Fields v. Dale
Fields v. Dale
Opinion of the Court
This bill was filed .by the appellee, an existing creditor of J. L. Fields, an insolvent debtor, against J. L. Fields, Ann Madora Fields, individually and as executrix of the estate of A. E. Fields, deceased, and Lee King Fields, the wife of J. L. Fields. The object of the bill as finally amended is, in one alternative, to cancel certain instruments, viz: One executed October 23, 1916, transferring to Ann Madora Fields, as executrix aforesaid, J. L. Fields’ undivided interest in the estate of the testator, his father; and one executed March 17, 1917, wherein the executrix, J. L. Fields, and Lee King Fields undertook to invest J. L. Fields’ wife, Lee King Fields, with J. L. Fields’ undivided, interest in the estate of A. E. Fields, deceased, the same interest purported to be affected by the mentioned writing executed October 23, 1918. The recited consideration of the instrument executed March 17,1917, was that the transfer of J. L. Fields’ interest in his father’s estate should satisfy and discharge J. L. Fields’ indebtedness of at least $3,700 to his wife, the respondent Lee King Fields, who married J. L. Fields in January, 1916, and resided then and thereafter until he entered the army at Tullahoma, Tenn. The ground for the cancellation of both instruments was, that they were made to hinder, delay, or defraud complainant, who had, prior to the execution of both instruments, secured a large judgment against J. L. Fields in the courts of Tennessee. Failing relief on the theory stated, the amended bill seeks, alternatively, to have these instruments declared general assignments, under Alabama Code, § 4295, the averment being that a transfer of all of J. L. Fields’ property was thereby undertaken. The trial court canceled both instruments in response to the first aspect of the amended bill.
As appears, the complainant assailed the validity of two instruments, viz. the one to Lee King Fields of date March 17, 1917, and the one to the executrix of date October 23, 1916; it being essential to cancel or qualify both contracts if complainant was shown to be entitled to relief. Regarding the instrument of date March 17, 1917, in its aspect as a conveyance from J. L. Fields to his wife, Lee King Fields : After careful review of the whole evidence, in the light of the fact that the burden of proof rested on the respondent Lee King Fields, the debtor’s wife, our opinion is that the court below was justified in its conclusion that Mrs. Lee King Fields ha'd not discharged the stated burden of proof, and that the complainant was entitled to have the instrument of date March 17, 1917, canceled and wholly annulled. That J. L. Fields absorbed his wife’s entire estate, inherited from her father previous to marriage, is indubitably established. However, the establishment of this fact does not itself vindicate the validity of' the instrument of March 17, 1917, when assailed as it is by an existing creditor of an insolvent debtor. The *477 wife's claim is that just prior to her marriage to J. L. Fields he promised to reimburse her in the funds she advanced or loaned him, his father being then in life, and, so far as shown, without any knowledge of this rather premature assurance by J. L. Fields. It is not satisfactorily shown that J. L. Fields reaffirmed this promise after his father’s death on May IS, 1916, nor is any allusion made to it in the instrument of date March 17, 1917. No note or other obligation was over executed by J. L. Fields evidencing these asserted loans by his wife to him. The evidence of Mrs. Fields leaves in great doubt the amount she advanced him prior to their marriage. • That the amount then actually advanced was comparatively small seems clear. On the other hand, the conclusion is inescapable that the larger proportion of his receipts from her was after their marriage. According to her testimony, she sold her real property, and, aside from what'she and her husband consumed as board, etc., at her sister’s hotel, she turned the remainder of the purchase money over to her husband, that he might discharge pressing demands.
If the instrument of date March 17, 1917, *478 is regarded as a distinct contract between husband and wife, J. L. Fields and Lee King Fields, omitting significance to the joinder therein of the executrix, Ann Madora Fields, ,T. L. Fields had no interest in his father’s estate subject to transfer, assignment, or conveyance on March 17, 1017, he having theretofore, on October 23, 1916, “released” or transferred whatever interest he had in the estate of his father to the executrix thereof.
What right, title or interest, if any, Lee King Fields acquired from the executrix by the instrument of March 17, 1917, is a question not necessary to be considered or decided on this appeal.' The contract of October 23, 1916, being valid and effective, the complainant is not entitled to the relief sought.
The decree appealed from is reversed. A decree will be here rendered denj'ing relief to complainant and dismissing the amended bill.
Reversed and rendered.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- FIELDS Et Al. v. DALE
- Status
- Published