Barker v. President of Hartford Bank
Barker v. President of Hartford Bank
Opinion of the Court
The rejection of the evidence presents the question now to be considered and decided.
It will be recollected, that we are upon a question whether equity demands, that the money due from Barber should go to pay the debt of Heyer and Burdett to the Hartford Bank, I or should belong to the heirs of Garrit Heyer ? Is there any insurmountable objection to directing, that this debt j should belong to the heirs of Garrit Heyer ?
j In the construction of our statute respecting foreign attachments, the decisions have always been, that debts bona fide assigned should go to the assignees. Had Walter E.
But by no rule of law can the partnership property be taken or applied for the satisfaction of the separate debt of any one of the partners, to a greater amount than his interest in the partnership, after the payment of all the partnership debts. Lyndon v. Gorham & al. 1 Gallis. 367. Fisk & al. v. Herick & al. 6 Mass. Rep. 271. Fox & al. v. Hanbury & al. Cowp. 445. Church & al. v. Knox & al. 2 Conn. Rep. 514. Brewster & al. v. Hammet & al. 4 Conn. Rep. 540.
This leads to an inquiry, what interest had Walter E. Heyer and Jacob Burdett in this debt against Barber, or in the copartnership property of Heyers, Brimner Sf Burdett The answer mhst be, that if the evidence which was offered had been received, it might haye shewn, that they had none at all; for this, as the bill of exceptions finds, was its tendency.
But it is said, that the judgment stands in the way; for that it appears, that Barber owed Walter E. Heyer and Jacob Burdett, and not Heyers, Brimner ⅜ Burdett. But is there any thing more sacred, in this respect, in a judgment, than in a bond l It was decided in Massachusetts, that where it appeared, by the answer of the defendant in a trus tee process, that part of the bond belonged to others than himself, though nothing of the kind appeared on the face of the bond, that he should not be charged for such part. Willard v. Sturtevant & al. 7 Pick. 194.
But how is this judgment conclusive on these heirs ? Nei iher they, nor the legal representatives of Garrit Heyer, are parties to it. The plaintiffs in it did not even style themselves surviving partners; and had they so described themselves it would not have concluded these defendants. Sturges Beach & al. 1 Conn. Rep. 507.
This case, in its aspect on the heirs of Garrit Heyer, pre sents such an inequitable demand, that it cannot be sustainec It presents a claim to enforce a judgment against Barber for i
The judgment must, therefore, be reversed.
Judgment reversed.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- Barker against The President, Directors and Company of the Hartford Bank
- Status
- Published