46 N.Y.S. 715 | N.Y. Sup. Ct. | 1897
In the year 1891, Blanche Hauel de Logerot, wife of Richard de Logerot, was the owner of the buildings at the corner of Fifth avenue and Eighteenth street, in the city of New York, known as “ Hotel de Logerot.” Richard de Logerot was the proprietor of said hotel, and Blanche Hauel de Logerot lived at the hotel part of the time.
On the 22d day of July, 1891, Ludwig Baumann, doing business in the name of Baumann Brothers, entered into a written agreement with Richard de Logerot and Blanche Hauel de Logerot, by which agreement Ludwig Baumann, in consideration of $4,500, agreed to furnish the three uppei* floors, halls and stairs of the house, No. 124 Fifth avenue, as annexed to Hotel de Logerot, in accordance with the schedule annexed to said agreement. Richard de Logerot and Blanche Hauel de Logerot agreed to pay for said furnishings as provided in said agreement, and said agreement further provided that “ The parties of the second part (Richard de Logerot and Blanche Hauel de Logerot) also promise and agree to effect and maintain fire insurance upon said furniture and other merchandise, according to the value as stated above, and to maintain the same in a sliding scale of reduction as the payments hereinbefore provided for are made, and to deliver the policies therefor to the party of the first part (Ludwig Baumann); it being understood and agreed that . the title to said furniture and other merchandise remains in the party of the first part until the aforesaid sums and interest shall he fully paid.” The payments provided for in said agreement were all made prior to the commencement of this action. On or about the 31st day of August, 1893, Richard de Logerot made a general assignment to George W. Guión for the benefit of his creditors. In the schedules filed by the assignee and signed by the assignor is included the furniture purchased as stated under the agreement in writing of July 22, 1891. Richard de Logerot and Blanche Hauel de Logerot had purchased other furniture from Ludwig Baumann and had given their promissory notes therefor,
Husband and wife may hold personal property in common. Kaufmann v. Schoeffel, 46 Hun, 571; Matter of Albrecht, 136 N. Y. 91. Where a conveyance or agreement of sale to two or more persons does not state the interest of each their interests are presumed to be equal. Campau v. Campau, 44 Mich. 31.
Under the agreement of July 22, 1891, Richard de Logerot and Blanche Hauel de Logerot became the owners of the personal property mentioned in the agreement, as tenants in common, in equal shares, subject to the title remaining in Ludwig Baumann for his security, until the payment of the purchase price, as provided by the agreement. The purchase price having been paid as provided by the agreement the title vested in them. Richard de Logerot had no right or authority to sell the interest or share of his wife by virtue of his being an owner with her as tenant in common, and there is no pretense that he ever sold or claimed to sell the share of his wife in such property by virtue ‘of his power of attorney from her.
In the absence of some agreement subsequent to July 22, 1891, the possession of Richard de Logerot and of his assignee after his assignment, does not create any presumption of exclusive ownership in them. The general assignment of Richard de Logerot vested in the defendant as such assignee, the right, title and interest of Richard de Logerot, and the sale under the executions vested in the plaintiff the right, title and interest of Blanche Hauel de Logerot -in the personal property in question, and the-plaintiff and defendant thus became equal owners thereof as tenants in common. The rule that the formalities in forced alienations like the levy and sale in this case are to be strictly observed, is intended for the benefit of the defendant in the execution and the purchaser. It does not appear that the plaintiff had any knowledge of the formal notice of sale or of its contents, and there was no irregularity in' the levy and sale of which the defendant in this action can complain. The property was of such a character as not to be readily divisible, except by agreement between the parties, and they were unable to come to any agreement in regard to a division or sale. As the property was not in its nature separable this action in equity is the proper remedy, and the fact that the property at the commencement of this action was in the exclusive possession of the defendant will not defeat the
Under an agreement by the parties to this action, subsequent to the commencement of the action, the property was actually sold, and the proceeds, amounting to $3,652.06, were deposited on the 11th day of April, 1894, in the New York Security & Trust Company to the credit of this action, to stand in lieu of the property and subject to the further order or judgment of this court.
The plaintiff is entitled to judgment declaring that the property mentioned in the complaint was and the proceeds thereof is the ■ property of the parties hereto in equal shares, and directing the New York Security & Trust Company to pay over such fund, together with any accumulated interest thereon accordingly. ' Costs of this action are awarded to the plaintiff,, payable out of the said fund prior to said division.
Ordered accordingly.'