Mandlove v. Burton

Perkins, J. — Trover for certain goods by Burton, an execution-defendant, against Mandlove, the execution-plaintiff, and Gephart, the constable in whose hands the execution was. Plea, the general issue. Verdict and judgment below for the plaintiff. [40] On the trial the defendant asked the Court to give the . following instructions: “ If the jury believe, from the evidence, that a judgment was recovered by defendant, Mandlove, against the plaintiff, William Burton, and one Walter Bradon, and that an execution was issued on said judgment and placed in the hands of the defendant, Gephart, a constable of Clay township, in said county, and that, between the times of the rendition of said judgment and the issue of said execution, the said Burton conveyed all his property, both real and personal, to his son, Adam M. Burton, for the purpose of cheating and defrauding said Mandlove, and to prevent him from realizing the amount of his 'said judgment, and that after said fraudulent sale, said constable levied on a part of said property, in the presence of said William Burton, who stated to the constable, at the . time of the levy, that he had no claims upon it, and said constable procured the property so levied on (which is the same property mentioned in the declaration) to be duly appraised in the presence of said Burton, and afterwards sold said property by virtue of said execution; and that, after said appraisement, and just before said sale, said William Burton claimed said property, or a part thereof, as exempt from execution under the law so exempting 125 dollars’ worth of property, and said constable disregarded the claim, the jury may find for the defendants.” This instruction the Court refused to give, “ there being evidence” (as stated in the bill of exceptions) “ texxding to prove the matters recited in it.” We think the ixrstx-uctioxi should have been given. If the facts, assumed as the basis of it, existed, the plaintiff below had no right to his action, because he had no title to the property for the alleged conversion of which the suit was brought. If he had conveyed the property (and in this case we undei’stand the term “conveyed” to impox’t the delivery of possession,) though fraudulently, that conveyance divested him of all interest in it. If the grantee was privy to the fraud, his title is void as against the creditors of the grantor. If he was not privy to the fraud,. [41] and obtained the property for an adequate consideration, he will hold it, against both the grantor and his creditors. In either event, however, the question must arise between the grantee and those creditors. The grantor surely cannot sue; and the general issue in this case does not admit his title. 2-Greenleaf, 538. ' A. Davidson, for the plaintiffs. C. H. Test, for the defendant. The circumstance that 125 dollars’ worth of this property, had it not been conveyed away, might have been retained by the grantor as exempt from execution, cannot, we think, alter the case. The possessor of such exempted property may, we suppose, sell it. If he do so, and it be subsequently levied on for his debt, the purchaser may probably reclaim it from under the execution, but we do not see where the seller could find title on which to rest a suit. Nor do we think there is any difference, as to its effect upon the title, whether the 125 dollars’ worth of exempted property is sold separately from, or included in an indiscriminate sale, fraudulent or otherwise, with other property. We know of no principle which would authorize the seller, simply upon his own volition, to avoid his conveyance as to the whole or a part of the property. He could not set up his own fraud as a ground for such avoidance. It is said trover does not lie for an injury such as that attempted to be shown in this case. Trover is concurrent with trespass de bonis asportatis; 1 Ch. PI. 9 Am. ed. 154; and it was held in Stephens v. Lawson, 7 Blackf. 275, that this latter action was maintainable by an execution-defendant against an officer who sold goods claimed by such defendant as exempt from execution. Per Curiam. — The judgment is reversed — cause remanded, &c.