Marvin v. Bushnell
Marvin v. Bushnell
Opinion of the Court
Neither of the parties to this proceeding have a controlling equity which entitles them to relief.
The facts set up in the bill and cross-bill and found by the committee, are voluminous. All that are material to a disposition of the case are as follows:
One Denison, in 1866, owned an interest in two vessels, viz : one-twentieth of the brig Woodlawn and one-eighth of the schooner Alice Dill. Denison mortgaged his interest in these two vessels to one Wooster, to secure him for his endorsement on two notes of Denison, amounting to the sum of twenty-five hundred dollars, held by the Saybrook National Bank. Before the notes matured Wooster died, and Denison, wishing to renew the notes, applied to the respondent Richard Bushnell to endorse- the renewals, agreeing to give him the same security on the vessels which had been held by Wooster. Richard consented, and, as he was general agent of S. Bushnell & Co., endorsed the notes in their name. The notes so given were afterwards renewed with a like endorsement. Before the last set of notes fell due S. Bushnell & Co. discharged their agent Richard, denied the validity of the endorsements in their name, and refused to endorse any further renewals. Denison then proposed to the bank to renew the notes with the individual endorsement of Richard, and the bank at first consented. Notes were drawn and endorsed by Richard for that purpose, and the interest of Denison in the vessels was thereupon conveyed to Richard, pursuant to
On this state of facts the petitioners, Marvin and Redfield, seek to obtain by their petition the title to Denison’s interest in the Woodlawn, held by Richard as security for his liability to S. Bushnell & Co. on his indorsement, and Richard seeks to obtain, by his cross-bill, the avails of the Alice Dill, or so much of them as may be necessary for his security, from the petitioners.
We are of opinion, first, that Richard is entitled to retain the interest he holds in the Woodlawn, to meet his liability over on his endorsements to S. Bushnell & Co., who are bona fide holders of the notes and have a right to enforce them against him. Second, that he would be entitled to recover
This view of the case disposes of the right of the petitioners to relief, and would entitle Richard to relief if it clearly appeared that relief was necessary for his indemnity. But it is not alleged in the cross-bill, nor found by the committee, nor conceded by the petitioners, that the interest in the Wood-lawn which he holds is not fully adequate to meet his liability to S. Bushnell & Co. And as the petitioners would be entitled to the surplus of the securities, if there should be any, as trustees for the other creditors of Denison, and it is desirable that his estate should be closed up, it would not be consistent with the principles of equity to decree the avails of the Alice Dill into the hands of Richard, an insolvent, to hold as security, or any part of it, for the purpose of indemnifying him for a liability which he has not met, and for which it is neither alleged nor found that he has not adequate security.
For these reasons both bill and cross-bill must be dismissed.
In this opinion the other judges concurred.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- John W. Marvin and another v. Richard Bushnell
- Status
- Published