Case Name: John F. Flannigan et al., App'lts, v. James Barker et al., Resp'ts
Court: New York Supreme Court, General Term
Jurisdiction: New York
Decision Date: 1887-12-13
Citations: 12 N.Y. St. Rep. 554
Docket Number: 
Parties: John F. Flannigan et al., App’lts, v. James Barker et al., Resp’ts.
Judges: 
Reporter: New York State Reporter
Volume: 12
Pages: 554–555

Head Matter:
John F. Flannigan et al., App’lts, v. James Barker et al., Resp’ts.
(Supreme Court, General Term, Second Department,
Filed December 13, 1887.)
Husband and wipe—Fraudulent conveyance—Conveyance to wife— When not in fraud of creditors.
The defendant was married in 1828, and shortly afterward his wife received $500 from her parents which the husband was allowed to have, and he always recognized the debt. In 1857 the defendant purchased certain land, and in 1872 conveyed it to his wife through a third party on the consideration of the old obligation. The same year he induced his wife to re-transfer it to him on the express promise to reconvey it to her on the termination of his coal business. The wife joined in a mortgage on the property for $1,500 which the husband had. Ho interest had ever been paid to the wife on the old $500 loan. The property was reconveyed to the wife subject to said mortgage, and was worth about $3,500. The husband having failed, an action was brought by his judgment creditors to set aside the conveyance to the wife as fraudulent. Held, that the consideration for the conveyance to the wife was good, and the transaction just and free from fraud. Following, Syracuse Chilled, Plow Go. v. Wing (85 H. Y„ 431).
Appeal from a judgment of the Westchester county special term dismissing the complaint herein entered in the clerk’s office of said county.
Livingston Smith, for app’lts; Joseph S. Wood, for resp’ts.

Opinion:
Barnard, P. J.
The plaintiffs are judgment creditors of a firm composed of James Barker, James Barker, Jr., and Mary O. Barker. In August, 1886, an execution against the property of the individuals composing the firm was returned unsatisfied, and this action was brought to set aside an assignment of property made by James Barker previous to the recovery of the judgment, with intent to defraud his creditors. Upon the trial it appeared that James Barker, one of the firm, in January, 1886, held the title to the lands described in the complaint, and on the 18th of January, 1886, conveyed the same through a third party to his wife, Mary A. Barker. The question was one, therefore, wholly of consideration and good faith in the parties to the transfer. There is some difference in the estimates of value, but it is found to be $3,500, and that is probably the fair value from the evidence. -The land was subject to a mortgage of $1,500. The parties were married in 1828. Shortly after the wife got from her parents some $500. This the husband had and always recognized the debt, not by written security, but " just my word."
The money was put in towards the purchase of the pjace in question in 1857. In 1872 the husband conveyed the property to his wife on the consideration of the old obligation. In 1872 he induced his wife to re-transfer it to him on the express promise to re-convey it to her on thetermin.ation of his coal business. The wife joined in .a mortgage on the property for $1,500, and this the husband had. No interest was ever paid to the wife on the old $500 loan.
Under the case of Syracuse Chilled Plow Co. v. Wing (85 N. Y., 421), the consideration was good and the transaction just and free from fraud.
The judgment should be affirmed, with costs.
Pratt. J., concurs; Dykman, J., not sitting.