Spence v. Dunlap
Spence v. Dunlap
Opinion of the Court
delivered the opinion of the court.
The first mentioned of these three conveyances was prior in time to the creation of the complainant’s debt. The two latter were subsequent.
The complainant’s debt originated, on the 16th of January, 1869, by the loan to said Dunlap of five thousand dollars, secured by a note at twelve months with interest from date, and also by the execution of a mortgage by said Dunlap, conveying to complainant a tract of land in Henry county. Subsequently, about April, 1871, said Dunlap consented for a decree to be entered in the chancery court at Nashville for the amount of said note with ten per cent, interest, and for a foreclosure of the mortgage, and a sale of the land for cash without the equity of redemption. The land was sold and purchased by complainant for f1,750, which was credited upon her decree, and this bill filed to have satisfaction of the balance.
The bill charges that complainant was defrauded and misled by said Dunlap both as to the quantity
The proof shows that the land was estimated in the mortgage deed as containing 379 acres, when in fact it contained some forty acres 'less, but it clearly appears that the mistake was innocently and not fraudulently made, and furthermore,, that in reality the land conveyed was at the time of the mortgage, and at the time it was sold and purchased by complainant, worth the amount of her debt and legal interest, and that the small sum realized was owing to the injudicious sale for cash without the equity of redemption.
While the complainant may stand upon her right to the remainder of her debt thus acquired, the facts stated disprove the allegation of a meditated fraud in procuring the loan upon the security of the' mortgaged property.
The conveyances by Dunlap to his wife and son being subsequent to the creation of complainant’s debt, it is important to inquire whether they were voluntary as charged, for then it would be incumbent upon the defendants to remove' the presumption of fraud, by showing that the grantor was in a condition to make such conveyances, but it is denied that they were either voluntary or fraudulent.
In respect to the deed to the wife, the facts. are as follows: Dunlap was indebted to one Branham for the purchase of a house and lot in the city of Nashville. The purchase was made in 1858, for $15,000, on long time, but with interest. The purchase was-
The conveyance to James T. Dunlap, Jr., was in consideration of $3,000, in three annual installments, with interest, as expressed on the face of the deed.
The proof shows that Jas. T. Dunlap, Jr., had by inheritance means of his own equal to the amount of his purchase; he was, beside, a young man of good character and credit, and could have obtained credit to the amount of $3,000. Notes were executed for the three thousand dollars, which were transferred by Jas. T. Dunlap, Sr., to parties who held just and bona fide debts against him, and Jas. T., Jr., raised money by mortgaging- the land for the payment of part of the debts, and others to whom the notes were transferred filed bills to enforce liens against the land, and are prosecuting these claims, so far as appears, in good faith. Three thousand dollars was at the time the full value of the land.
There is no proof in the record contradicting these facts. We conclude, therefore, that the conveyance was not voluntary as charged, but a sale for • full value and in good faith, and .the decree of tlie chancellor denying relief to the complainant in respect to this deed is also correct.
The great stress of the argument, however, in this court has been in reference to the remaining conveyance, and as to which the decree of the chancellor was in favor of the complainant.
The facts in regard to this conveyance are as follows :. During the late war the said James T. Dun
The allegations of the bill in regard to this deed are peculiar. There is no charge or averment made by the complainant in regard to its character. The charges are, that having been informed that said Dunlap had been buying valuable real estate and taking the title to himself as trustee for his wife and children, she caused investigation to be made, and ascertained that Granville C. Torbett, executor of Matthew Barrow, deceased, a creditor of said Dunlap, had filed a bill in which he had made various allegations in regard to said conveyance, which complainant sets forth in her bill, and the substance of which are, that it was in effect a voluntary settlement by Dunlap upon his wife and children, when he was indebted at the time to such an extent as to render the settlement void; that Dunlap had subsequently mortgaged the property to secure a loan from one Turner, and proceeds to set forth various reasons why Turner’s mortgage was not valid. It will be observed that com
If objection had been taken to these allegations by demurrer, they would probably have been held insufficient, and in strictness, even after answer without objection, it is perhaps doubtful whether it ought to be held that the validity of the deed is in issue; but as the answers have so treated the matter, we will so consider it. That the deed was a voluntary settlement is not questioned, but that it was void, even as to the then existing creditors, is denied, and with still more earnestness is it denied that it is void as to the complainant, a subsequent creditor.
The proof shows that General Dunlap had been, up to and at the time of this transaction, a man of wealth, owning sixty or seventy slaves and a large amount of lands and other valuable property. The results of the war had then thrown great doubt upon the value of his slaves, if it had not destroyed their value, and besides, had generally imperiled the fortunes of all men occupying his position. Nevertheless, he was hopeful, ■ confident of his solvency, and •placed a large estimate upon the value of his property, and we think it clear that in taking the title from Whiteman to himself as trustee, he had no pur
We do not admit, as argued by his counsel, that Dunlap’s own sanguine views in relation to the value of his slave property forms the proper criterion upon which to determine whether he retained ample means to pay his debts. Nor do we concede the creditor has the right to settle upon his family his property of a stable character, and leave to his ' creditors the property of uncertain and doubtful character. Furthermore, it will be presumed that a party intends the-probable consequences of his own act, and if a voluntary conveyance be made by one indebted at the time
’Without undertaking to» enter into a full discussion of the question as to when and upon what principle a subsequent creditor may set aside a previous voluñ-tary conveyance for the satisfaction of .his debt, we hold that,, even where it is shown that there were existing debts, yet, if the presumption of fraud as to such existing debts, arising from the voluntary character of the deed, be rebutted by the facts and circumstances showing the bona fides of the transactions, then the deed ■ cannot be impeached, as where the conveyance itself provides for the existing debts, or where not in fact provided for, if from the property retained and other facts it appears to have been the purpose
If this be true, then if the grantor be indebted at ■the time, and yet the presumption of a fraudulent intent as to the existing creditors is rebutted, the same result must follow — that is, that the subsequent creditor can have no relief.
When there is evidence of a fraudulent intent in fact as to existing creditors, or the presumption arising from a voluntary conveyance is not rebutted, or where there is evidence of intent to defraud future creditors, the case would be different.
This renders it unnecessary to determine another -question ably argued — that is, assuming that the presumption of fraud as to existing creditors is not rebutted, yet if it appear that the debt of the subse
There is strong authority, supported by apparently sound reasons, for repelling the complainant on this ground; but regarding the reason just stated as conclusive, we need not go further.
The decree of the chancellor will be reversed, and the bill dismissed with costs.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- Rebecca B. C. Spence v. James T. Dunlap
- Status
- Published