Case Name: Martin, Appellant, vs. Remington and wife, Respondents
Court: Wisconsin Supreme Court
Jurisdiction: Wisconsin
Decision Date: 1898-10-11
Citations: 100 Wis. 540
Docket Number: 
Parties: Martin, Appellant, vs. Remington and wife, Respondents.
Judges: 
Reporter: Wisconsin Reports
Volume: 100
Pages: 540–548

Head Matter:
Martin, Appellant, vs. Remington and wife, Respondents.
September 20
October 11, 1898.
Debtor and creditor: Conveyance by husband to wife: Consideration: Resulting trust: Agency.
1. A city lot was purchased and improved with money from the separate estate of a married woman, but the title was taken in the name of her husband. Afterwards, acting through her husband as agent, she traded said lot for other land, receiving some cash, and this, with other money belonging to her separate estate, was invested in speculative purchases of real estate which resulted in large profits, the husband investing no money of his own, but tak-' ing the title to the several parcels in his own name for convenience, until finally he conveyed to the wife the lands which were the outcome of the various transactions. Held, that prior to the statute (sec. 2077, R. S. 1878), there would have been a valid resulting trust in favor of the wife in each of the various parcels of land so held by the husband, and, although such trusts have been abolished, yet his conveyance in execution thereof was founded upon a sufficient consideration and, in the absence of fraud, is valid even as against his creditors.
2. The increment of a wife’s property due to the sagacity and industry of her husband cannot be reached by his creditors.
Appeal from a judgment of the superior court of Milwaukee county: Geo. E. Süthebland, Judge.
Affirmed.
This is an action in the nature of a creditors’ hill to set aside certain conveyances of real estate made by the defendant Alvah Remington to his wife, as frauds upon creditors. The facts were that on the 19th of October, 1892, Afoiah, with others, guaranteed the payment of a note and mortgage given by a real-estate company upon certain lands in the town of Lake for the sum of $9,000, and the plaintiff thereupon purchased the same. On the 5th of June, 1895, the plaintiff commenced an action of foreclosure of said mortgage, making Remington a defendant, and claiming a personal judgment against him and the other guarantors for any deficiency, and the summons was on that day served upon the defendant Marion Remington, Abah not being found. Thereafter judgment of foreclosure was duly obtained, and the real estate sold, and on the 2d of February, 1897, the plaintiff obtained judgment for deficiency against Abah as guarantor for the sum of $8,787.11. Upon this judgment execution was issued and returned unsatisfied, and this action was commenced.
On the 5th of June, 1895, being the same day upon which the foreclosure action was commenced, Abah deeded to Marion a house and lot on Marshall street, in the city of Milwaukee (hereafter known as the Marshall street property), also certain lots in Kneeland’s addition in said city, no consideration for such transfer being paid by Marion at the time. Abah had practically no other property at the time of the 'transfer, and the conveyance thus made him insolvent. In 1896, Marion sold the Kneeland’s addition property, receiving a mortgage of $6,000 thereon and certain other real estate in exchange, and she made other transfers of such real estate, which finally resulted in her obtaining title to four lots in Cambridge addition, in the Eighteenth ward of the city of Milwaukee, and subject to a mortgage of $3,000 thereon. In October, 1896, she mortgaged the Marshall street property for $3,500.
The plaintiff’s claim is that the transfers of June 5, 1895, were entirely without consideration and fraudulent as to creditors. On the other hand, the defendants claim that this property was all in fact the separate property of Marion, resulting from an original investment of $1,900, and that it was held by Abah for convenience only and in trust for her benefit, and that the conveyance thereof was simply made to carry out that trust, with no intent to defraud Abah's creditors.
