Court Opinion

ID: 6538955
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-07-19 22:14:01.585435+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T15:55:45.447890
License: Public Domain

Opinion of Mr. Justice Rector: At the May term of the Hempstead Circuit Court, appellant, Brittin, recovered ajudgment against appellee, Crabtree, on a promissory note, given by Crabtree to him, in the sum of $691 41, together with damages, costs, etc. Execution followed the judgment — property levied on, etc— when Crabtree, having reserved his equity at the trial, filed his bill with prayer for injunction, making William W. Andrews a party, and alleging fraudulent inducements held out by Andrews in obtaining his signature thereto. Which instrument is in the following words and figures, as appears from a copy appended to complainant’s bill, and made a part thereof: $691 41. Washington, March 25th, 1851. On or before the first day of January next, 1852, we promise to pay Benj. L. Brittin, or order, six hundred and ninety-one dollars and forty-one cents, with ten per cent, interest from date until paid, for value received. Witness our hands and seals. [Seal.] WM. CRABTREE, [Seal.] Which note bears the following credit or endorsement: Received July 7th, 1851, from Wm. Crabtree, seventy-five dollars on the within note, also $1,88 — -76 88. Appellants demurred to the bill — for equity — demurrer overruled, and appellants answered on the merits, and upon final hearing, the Chancellor decreed perpetual injunction, the can cellation of the note, and Brittin and Andrews appealed. The bill alleges that the execution of the note sued on was obtained by fraudulent representations made to complainant by Andrews. That Andrews, on presentingAhe note for his signature, informed him that he did so at the request of James D. Cobb, his father-in-law: that Cobb was desirous of leaving the State, and wished his store account wdth Benjamin L. Brittin, settled up; and that in signing the same, he, Crabtree, would incur only a nominal responsibility, as Cobb would shortly discharge the same, and that he would not be called on for the money, etc., etc. That, with these assurances and representations, notwithstanding the fact that the note was a joint one, he signed the same, supposing that Cobb had requested him so to do, etc. That shortly subsequent, however, Cobb came to him and assured him of the utter falsity of the statements of Andrews, and that he, Cobb, had made no such request. But on the contrary, had refused to sign the note himself, because that the amounts formerly due by him to Brittin, had all been liquidated and settled. The bill further shows that the said James D. Cobb'had been for several years previous in the employment of the Trustees of the Male and Female Academy, at Washington, Arkansas, as superintendent and teacher, and that said Trustees, at the expiration of said Cobb’s service, were indebted to him in the sum of one thousand dollars. That payment was delayed, suit instituted in the Hempstead Circuit Court, and judgment obtained for the amount. That afterwards, in payment of said judgment, said Trus. tees assumed the paj^ment of Cobb’s indebtedness to Brittin; and that divers individual notes, amounting to $750, or more, were turned over by the Trustees to Brittin. That said notes were upon solvent men, and that Brittin collected some of the money due on the notes, the notes uncollected still remaining in his possession. And that in consummation of this arrangement, Cobb, by his attorney, entered satisfaction of the judgment against the Trustees: And Crabtree alleges that he had no notice of this arrangement, by the Trustees, to pay Brittin Cobb’s debt, until after he signed the note, else he should not have done so. He further states that so soon as he was informed by Cobb of the fraud practiced upon him by Andrews, that he notified Andrews that he would not pay the note signed by him. Crabtree denies that he paid the $76,88, credited on the note or that he acknowledged the justice of the note in any way. These' are the facts set out in the bill, but by no means admittecl in the answers. Indeed the parties are so wide asunder that it is difficult to find a resting place between them. Andrews says that he was and is still a silent partner of Brit-tin in the mercantile establishment: and that he obtained the signature of Crabtree to the note, but under circumstances entirely different from those stated by the appellee. Brittin and himself, in their answers, state that James 1). Cobb — the father-in-law of Crabtree, wished to take up goods in their store for the use of his family, etc. But that in consequence of the inability of Cobb to pay, he being in low circumstances, pecuniarily, they declined to extend him credit — when Crabtree agreed to become reponsible to them for such articles as Cobb and family might need. And that accordingly goods were furnished from time to time, together with $75 cash, loaned to Cobb, which was also at the instance of Crabtree. Which account for goods furnished and cash loaned, amounted to $691 41, for which the note in question was taken, with full knowledge of Crabtree as to the state of the accounts of C°bb, and in the absence of all fraud, etc. That suit was instituted as alleged in bill and judgment obtained, etc. They admit the receipt of the notes turned overby the Trustees, but insist that they were not taken as payment, but only as collaterals. That a small amount was realized from the notes, after great diligence, which was credited to Cobb in former accounts, etc. That the notes being given for the erection of a College House, and the house being abandoned by the Trustees, the notes were without consideration, and could not be collected. And that amongst the notes turned over, was one on Crabtree himself, for $300, which he