Court Opinion

ID: 7157891
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-07-24 16:13:30.87592+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T16:15:17.425657
License: Public Domain

Porter, J.,
delivered the opinion of the court.
In August, 1826, the plaintiff commenced an action against the defendant, for a separation of property, which, in April, 1827, ripened into a final judgement. By this judgement, certain specific objects, brought by her into marriage, were set apart for her use, and a further claim of six hundred and seventy-two dollars, which, she advanced for money received by the defendant, was directed to be cumulated with suits which the creditors of the husband had commenced against him. The decree conferred on the plaintiff the administration of her own affairs, and inhibited the defendant from inter-meddling with it.
The petitioner in this case states that the judgement rendered in the suit just alluded to, never had been carried into execution, nor could it be enforced, as it was not executed at the time as the law directs; that various creditors have, since its rendition, taken out executions against her husband, whose affairs are in the utmost disorder; and that she fears property will not be left to satisfy her demand.
She prays a judgement which may definitively settle the amount due to her; that it be rendered contradictorily with the seizing creditors, and that she be declared a mortgaged and privileged creditor, for the amount due to her.
The creditors appeared and answered this petition, and charged the plaintiff with fraud and collusion, in not carrying into effect the former decree of separation, obtained by her, and in permitting the husband to administer her estate and *442remove it out of the jurisdiction of the court and the courts of the United States, viz: into the province of Texas.
Where the wife has obtained judgement against her husband, setting apart certain property as hers exclusively, but givesno power to issue execution to enforce her claim; if the husband afterwards carries off the property, his creditors cannot charge her with fraud and collusion arising from the fact that the property was suffered to remain in the Eower of the usband, and compel her to follow the property out of the jurisdiction of the U. States, to enforce her judgement claim.
They joined to this averment of fraud, a general denial of all the matters and things set out in the petition.
The cause came on for trial on these issues. The court considered, that in addition to the specific objects brought by the plaintiff into marriage, there had been received by the husband, six hundred and sixty-five dollars and fifty cents, and gave judgement accordingly. But considering the fraud gnd collusion to be established, it decreed she should enforce her judgement on the cattle in the province of Texas, before she levied on any within this state.
There is not any, the slightest evidence of fraud, appearing on the evidence sent up in the record, save that which may be presumed from the plaintiff’s not prosecuting her claim more promptly against her husband. But the first judgement did not enable her to issue execution against him; it did nothing more than set aside specific objects as her property, and directed her claim for money to be cumulated with the suits of the creditors. Before this action was tried, or could be tried in the course of legal proceedings, the husband removed the cattle to Texas.
Unwilling as we are to place our conclusions in a case of this kind in opposition to the judge who tried the cause below, we do not see how the conclusion of fraud can be drawn from the circumstance, that she did not take out an injunction to prevent the property being removed. It is not even shown she knew of his intention to take it away. The creditors in this case are as open as she is to the imputation; for it was as fraudulent in them not to arrest the property, as it was in her to fail to do it.
It is, therefore, ordered, adjudged, and decreed, that the judgement of the District Court be annulled and reversed, jn so much as it prohibits the plaintiff from taking out execution in this state, until she discusses the property in the province of Texas, and that it be affirmed for the remainder; *443and it is further ordered, that the appellees pay costs in both courts.
Simon, for plaintiff. Brownson, for defendant.