of March 15, 1894, being sections 2127-8 et seq., Kentucky Statutes. In the case of Wren v. Ficklin 59 S. W. p. 746, the.Court of Appeals of Kentucky held: “Under the Married Women’s Act of March 15, 1894, a married woman can not resist the enforcement of a judgment against her on the grounds that she was liable only as surety in the note upon which the judgment was rendered, as that defense could have been made in the original action.” The court said. “The rights of the parties to this litigation must be determined by the act of March 15, 1894, and the general doctrine as to the validity of judgments. Section 2128 of that act provides that a married woman may ‘make contracts and sue and be sued, as a single woman, except that she may not make any executory contract to. sell or convey or mortgage her real estate, unless her husband joins in such contract.’ Section 2127 also provides that ‘no part of a married woman’s estate shall be subjected to the payment or satisfaction of any liability, upon a contract made after marriage, to answer for the debt, default or misdoing of another, including her husband, unless such estate shall have been set apart for that purpose by deed of mortgage or other conveyance.’ Section 2128 certainly confers upon a married woman the right to make contracts and sue and be sued. If she can sue and be sued she has the same right to make the defense to an action as a single woman would have. If she can be sued and she is capable of making a defense to the action, then whatever judgment may be rendered against her is binding. She must be relieved from the effects of that judgment and the consequences of it in the samé way that a single woman would get relief.” The court held that the language of the married woman’s act does not, nor was it intended to, put it within the power of a married woman, after her liability had been fixed by the judgment, to then plead that it was an obligation for the debt of another. In short, the court held that in all respects, except within the exceptions pointed out in the statute, a married woman, so far as her property rights are concerned, stands in the same position as if she were a single woman. To the same effect, see Shanklin v. Moody, 66 S. W. 502, 23 Ky. L. Rep. 2063; Howard v. Gibson, 60 S. W. 491, 22 Ky. L. Rep. 1294. By section 518.of the Civil .Code of Practice of Kentucky the court in which a judgment has been rendered has power, after the expiration of the term, to vacate it for erroneous proceedings against á person under disability, except coverture, if the condition of the defendant does not appear in the record, nor the error in the proceedings. Eversole v. First National Bank of Hazard, 124 S. W. (Ky.) 360. The proceedings in the chancery court of Jefferson County, Kentucky, showed that defendant in this action was a married woman. She should, therefore, have set up as a defense to that action that she signed the note sued on as surety, and, not having done so, she is precluded by the judgment rendered against her. Swearingen’s Executor v. Tyler, 116 S. W. (Ky.) 331, and authorities cited supra. In the case of Jordan v. Muse, the court held: “A judgment of the court of another State is conclusive as to the merits of the original cause of action.” 88 Ark. 587; McCarthy v. Troll, 90 Ark. 199. The court sustained the attachments which were levied on the lands of the defendant devised to her by her brother Thomas S. Rudd. The court did not err in so holding. Since each devisee or legatee has a legal estate which may be alienated or devised by him, such estate is subject to execution or attachment against him in the same manner as other beneficial legal estates. 17 Cyc. 983; 2 Freeman on Executions, (3 ed.), § 183; McClellan v. Soloman, 23 Fla. 437; Hyde v. Barney, 17 Vt. 280; Procter v. Newhall, 17 Mass. 81; Byerly v. Sherman, 126 Ia. 446, 102 N. W. 157; Martinovich v. Marsicano, 150 Cal. 597, 119 Am. St. Rep. 254, 89 Pac. 333. It is next contended by counsel for the defendant that no personal judgment was rendered against Anna R. Taylor in the chancery court of Jefferson County, Kentucky. We can not agree with their contention in this regard. The judgment there, omitting the style of the case, is in part as follows: “This cause having been heard and submitted in chief upon the pleadings, exhibits and proof and upon the entire record, and the court being fully advised, it is considered and adjudged by the court that the plaintiff, Rebecca S. Turner, do recover herein, under her cause of action stated in her original petition,” certain sums of money; “and that the said plaintiff, Rebecca S. Turner, do further recover herein under her cause of action stated in her amended petition” certain other sums of money, “and that said plaintiff, Rebecca S. Turner, do further recover herein her costs herein expended and incurred, including all costs of sale herein.” It follows that the judgment shoüld be affirmed.