refused to pay, etc. That the $76 88 credited on Crabtree’s note was paid by James Cobb for his father, and that they placed the credit on the note sued on, as they were bound to do, etc. The depositions of Grandison D. Royston and J. S. Britt, were taken on the part of the appellants, and those of James E. and James D. Cobb, on the part of appellees. Britt deposes that he was the clerk of Brittin & Andrews, when the goods were sold, and money loaned to James D. Cobb. And that the bill, according to the books of the establishment, amounted to a sum corresponding with the amount of the note given by Crabtree. That James D. Cobb was without means, and that Crabtree became liable for. his purchases, as he understood and was informed by his employers. But that he heard nothing from Crabtree to that effect. Royston discloses that Brittin consulted with him as an attorney, as to the probability of collecting the notes turned over by the trustees, and that he gave it as his opinion that they could not be collected by law, and that such was the opinion of many members of the bar at Washington. James D. Cobb deposes that he made a positive arrange ment with Brittin, to take the notes spoken of’ as payment of his indebtedness. That the notes exceeded his accounts with Brittin, and that it was agreed that Brittin was to pay him for the excess $200, in money, and the remainder in goods. That the notes were delivered by the trustees to Brittin, and amounted to $762 28. He says, as to the execution of the note for $691 41 by Crabtree to Brittin: he cannot even guess how Crabtree came to sign it, because he had previously informed Crabtree that his indebtedness to Brittin was settled. That about March, 1851. Andrews agreed to loan him $100, and that Crabtree was-to become his security % That about that time Andrews called him up into his counting room, and presented a note for him to sign, and stated that it was the note for the $100 loaned money. But upon examination he found it to be the note signed by Crabtree, for $691 41 and that he refused to sign it, etc. That afterwards, he did borrow seventy-five dollars from Andrews, and gave his note for it, with Crabtree as security. That, in the summer of 1851, he transmitted from the city of Washington, to his wife, then in Washington, Arkansas, funds for the payment of the $75 loaned him by Andrews. That the assumpsit by Crabtree to Brittin, for him, was a verbal one, etc., etc. And that he is not bound to indemnify Crabtree, in case of the recovery by Brittin, and in all respects disinterested in the result of the suit between Brittin and Crabtree. The evidence of James E. Cobb is, that in the summer of 3851, his mother gave him an eastern draft to pay a note or notes, in the hands of Brittin, against his father, James D.— That he accordingly paid $76 88, on a note for $75, signed by his father and Crabtree. And that Andrews then drew another note of his father’s, given to aman in Clark county, for a horse; which Brittin & Andrews had traded for, which he also paid. That the two notes were delivered to him, etc., but does not know whether he destroyed them, or what became of them. The first ground of defence occupied by the appellant is, that a defence at law was entirely adequate to the rights of Crab-tree, and that his bill does not show a state of facts justifying the interposition of a Court of Chancery. It is indeed difficult, in many cases, to draw the line of demarcation attempted to be recognized and perpetuated between the exercise of chancery and common law jurisdiction; and very much must depend, at last, upon the sound discretion of the •Chancellor. The general rule seems to be, however, that unless a court ■of law can dispense ample and complete justice, and attain the ■ends as well of morality as of legal right, a court of equity may, and ought of duty, to interfere. .It is argued in this case that a plea putting in issue the verity of the note if fraudulent, would defeat its collection. And of this, particularly under our •statute, I entertain no doubt. But to defeat an action brought upon the instrument, would only be one step taken by Crabtree for his security, for future ■exigencies might require him to go much further, and beyond this a court of law is found powerless — it can give no indemnity for the past, nor security for the future. For although no recovery is had, and the first action may be plead in bar of a second, still the note is in existence, and may in various ways, subject the maker to harrassment, pecuniary and moral. The object of the bill is not only to prevent the collection of the note, but to obtain its cancellation, and blot it out of existence, as it ought to be if obtained by collusion and fraud. To ascertain its invalidity and fraudulent intent, and nevertheless procrastinate its existence, which is all a court of law could do, would not so well subserve the ends of justice — the rights of Crabtree, nor public morals; as to procure its annihilation by a Court of Chancery, if it really exists by fraudulent procurement. If it was obtained by dishonesty, it not only ought not to be collected, but can, by its future preservation, answer neither private nor public good. In the case of Hamilton vs. Cummings, 1st Johnson's Ch. R. 517, this question was examined at length by Chancellor Kent, from which high authority, corroborated by the cases therein cited, I feel fully warranted in saying that a court of equity has a right, and ought to take cognizance of such cases as the one before us. In Bromley vs. Holland, 7 Vesey, 3, Lord Eldon, holding in favor of the exercise of Chancery power, in such like cases, remarks, “ That it was not unwholesome that an instrument should be delivered up, upon which a demand may be vexatiously made, as often as the purpose of vexation may urge the party to make