The evidence further showed that the parties were married in 1887, Abah then being employed at a salary of $60 per month, and being without property, and that Marion then had $500, which she had theretofore earned. In April, 1889, Alvah arranged with one Stone to buy two lots in a town plat called “ Idle wild Ho. 2,” in the town of Milwaukee, outside of the city limits, for the purpose of building a house and making a homestead thereon. The lots were supposed to be worth $2,000, but were sold to Remington for $1,000, in consideration that he would build a house and live thereon. In payment of the $1,000, Stone took Alvah’s note, indorsed by Marion and Mrs. Connolly, her mother. The deed was made out in Alvah’s name, and the land was thereupon mortgaged by Alvah and his wife to a third person, with the proceeds of which mortgage and the $500 possessed by Marion the house was built. The $1,000 note was afterwards paid by Mrs. Connolly, as she claims for the benefit of her daughter and as an advancement to her. The evidence does not show that anything was said between the parties as to how or under what understanding Alvah should hold the title to the property, and the fact seems to be that Stone caused the deed to be made direct to Alvah on his own motion. Ho note or evidence of indebtedness was given by Alvah at any time for either the $1,000 or the $500, nor was any such thing afterwards asked or talked about.
The evidence tends to show that Marion, in September, 1890, received $400 from her father’s estate, and that it was used in the real-estate transactions hereafter mentioned, and with no arrangement or understanding as to its repayment. In December, 1890, the Idlewild lots were sold for $500 cash and the equity in five other lots in the same locality. In January, 1891, there commenced a series of real-estate transactions conducted by Remington in his own name by which large profits were made, and Marion claims that the money used in these transactions was all of it either a part of the $1,900 of her separate estate or the fruits thereof. In January, 1891, ten acres were purchased upon contract in the village of ‘Whitefish Bay and $700 paid thereon, which ten acres were 'shortly afterwards disposed of at a profit of $2,340. In January, 1891, two of the Idlewild lots were exchanged for a house and four lots in the village of "VYhitefish Bay, known as the Lawndale property, which then became the homestead of the parties. In July, 1891, $1,000 was paid as first payment upon another ten acres of land in "Whitefish Bay, which, in October, 1891, were sold to a real-estate company, and a second mortgage of $7,500 received by AT/oah in payment. In all the transactions before named the title to the premises was taken and held by AT/oah, and the mortgage of $7,500 ran to him, and Alvah in fact conducted all the business after consulting with his wife.
Alvah held the $7,500 mortgage in his own name on the records until March 29,1894, when he made and recorded a nominal assignment thereof to one Martz, which assignment was made simply to escape taxation, and on the same day Martz reassigned the mortgage to Remington, such reassignment not being recorded. On the 30th of March, 1894, Alvah signed an assignment of said mortgage to Marion; but it does not appear that said assignment was ever delivered, nor was said assignment acknowledged until October 10,. 1894, when Almah bought of one Bingham the Marshall street property, and gave for such property the $7,500 mortgage, with $450 accrued interest thereon and seven months? use of the premises. The title to the Marshall street property was taken in the name of Alvah, and so remained until the transfer of June 5,1895. In December, 1893, the Lawn-dale house and lots were exchanged for the property in Kneeland’s addition, and the title thereto taken in the name of Alvah. Thus the property stood when the conveyances, which are attacked in this action were made.
The court found that Marion had a separate estate (including the $1,000 advanced by her mother) of $1,900, and that, in making the various purchases and exchanges of property, Alvah transacted the larger part of the business as an. agent of Marion, and that title was taken in the name of Alvah for the use and benefit of Ma/rion, the consideration being in each instance paid by Marion out of her separate estate; and that the conveyances of dune 5, 1895, were made for the purpose only of carrying out the trust arranged theretofore and recognized as existing between the defendants, and not for the purpose of hindering, delaying, and defrauding any of A Ivah’s creditors; and that said conveyances were valid; and that the complaint should be dismissed. From judgment in accordance with these findings the plaintiff appeals.
For the appellant there were briefs by Math. Pereles & Sons, attorneys, and C. F. Hunter and Guy D. Goff, of counsel, and oral argument by Mr. Hunter and Mr. Goff.
