Segraves v. Brooks
Segraves v. Brooks
Opinion of the Court
(after stating the facts). Appellant contends that since the assignment or transfer of the note and mortgage in suit, was adjudged by the referee in bankruptcy of the United States District Court to be fraudulent and void, that such assignment did not vest appellee Brooks with any title of the property in controversy and therefore that the appellee could not maintain this suit. This is not a good defense.
The statute 3658 of Kirby’s Digest, declaring conveyances and assignments in fraud of creditors void, was enacted for the benefit of creditors and not to enable the debtor to escape his liabilities. Doster v. Manistee National Bank, 67 Ark. 325; 20 Cyc., p. 625b. See Bigelow on Frauds and Conveyances, p. 192, section 14. The court did not err therefore in refusing appellant’s prayer for instructions. The testimony as to verified statement of the account and as to copy of such account being furnished appellant before the institution of the suit, was but in compliance with the provision of section 5415 of Kirby’s Digest, which was necessary in order to enable the appellee to maintain the suit. Lawhorn v. Crow, 92 Ark. 313.
The undisputed evidence shows that there was a balance due on the note of $198.50. The affidavit recited the value of the property and the appellant while denying verbally all the allegations of the affidavit did not testify that the value was not correctly stated therein. There was no issue under the affidavit, which served as the complaint, as to the value of the property; and under the above statute the court correctly rendered a judgment for possession of the property or the balance due under the mortgage.
The contention that there was no testimony to show that the appellee held any account against the appellant, can not be sustained. Appellant did not plead non est factum. He admitted the execution of the note; and the undisputed testimony of Lee Brooks shows that he admitted that he owed the amount secured by the mortgage. If appellant had paid the note, the burden was upon him to show it.
There is no reversible error in the record and the judgment is therefore affirmed.
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.