Case ID: mass_26/html/0141-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "Putnam J.", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

Timothy Bailey 2d versus Thomas C. Foster.
    Where a sale of chattels is made by A., and he receives the purchaser’s note for the price and negotiates it, or obtains payment upon it, and the chattels are afterwards attached as the property of A.,— in an action of replevin brought by the purchaser against the attaching officer, A. is not a competent witness to prove that the sale was fraudulent.
    Bat if it be doubtful whether the note is negotiable or not, and if it is negotiable, whether it has been in fact negotiated, or still remains in the hands or control of A., he is a competent witness.
    
    A judgment in the replevin suit in favor of the officer, would be a bar to an action on the note by A.
    Replevin for oxen, &c. The defendant, a deputy-sheriff, pleaded, 1. Property in Nathan Abbott and Nathan Abbott 3d, with an avowry for a return. 2. Property in Nathan Abbott. 3. Property in Nathan Abbot 3d. The replication was, property in the plaintiff; on which issue was joined.
    The case was tried before Putnam J.
    The plaintiff claimed as a purchaser from Nathan Abbot and Nathan Abbot 3d on July 16th, 1827. The bill of sale was produced, in which they acknowledged to have received payment by a note of that date given to them by the plaintiff.
    
      The defendant claimed the property on an attachment made hy him as deputy-sheriff, in a suit against the Abbots.
    The Abbots were offered as witnesses by the defendant, to prove that the sale to the plaintiff was not made bonájide, but with an intent to defeat their creditors. Their evidence tended to show this fraudulent intent on their part, and a design on the part of the plaintiff to assist them in carrying it into effect. It also appeared' from their testimony, that the plaintiff did not make the note at the time the bill of sale was given, but with the consent of Nathan Abbot had passed it to Moses Bailey, his father, as security for a debt due to him from Nathan Abbot. Their evidence did not show whether the note had been paid or not, or whether it was negotiable or not, or what had become of it.
    The counsel for the plaintiff objected to the competency of the Abbots as witnesses, and they were rejected, and the defendant defaulted. If they, or either of them, were competent, the default was to be taken off and a new trial granted; otherwise judgment w'as to be entered on the default.
    
      Saltonstall, for the defendant.
    The Abbots are equally interested for the attaching creditor and for the plaintiff, and-therefore competent witnesses ; for if the defendant prevails and the attachment holds, the plaintiff will not be obliged to pay his note ; but if the plaintiff prevails, then the witnesses will be liable to pay the attaching creditor.
    
      Choate and Huntington, contra, cited 2 Stark. Ev. 745 ; Ely v. Forward, 7 Mass. R. 25 ; Phillips v. Bridge, 11 Mass. R. 242 ; 1 Phil. Ev. 32, 50, 102, 242 ; Ridley v. Taylor, 13 East, 175 ; Hudson v. Robinson, 4 Maule St Selw. 475 ; Shuttleworth v. Stephens, 1 Campb. 408 ; Bland v. Ansley, 5 Bos. St Pul. 330 ; Howard v. Braithwaite, 1 Ves. St Beam. 208 ; Case v. Reeve, 14 Johns. R. 79 ; Reed v. Prentiss, 1 N. Hamp. R. 176 ; Smith v. Whiting, 9 Mass. R. 334.
   Putnam J.

delivered the opinion of the Court. The plaintiff claims the goods in virtue of a bill of sale from N. Abbot and N. Abbot 3d, and the defendant, under an attachment against the Abbots.

The plaintiff produces a bill of sale and proves that the Abbots executed it; he also proves that the property was delivered ; and upon the bill of sale, payment by a note is acknowledged. If this were uncontrolled, the title of the plaintiff would be established.

But the defendant, in behalf of the attaching creditor, offers the venders as witnesses, to prove that the sale was made with intent to defraud the creditors of the Abbots, and that the plaintiff was conusant of that intent and advised and aided therein.

The plaintiff however objects to the competency of those witnesses, on the ground of interest; contending that the venders have received a compensation and payment for the goods from the plaintiff, who is, as he alleges, an honest purchaser, •and that the effect of their testimony is to enable their creditors to levy upon and hold the same goods : so they will get the value twice ; in the first place, from the purchaser, and in the second place, by having the value in payment of their debt to their creditors.

If those consequences would follow, the witnesses should be rejected. But it is answered on the part of the defendant, that the interest of the venders is exactly balanced, that they have had nothing from the plaintiff in payment for the goods, except the note, and if the attaching creditor should hold the goods, the note cannot be enforced against the purchaser : so they will get the value of their goods only once, namely, in having them levied on and taken by their creditors.

We must take it from the report of the case, that a" note was1 in fact given by the plaintiff to the venders. If it has been paid, or if it was negotiable and was negotiated before it was overdue, to an indorsee for a valuable consideration without notice, it would not be competent for the venders to give evidence which tended to divest the title in the plaintiff, and in effect to pocket the value of the goods a second time.

But it does not appear that the note has ever been paid. If the venders should sue the plaintiff on the note, it seems very clear to the Court, that he might defend successfully by proving that the venders themselves have acknowledged there was no other consideration than the pretended sale of the goods, and if the attaching creditor should hold the goods, it would follow that the note would be without consideration. Undei such circumstances the venders could not enforce their note. ‘ The supposed balance of interest would exist. They would have the value of the goods only once by their being appropriated, towards the payment of their debts.

Now it being doubtful whether the note was negotiable or not. and if it was, whether it had been fairly negotiated or not, or whether it does not still remain in the hands or control of the venders, the Court are of opinion that they are competent witnesses.

• A new trial is granted. And if it should be proved to the satisfaction of the Court, that the venders had received payment for the note, or had obtained the value of it by negotiating it before this action was brought, then their testimony is, upon the new trial, to be rejected.