Case ID: wis_20/html/0536-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "Downer, J.", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

Hamlin, Receiver, vs. Jones and wife.
    By the common law, when real estate of the wife is sold, and by husband and wife conveyed, the moneys arising from such sale are the property of the husband.
    APPEAL from the Circuit Court for Winnebago County.
    One Lloyd obtained a judgment against John Jones in December, 1864, for $289.47, and execution having been returned “no property,” supplementary proceedings were had, in which C. B. Hamlin was appointed receiver; and he brought this action to set aside, as fraudulent against creditors, a conveyance of 320 acres of land which Jones had made to his son on the 4th of May, 1860; which land the son, on the same day, conveyed to his mother, Mary Jones. It was admitted on the trial that John Jones entered the land in question in February, 1848, and received the patent for it. As to the money with which the land was entered, Jones testified: “I was married to Mary, my wife, in Wales, about 34 years ago; emigrated to America in 1847; did not bring any property or money of my own; purchased the land immediately after I got here. The money used in buying the land was not my money; it was my wife’s money. My wife’s mother died, left some land, and the land was sold, and the money was got for the land. I did not convey the land to my son on account of debts; don’t believe I owed any one at the time. My only object in deeding the land to my son was that he might deed it to my wife. My wife told me she must have her property.” Mrs. Jones testified: “ My mother willed land in Wales to me; I sold it for about 500 sovereigns; bought the half section where we live, with the money. My husband got the deed for it. I let him have the money and he took the title in his own name. I brought the money from Wales in my own trunk; he did not have it until he bought the land. I had no object in getting the land back except to have it go to my children in case of my death. The land was worth about $6000.” As to the origin of the debt for which the judgment in favor of Lloyd against Jones was rendered, the proof was that in September, 1858, Lloyd, Jones, Evans and another became owners of a vessel called the “Swallow;” that in March, 1860, two judgments were rendered against Lloyd, Jones, Evans, and the vessel jointly, one for $107.82 and the other for $148.80, being the wages of employees on the vessel, both of which were paid by Lloyd in November, 1860; that Lloyd advanced, in 1858, for the use of thevessel, $10, paid about 1st January, 1860, a note for $35.70, given by himself and Jones for same account, and prior to March, 1863, had paid several other notes of the same kind, given in 1859. The circuit judge found that the liability of Jones, upon which the judgment in favor of Lloyd was rendered, accrued before “the 1st day of April, I860;” and that the conveyance from Jones to his son, and that from the son to Mary Jones, were void as to creditors. The judgment was, inter alia, that Mary Jones should, by a specified day, execute a release to the receiver of all her right and interest in said real estate, except such part of the same as was exempt, by law, from sale on execution; and on failure to do so, that all her right and interest in said land should, by virtue of the judgment, be vested in such receiver; and that the receiver should sell the same at public vendue, &c. The defendants appealed.
    
      H. B. Jackson, for appellants:
    The business affairs of the “ Swallow” and its owners were unsettled until December 30, 1864; more than four years after the conveyance. The indebtedness of the boat at the time of the conveyance was inconsiderable, and the vessel itself was abundant security for all debts which existed at that time, and more. These demands, whatever they were, remained unpaid by either of the joint owners until after the conveyance. Oan it be said that the unsettled business affairs of the vessel made Lloyd the creditor of Jones ? And that, too, before Lloyd had paid the joint debt, and thus rendered Jones liable for contribution? On this point counsel cited Sexton v. Wheaton, 1 Am. Lead. Cas., 62; Seward v. Jackson, 8 Oow., 436-7; 9 Cow., 128; 1 Johns. Cas., 74; 9 Wend., 312; 9 Johns., 127 ; 15 id., 466 ; 20 id., 153 ; 4 Cow., 607; 2 Wend., 248 ; 2 Caines’ Cas., 310. 2. The defendants testify that they had no fraudulent intent in making or receiving the conveyance. This evidence was introduced by the plaintiff, and he is estopped from questioning its veracity. 7 Cow., 238; Starkie’s Ev., 247, and cases cited. 3. The money used in the purchase of the land was kept by Mrs. Jones until the land was bought, and the receipt of it by Mr. Jones for the special purpose was not such a reduction of it to his possession as would divert her interest in it. Barron v. Barron, 24 Vt., 375. 4. A post-nuptial settlement by husband on wife will be sustained when the consideration is property received from her. 16 Ala., 489 ; 2 Roper on H. & W., 227; Reeve’s Dom. Rel., 166; 10 Yes., 146; 7 Johns. Ch., 57; 8 Am. Law. Reg., 754; Brougham on Cov., 283. 5. The judgment is erroneous because it subjects the homestead to forced sale.
    
      
      Wliittemore & Weisirocl, for respondent.
   Downer, J.

By tbe principles of tbe common law, when tbe real estate of tbe wife is sold and by bnsband and wife conveyed, tbe moneys arising from snob sale are tbe property of tbe bnsband and subject to bis debts. Tbe title, therefore, to tbe land ordered to be conveyed to tbe receiver was rightly taken by tbe husband, John Jones, in bis own name when be purchased it of tbe United States, and it was bis own. Tbe conveyances from tbe husband and wife to their son, and from tbe son to bis mother, were fraudulent and void as to Lloyd, tbe plaintiff in tbe judgment; and tbe circuit court rightly found that they were made with intent to binder and delay and defraud tbe creditors of Jones. These conveyances were made after tbe suit of Lloyd against Jones was commenced, and before tbe judgment therein against him was rendered. There were also several other judgments against him rendered but a short time before, on account of tbe indebtedness of tbe schooner Swallow. We must believe that men intend what is tbe inevitable result of their own acts. We believe their acts and not their words, when these contradict their acts. And it is clear from all tbe evidence, to our minds, that John Jones intended to put himself in a position where be could resist tbe collection of any judgment Lloyd might recover against him, bis testimony to tbe contrary notwithstanding. Nor does tbe record show, as maintained by tbe appellants’ counsel, that Jones's interest in tbe Swallow was sufficient to pay any judgment Lloyd might recover against him. On tbe contrary, tbe reasonable inference from bis own examination on supplementary proceedings is, that be bad no personal property sufficient to satisfy tbe execution, or if be bad, be was attempting to conceal it, and make out that it belonged to other parties.

Tbe objection that tbe judgment declares void tbe conveyance of tbe homestead as well as tbe rest of tbe land, is untenable. Eor it is obvious that tbe judgment directs to be conveyed to tbe receiver, and authorizes him to sell, only such portion of tbe land as coulcl be sold on execution against John Jones if tbe title was in bim.

By the Court. — Tbe judgment of tbe circuit court is affirmed.