Gimell, Simicker, Storms, & Co. v. Adams
Gimell, Simicker, Storms, & Co. v. Adams
Opinion of the Court
delivered the opinion of the court.
This is an attachment bill brought by the complainants against the defendant Adams, who is a non-resident of this State, and against the other defendants, who have effects of the said Adams in their hands. These effects were placed in the hands of Dudley by a letter of attorney, executed by Adams, and Dudley conveyed the property in trust for the payment of certain preferred creditors of Adams. The complainants were provided for in the deed, but certain other creditors preferred; and they bring this bill to attach the property, and to declare the deed fraudulent and void.
Adams was a merchant of Clarksville, and being about to leave this country for California, he executed on the 22d May, 1849, a power of attorney to N. B. Dudley, authorizing him to collect all debts, and execute acquittances, to arbitrate or compromise with debtors or creditors, and do all other things, that may be necessary in winding up his business. He was also authorized to sell a lot of land in Clarksville, of eight acres, to rent the same, or “to mortgage or convey said land •for the payment of debts.” He was also authorized to sell
On the 25th June, 1849, said Dudley executed a deed, by virtue of said power, to David Browder for the said land, and all the notes, and accounts due to said Adams, in trust, to secure and pay in the first place, several specified creditors, and then to pay all the debts of said Adams. A number of debts are therein set forth, among which are those due to the complainants ; and all other creditors not named are to come in and share with those last named. The following-condition is then set forth, viz: “There is one condition on which my cred-itprs shall receive any benefit from this deed, and that is, that they are not to bring any suit against me, my property, estate, or debtors, and it is expressly understood that if any of them do sue in any way, then they shall forfeit all interest in this deed, and my trustee in that event is not to pay him or them so suing, any thing, but shall pay the same over to my other creditors.” The deed authorized the trustee to sell at either public or private sale, for cash or on credit, as he might think proper.
The complainants insist, 1st., That Dudley had no power to convey this land to a trustee; that as to the land, the power is special, and authorized only a sale or mortgage, but did not authorize the attorney to convey to a trustee. In the case of Bennet vs. Union Bank, 5 Hum. R. 615, this court held that a deed of trust was but a mortgage, with power to sell. If this power to sell be an appropriate incident of a mortgage, the agent to mortgage, would have the right to annex to the mortgage' power to sell. 7 Johns, Ch. R. 32.
But in this case there seems to have been no intention to
2d. It is next objected to this deed that it authorizes the trustee “to sell publicly or privately, for cash or on a credit.” This power to sell upon credit, it is insisted may be used to hinder and delay creditors by a sale at long credit, in addition to the delay in collecting the purchase money. We do not think a deed of trust, stipulating lhat in default of payment, the property should be sold upon a credit, would be fraudulent for that reason.
This court held, in Mitchell vs. Beal, 8 Yerg. R. 134, that a stipulation for a reasonable delay before a sale, such as would not exceed the law’s delay, would not be fraudulent. The creditors entitled to the surplus, would not be injured, if the delay were not greater than that which according to the forms of law they could obtain a judgment for their debts. Upon the same principle, the stipulation for a reasonable credit could do no injury.
The practice of the country is to sell land on a credit, and it is known that land sold for cash is almost always sold at a sacrifice. Courts of chancery in this state uniformly order mortgaged estates to be sold on a credit. It cannot, therefore, be fraudulent to stipulate in the deed for such terms as a court of equity without any stipulation would enforce. The case of Meacham vs. Steins, 9 Paige’s R. 405, was not a question whether such power might be given in the deed, but it was, whether the trustee had any discretion to exercise the power.
3d. It is next objected; that the preference given to certain favored creditors in the deed, and the condition, excluding from
In this case we think that not only the condition in question, but the preference which is given in the deed to one portion of the creditors over others, is inconsistent with the scope, purpose, and object of the power. The power prescribes that the attorney should “pay over the purchase money realized
Reference
- Full Case Name
- Gimell, Simicker, Storms, & Co. v. Adams and others
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