Hopkins v. Carey
Hopkins v. Carey
Opinion of the Court
delivered the opinion of the court.
The object of this bill is to remove a cloud from title, or to subject certain property to the satisfaction of a judgment. In 1838, Moses Hopkins recovered a judgment against Carey and others, on which execution issued and was returned mulla bona. The complainant claims to be assignee of that judgment. The bill charges the insolvency of the parties, and that in 1839 Carey purchased a lot from one Ely, -at the price of $>4800; that he paid $1000 of this sum by procuring Vertner to convey to Ely a certain other lot, the legal title to which was in Vert-ner, though it had been purchased of him by Randolph & Carey, as partners in the practice of law, in discharge of professional services rendered by them to Vertner. For the balance of the purchase-money on the lot purchased by Carey
The answer of Archer denies that complainant is a bona fide assignee; states that he was induced to sign the notes as surety, on the representation of Carey that the purchase was to be made in good faith on account of his wife, and the'money to be paid by her, with means to be derived from her father in Virginia, and from other resources which she had in the District of Columbia, and denies any knowledge of a fraudulent intent on the part of Carey. Respondent knew nothing, at that time, of the conveyance of the lots by Vertner to Ely, but has since learned that the conveyance was made as stated in the bill, and insists that if a trust resulted to any one, it was to Randolph and Carey jointly. In 1841, respondent becoming uneasy about his liability to Ely, as Carey was about to leave the State, took the conveyance from Carey and wife to secure ■himself, with an understanding that the lot should be appropriated in discharge of the debt.- That respondent was sued in the United States court for a'large balance due on the notes and judgment recovered, and by his direction the marshal levied the execution on the lot, and Connelly became the purchaser at the marshal’s sale. Denies that he knew of any fraudulent intent on the part of Carey, or that he knew the property was to be held in trust for him, or that he knew of any payments made by him, or that he knew of the existence of Hopkins’ judgment.
The answer of Carey and wife states the purchase of the lot from Ely in 1839, for $5800. In payment he transferred to Ely ten shares of stock in the Bank -of Port Gibson, delivered to him a deed for another lot or lots, executed by Vertner and wife, valued at $1000, and for the balance executed the two notes with Archer and others as sureties, one for $2400, and the other for $1400; that it was a boná fide transaction for the benefit of his wife, made with her consent, “ and with the expectation of being paid for with moneys to be received by her from her father for her own separate use; ” that the ten shares of bank stock transferred to Ely, was part of twenty shares purchased by respondent, for which he paid $900 in money belonging to his wife ; that Vertner was paid for his lots by the extinguishment of a note given by him to Randolph & Carey, for about $1000 for money loaned; that the payment of $400 made on one of the notes in May or June, 1841, was of the money of his wife; denies the charge of fraud.
By an amended answer, Archer states that he has heard and believes it to be true, that the father of Mrs. Carey, by deed of trust, has secured to her separatef use, certain stocks in the banks in Alexandria, and has caused the dividends to be punctually paid to-her.
There was no proof taken.in the cause, and the chancellor dismissed the bill, and complainant has appealed. The case must be determined on the facts as they stand admitted by the pleadings.
The act of 1839 authorizes married women to acquire real •and personal estate, and to hold the same, by bequest, demise, gift, purchase, or distribution, provided the same does not come from her husband after coverture. The legal title was in Mrs. Carey ; it was made to her after the passage of the act. But did it come from her husband, or through him, or by his means, for it all amounts to the same thing ? The answer states that it was paid for by ten shares of bank stock, by the transfer of another lot derived from Vertner, and by two notes of Carey and others, one for $2400, and the other for $1400, with the expectation that the payments would be made out of the separate funds of the wife, to be received from her father. This will not do ; the expectation of the purchaser can have no influence on the transaction. To secure the wife in her title, the property should have been paid for out of her separate funds. The true consideration of the sale was the notes of the husband. A title cannot be vested in the wife on the husband’s credit, any more than it can by his money. That Ely did not sell on the credit of the separate property of the wife, or expect to receive payment from that source, is most evident. He took the notes of the husband with personal security. But it is said in the answer, that the ten shares of bank stock had been purchased with the. money of the wife ; there is no proof of this. The married woman’s law was passed in 1839, and this transaction took place during that year. The money of the wife which came to the hands of the husband before the passage of that act, bélonged to the husband, unless some special reason intervened to prevent it. It does not appear when this money of the' wife was received, or from what source received. But suppose it were true that so much of her money was invested in the purchase, that would only give 'her an interest to the extent of the investment. We cannot doubt but that Carey had an interest in the lot, and it remains to inquire, in the next place, whether it can be reached by this proceeding.
Decree reversed, and cause remanded.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- Richard Hopkins v. Archibald Carey et ux.
- Cited By
- 3 cases
- Status
- Published