Manhattan Life Ins. v. O'Neil
Manhattan Life Ins. v. O'Neil
Opinion of the Court
These cases (actions of ejectment for lands in Allegheny county) were tried together. The plaintiff’s title rests on marshal’s deeds, made in pursuance of sales under a judgment against James McKown; while the defendant’s rests on deeds from McKown himself, of earlier date. The plaintiff! attacked the latter as fraudulent, alleging that they were made when McKown was insolvent, without adequate considera lion, to cheat his creditors; and that O’Neil, who is his brother-in-law, was a party to the fraud. The consideration stated to have been paid is $14,000 — $7,000 for each property. Treating the statement as sufficient prima facie evidence of value, the plaintiff produced testimony that the price paid was $2,000 — being an indebtedness of McKown to O’Neil — and a liability incurred by the
In rejecting the plaintiff’s offer of testimony, we think the court was wrong. That the testimony proposed was relevant and important cannot be doubted. It went to the marrow of the question involved— the adequacy of price, paid for the property. The objection urged was that the offer came too late. It seems clear to us that it did not, however; that it came in its proper place and order. The plaintiff was fully justified in relying, at the outset, on the sum stated in the deeds to have been paid. This was a distinct admission of value, quite sufficient for the plaintiff’s purpose, until attacked. The statement was the defendant’s, as clearly as if he had executed the deeds, instead of accepting and holding under them. The plaintiff was not required to anticipate that he would attack the truth of the statement, but might properly wait until he did, and then answer him.
The judgment naust be reversed.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- MANHATTAN LIFE INS. CO. v. O'NEIL
- Status
- Published