Court Opinion

ID: 6311249
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-02-18 20:15:44.002953+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:59:04.921882
License: Public Domain

Per Curiam.
Benjamin and Joseph Taylor purchased the pre. *358mjses from Dinkle and gave bond for the purchase money, 50 dollars of which were actually paid by Joseph. Dinkle conveyed the title to Keller,-who gave bond to the purchasers to convey to them on payment being made by them to Dinkle. Keller wishing to leave the country and get rid of the trust, conveyed to Hays on the same trusts, who conveyed, not exactly to the original purchasers, but to Benjamin and Isaac Taylor; shortly after which, Joseph who had been present at the conveyance to Isaac, and made no objection to it, delivered up Keller’s bond for the title. Now as the 'legal estate was convpyed away from Joseph, it is evident that unless Isaac received it on a secret trust for Joseph, a recovery in this action would be adverse to his interest. What evidence is there, then, of such a trust ? Nothing but the naked fact of payment by Joseph of an insignificant portion of the purchase money as an original party to the contract of purchase. But he may have parted with the beneficial interest; and the presumption from payment, of an abiding interest in him, was rebutted by his acquiescence in the conveyance to another, and by the counter presumption which the law raises in favour of the fairness and honesty of the transaction. But granting that to be otherwise, the presumption is inconclusive, and one of mere fact. The court might have referred it to the jury, had they thought proper to do so; but they had a right to determine it for themselves, and who can say they determined it erroneously? I will not say that this court may not reverse for error of fact in a question of competency, but it will be conceded that it ought not to do so except on the clearest and most satisfactory evidence-; and as we are not to reverse in any case for” less than palpable error, U multo fortiori we ought not to do so in a case likfe the present.
Judgment affirmed.