Case ID: nc_14/html/0439-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "Ruffin, Judge", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

Willie Bayner v. Joshua Robertson.
    floods which were the property of a decedent, cannot be seised in the hands of his donee, under a judgment against his executor. If 'the creditor seeks to subject them, he must charge the donee as executor de son tort.
    
    This was an action of repievtn. tried before Daniei, Judge, at Martin, on the last Spring Circuit, in which the plaintiff sought-to recover several slaves.
    The defendant among other pleas, pleaded, -that the slaves in question, were the property of one Thomas Cox, and upon this plea, the only question-between the parties, arose.
    The plaintiff claimed under a deed made by one Stan-di iiayner, to secure his creditors ; Standi Bay nor died, and the defendant took out letters of administration upon his estate ; Cox obtained a judgment against the defendant as administrator, and sued out an execution, under which the slaves in question, were sold and bought by Cox. The defendant offered to prove, that the deed under which the plaintiffclaimed, was designed to defraud the creditors of the intestate. But his Honor refused to let the evidence go to the jury, observing, that if the deed was fraudulent as to the creditors of the intestate, it was valid against him, and his administrator; that Cox’s execution was to be satisfied out of the assets of Standi Bayner, in the hands of the defendant; that the slaves not being assets of Standi Bnyner, nor in the bands of his administrator, were not subject to that execution „ that if Cox-or any other creditor wished to reach those slaves, they should declare against the plaintiff, as executor in his own wrong, of Sumdl JJayuer; when the deienn*nt might show that he had fully administered, by paying debts of an equal or higher dignity, to the value of the sjaves . 0j? which defence, the present action would deprive him.
    A verdict was returned for the plaintiff, and the defendant appealed.
    The Attorney General and Badger, for the defendant.
    
      W. C. Stanly and Hogg, contra.
    
   Ruffin, Judge

The action against a fraudulent vendee of goods as executor de son tort, when there is a rightful executor or administrator, is contrary to the analogy of the law of other cases, and is given only from necessity. It supposes, that the creditor cannot obtain satisfaction from the rightful representative ; and therefore gives this mode of impeaching the fraudulent conveyance, because there is no other, and without some, the creditor would be entirely defeated. I do not mean, that the creditor must shew that he has first sued the true executor, and has been unable to fix him with assets. He may sue the fraudulent grantee first, but then he runs the risk of' losing his suit, because the conveyance was not fraudulent, the donor or vendor not being indebted at the time of his conveyance, or not to an extent that could reasonably impeach his gift as being made with a view of defeating an existing debt, or one that he was about to contract. Where, therefore, there are assets in the hands of the creditor, there is neither a necessity that the creditor should, nor a pro-bility that he will, sue the donee. And where the executor has been sued and fixed with assets, there seems to be no reason for allowing the action against the donee at all; for there is no necessity for it. The creditor obtains satisfaction without,; and the deed which is good between the parties, injures nobody ; for the goods convoyed to the donee could not be chargeable to the executor as assets, and therefore those found are exclusive of those goods. Much more does it seem to be proper, that upon such a judgment against the exeeutor, the goods of the donee should' not be taken in execution. The verdict shows that there are other assets in the proper hands to satisfy the judgment. -And I cannot conceive a motive for this proceeding, unless it was a contrivance between Cox and Robertson, for the latter to confess assets, when he had none, in order to defeat the conveyance to the plaintiff, and deprive him of the property, without first trying the question of title. Besides as the judge properly said in the Superior Court, there is another reason for trying that question directly in a suit against the donee ; which is, that lie may have paid the value to other creditors, and ought to be allowed for it. It seems to me that to sustain the proceeding would be to call forth actual fraud, to counteract one that was only probable, or merely alleged without foundation in fact. It would cause many administrations to be taken out, for no other reason than that of putting one claiming under a conveyance, to the disadvantage of being deprived of property without a trial first had ; of being a plaintiff instead of a defendant.

Pur Curiam. — Judgment affirmed'.