Case ID: wash_25/html/0465-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "Per Curiam.", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

[No. 3733.
    Decided July 10, 1901.]
    A. N. Berlin et al., Respondents, v. A. T. Van de Vanter et al., Appellants.
    
    FRAUDULENT CONVEYANCES-EVIDENCE.
    In a trial of a claim of title to goods that had been seized under attachment, the court was warranted in withdrawing the case from the jury and entering judgment for plaintiffs, when the only defense set up by the attaching creditors was that the sale to plaintiffs was fraudulent, and the evidence showed that the sale of the goods had been negotiated on Saturday, an inventory of the goods taken and a bill of sale executed on Sunday, and 60 per cent, of the invoice price of the goods paid by plaintiffs on Monday morning after the delivery of the goods to them; there being nothing in the evidence showing that the price was not reasonable, and no evidence of knowledge on the part of plaintiffs of their vendor’s fraudulent intent or that he was indebted for anything more than small accounts.
    Appeal from Superior Court, King County. — Hon. Orange Jacobs, Judge.
    Affirmed.
    
      Allen & Allen, for appellants.
    
      Richard Osborn, for respondents.
   Per Curiam.

In March, 1899, one Vigfussen was a retail merchant in Seattle, and made sale of his stock of goods to the plaintiffs, who were merchants in the town of Kent. The sale between Berlin Bros, and Vigfussen had been negotiated on Saturday. A hill of sale was executed on Sunday, and an inventory of the goods taken on that day, and they were packed and delivered to the railway company for delivery to Berlin Bros, at Kent. On Monday forenoon appellants, Fischer Bros., Lilly, Bogardus & Co., and Hansen, who were creditors of Vigfussen, levied writs of attachment upon the goods so packed. Thereupon the respondents filed their affidavit claiming the goods. At the conclusion of the trial the court withdrew the ease from the consideration of the jury, upon plaintiffs’ challenge to the sufficiency of the evidence, and entered judgment for the plaintiffs.

We have examined the evidence, and it appears without contradiction that respondents paid in cash sixty per cent, of the invoice price of the goods sold to them; that the amount paid was $477.25, which was paid on Monday morning after the delivery of the goods to respondents. There was no evidence offered tending to show that the price paid was not a reasonable one. There is no- evidence tending to show that respondents had knowledge that Vigfussen was indebted considerably, or that he owed anything more than small accounts. In fact, there is no tangible evidence of any knowledge on the part of respondents of any fraudulent intention upon the part of Vigfussen, though the haste of the sale and delivery of the goods'give rise to suspicion. The only defense offered was that of a fraudulent sale.

We cannot see any error in the court’s conclusion, and the judgment is affirmed.