They contended, mter alia, that an express promise is necessary to ■create an equity in favor of a party in a case such as this, which will justify a conveyance of property alleged to be in execution of a trust or equitable obligation. Failing such express promise, the conveyance is voluntary, and fraudulent as to existing creditors. Medsher v. Bonebrake, 108 U. S. •66, 72, 73; Atlantia Hat. Bank v. Ta/oener, 130 Mass. 407; Tower's v. Hagner, 3 Wharf. 48; Johnston’s Adm’rs v. Johnston, 1 Grant (Pa.), 468; Kutz’s Appeal, 40 Pa. St. 90; Gra-■bill v. Moyer, 45 id. 530; Babcock v. Fakler, 24 N. Y. 623; Savage v. O’Neil, 44 id. 298; Steadman v. Wilbur, 7 R. 1.481; French v. Motley, 63 Me. 326; In re Blandin, 1 Lowell, 543; Hyde v. Chapman, 33 Wis. 391; Estate of Haner, 140 Pa. St. 420; Beecher v. Wilson, 84 Ya. 813; Bobbins v. Armsfoong, id. 810; 1 Rigelow, Fraud, 456; White v. Carpenter, 2 Paige, 238; MaCcrrollv. Alexander, 48 Miss. 128; Bostfordv. Bmr, 2 Johns. Oh. 405;- Bank v. Atkinson, 32 W. Ya. 203; Briggs (& Co.’s Bank v. Norwood, 50 Ark. 42; Besson v. Eveland, 26 IST. J. Eq. 468; Humes v. Scruggs, 94 U. S. 27; Karr v. Washburn, 56 Wis. 303; Main v. Bosworth, 77 id. 660; Be- <jole <o. Hazzamd, 81 id. 275. A husband, possessed of superior judgment and ability, cannot bestow all bis time and talents to increase bis wife’s separate estate, and allow bis legal obligations to go unpaid. Bump, Fraudulent Conveyances, 2681; (Hidden v. Taylor, 16 Ohio St. 509; Shaólcelford v. (Jollier, ’ 6 Bush, 149; Perm v.WIviteheads, 12 Gratt. 74; Wilson v. Loomis, 55 Ill. 352; Zaohmcm v. Mcarlin, 139 id. 450; Penn v. Whitehead, 17 Gratt. 527; JBoggess v. Pieha/rds’ Adrnir, 39 W. Ya. 567; Mayers v. Ka/iser, 85 Wis. 382. If a wife permits her husband to take title to her lands, hold himself out to the world as the owner of them, and contract debts on the credit of such ownership, she cannot afterwards withdraw the property from his creditors, and, by taking title to herself, defeat their claims. Hoyhims v. Joyce, 78 Wis. 443; City Wat. Bamh v. Hamilton, 34 FT. J. Eq. 162; Fox v. Moyer, 54 N. Y. 125; Besson v. F/oeland, 26 U. J. Eq. 468; Lang-ford v. Thurlly, 60 Iowa, 107; Thames v. Seruggs, 94 U. S. 27; Savage v. Mu/rjfhy, 34 FT. Y. 508; Sexton v. Wheaton, 8 Wheat. 229; Post v. Sbiger, 29 FT. J. Eq. 554; Marston v. Presen, 85 Wis. 530; Ferguson v. Hillman, 55 id. 181; Mason v. Pierron, 69 id. 585.
For the respondents there was a brief by H. K. Curtis, attorney for Marion F. Remington, and C. A. Fowler, attorney for Alwah F. Remington, and oral argument by Mr. Curtis.

Opinion:
Winslow, J.
This is a contest between the wife and a creditor of the husband as to property conveyed by the husband to the wife at the time of the commencement of an action by the creditor to recover his debt. In such case, the principle is well established that the wife has the burden of showing, by clear and satisfactory evidence, that she paid for the property out of her separate estate. Le Saulnier v. Krueger, 85 Wis. 214. The reasons for this rule are well stated in Hoxie v. Price, 31 Wis. 82, and the authorities in support of it are cited in Horton v. Dewey, 53 Wis. 410.
It is not claimed in the present case that the wife paid anything at the time of the conveyance to her of all the property standing in her husband's name, but it is claimed that the original property out of which these parcels grew was bought with her money, and that thereby there arose a resulting trust in her favor in all the property to which her husband had -record title, which trust, though not enforceable under our statutes, has now been fully executed by the husband without fraud, and forms a good consideration for the conveyances; citing Hyde v. Chapman, 33 Wis. 391; Karr v. Washburn, 56 Wis. 303; and Begole v. Hazzard, 81 Wis. 274.