it.” And he seemed to think that the question had become settled by a series of decisions, in favor of the authority of the Court to direct instruments to be delivered up though they might be void at law. In Hamilton vs. Cummings, and other cases referred to by Mr. Kent, no recovery had been sought thus far on the instrument, but were only held in terrorem to the annoyance of the parties, cripling their credit, and preventing a safe and final settlement of estates. In the case before us, protection from some quarter is imperiously demanded, to prevent an unrighteous execution of a judgment, obtained, as alleged by complainant below, upon an instrument grossly fraudulent, and utterly subversive of every principle of honesty and-fair dealing. I think then that Crabtree might well elect upon the face of his bill to call into requisition the aid of a chancellor to enquire of the truth or falsity of his allegations against Andrews & Brittin, the appellants. It remaining still necessary for his relief that he should make out his case from the facts disclosed in the pleadings and evidence. The bill and answers, it is not difficult to see, are upon the material facts totally repugnant and contradictory. The latter, as between the two, taking precedence, the remaining question is, does the proof countervail the answer, and support the allegations in the bill. The testimony of James D. Cobb is, that Brittin took the notes turned over by the trustees as payment. And whether an assignment would, in law, constitute payment or not, is immaterial, if such was indeed the contract— they must in this case be so regarded, and cannot be treated as collaterals; for Brittin had as well a right to take notes as money for his debt, orto take nothing at all if he chose. But neither of the other witnesses touch this point in the case directly; and the familiar rule being that an answer under oath, unless contradicted by two witnesses, or one witness strongly corroborated by circumstances, must prevail, let us enquire if the circumstances are to be found in the record sustaining the declarations of James D. Cobb. And these circumstances may as well be deduced from the answer itself, as from others of the pleadings. As, for instance, no presumption can be indulged in favor of an answer that is inconsistent or self-contradictoiy. The appellants set out with the proposition that the goods and moneys furnished to Cobb, was upon the exclusive responsibility of Crabtree — in so much as Cobb was a man of no pecuniary responsibility whatever, and that his name or signature was worth no more than a piece of blank paper. That Crabtree directed them to let Cobb have what goods he wanted, and that he would pay for them. That preceding the execution of the note by Crabtree they showed the accounts of Cobb to Crabtree, and he agreed to give his own obligation in paj'ment of them. Observing these statements of appellants, how poorly are they corroborated by the fact, that the obligation prepared in liquidation of Cobb’s accounts and signed by Crabtree, was a joint obligation, contemplating the importance of the signature of Cobb, and which Cobb says he was afterwards requested to sign, but refused. Certain it is, also, by their own admissions, that they had looked to Cobb for payment, and not exclusively to Crabtree, by receiving, even as collaterals, the notes turned over by the Trustees. Besides this, the answer is put under the ban of suspicion by its declarations in another particular. It states that the $75 cash borrowed, made up a portion of Cobb’s account, for which Crabtree gave his note, whilst it is manifest from the testimony of the Cobbs that a separate note was given for that amount, with Crabtree as security. James D. Cobb says that the seventy-five dollars was obtained by him from Andrews after Crabtree had executed the note for $091 41. James E. Cobb testifies that he paid the seventy-five dollars borrowed money in the summer of 1851, and took up the note ■with Crabtree as security. Then it is clear that if these statements reflect the truth, as to the $75 item, it could not have been properly included in the note given by Crabtree to Brittin; because the money was subsequently obtained, and a separate obligation taken. But if on the other hand, the money was obtained before the execution of the $G91 41 note, then it was not proper that Crabtree should give his note again for moneys included in a former obligation, and for this reason, putting all others out of view, the note sued on by Brittin must be held fraudulent and void. Beside this, the appellants assuming that the name of James D. Cobb was utterly worthless in a pecuniary point of view, is not sustained very well in the fact that they had traded for an outstanding note on Cobb, belonging to another party, and demanded and received payment for the same. Thus the circumstances corroborating the testimony of the single witness, James D. Cobb, and deduced from appellants’ answer, is sufficient in our opinion to countervail the facts made in the answer, and support, in a sufficient degree, the allegations of complainant’s bill:, that the note for $691 41 was obtained by fraudulent pretence and misrepresentation. And, in this view of the case, it becomes wholly immaterial whether Crabtree assumed to pay Cobb’s debt or not; he cannot be held to answer upon two obligations for the same amount. Nor is it material whether the Academy notes taken by Brit-tin from Cobb were regarded as collaterals or payment, the result as to the note now in question must be the same. Objection is urged by appellants against the admissibility of James D. Cobb’s testimony, upon the ground of interest in the present suit. But I think without grounds to sustain it: because, if for no other reason, lapse of time would preclude a recovery against him by Crabtree.