The facts found by the court seem to bring the case within this doctrine. The court found that the money with which the first parcel of real estate was bought was advanced and paid by Mrs. Remington, or (which amounts to the same thing) by Mrs. Connolly for her daughter's benefit; that subsequently Mrs. Remington put $500 additional of her own money into the building of the house upon the property, thus paying all the money which was put into this place out of her separate estate; that she afterwards (acting through her husband as agent) traded this property for other property,, receiving some cash, and invested this cash with $400 received from her father's estate in the speculative purchases which afterwards followed, and which resulted in rapid and handsome profits; and that Mr. Remington invested no money of his own in these transactions, but simply took the titles of the property thus paid for by his wife's money, or its increment, in his own naipe for convenience in the handling thereof. There was undoubtedly sufficient evidence to support these findings of the court, and these facts clearly bring the case within the ancient rule in equity that where, on the purchase of property, title is taken in the name of one person while the consideration is paid by another, not by way of loan to the grantee, a trust results in favor of the person paying the consideration. Dyer v. Dyer, 1 White & T. Lead. Cas. Eq. *203, and notes. And this doctrine applies where the purchase is made by the husband with the wife's separate estate as well as where the parties are strangers. Perry, Trusts, § 127, and cases cited. This trust arose by implication of law from the fact of the advancing of the purchase money, and not by virtue of any agreement of the parties. Bartlett v. Pickersgill, 1 Eden, 515; Bigley v. Jones. 114 Pa. St. 510; Boyer v. Libey, 88 Ind. 235.
True, it may be shown by parol that the money was advanced by way of a loan or as a gift, and the supposed trust thereby defeated; but we have found no evidence in the present case that would warrant us in overruling the conclusions of the trial court on this question.
Therefore there seems no escape from the conclusion, upon the facts found by the trial court, that there would have existed, prior to the passage of sec. 2077, R. S. 1878, a valid resulting trust in the wife in the various parcels of land to' which the husband held title during the progress of the real-estate transactions shown by the evidence, and which finally merged into the two parcels of land which were conveyed by Eemington to his wife, June 5, 1895. It is true that such trusts are abolished by sec. 2077, R. S. 1878; but it is still held that if the trustee voluntarily carries out and executes the voidable trust by conveying the property, as he is morally bound to do, such conveyance will be founded upon a sufficient consideration, and, in the absence of fraud, will be valid- even as against creditors of the trustee. Hyde v. Chapman, 33 Wis. 391; Begole v. Hazzard, 81 Wis. 274. See, also, Strong v. Gordon, 96 Wis. 476.
The trial court has affirmatively found that the conveyances in this case were made in good faith and without fraudulent intent. The evidence is voluminous, and we shall not rehearse it here. While there were circumstances which have a suspicious appearance, and would, perhaps, have justified a different conclusion, we cannot say that the findings are against the weight of the evidence. Nor can it be claimed that there was a mixture or confusion of property of the husband and wife, so as to make the whole liable for the husband's debts. The findings affirmatively show that it was all the property of the wife, though managed through the agency of her husband, and there is sufficient evidence in support of this conclusion. It is certainly true in this case that the wife's property has increased very largely and rapidly, apparently through the sagacity and industry of the husband, but this court has not adopted the rule that such increment can be reached by the creditors of the husband. Mayers v. Kaiser, 85 Wis. 382; Ansorge v. Barth, 88 Wis. 553.
The final claim made by appellant is that the plaintiff purchased the note on the faith of Remington's guaranty, relying on his apparent ownership of the $7,500 mortgage and the Lawndale property, thus raising an estoppel .against the wife, as held in Hopkins v. Joyce, 78 Wis. 443. The difficulty with this contention is that the court has found, upon what seems to be sufficient evidence, that the plaintiff did not rely upon such apparent ownership.
There are no other questions raised which seem important enough to require attention.
By the Court.— Judgment affirmed.