Brown v. Perrault

51 P. 752 | Idaho | 1898

HESTON, J.

The appellant, as administrator of the estate of Milton Kelly, deceased, brings action to subject to administration certain property alleged to have been conveyed by tbe ■decedent in his lifetime to Ms daughter, one of the defendants, in fraud of creditors. It is conceded by plaintiff that there was no intent of fraud by the decedent in making the conveyance, but he contends that the presumption of fraud arises from the fact that at the time decedent made the conveyance in question he was indebted to a considerable amount. About the facts in the case there does not seem to be any contention. The only question raised by the counsel for appellant, or insisted upon by them in their briefs and argument, depends upon the construction of section 3019, of the Revised Statutes of Idaho, which is as follows: “All deeds of gift, all conveyances and all transfers or assignments, verbal or written, of goods, chattels or things in action, made in trust, for the use of the person making the same, are void as against the creditors existing or subsequent of such person.” It is not contended that there is any “deed of gift, conveyance, transfer or assignment, verbal or written, of goods, chattels or tMngs in action, made in trust,” or otherwise, involved in this action, except that counsel for appellant insists that the words “deed of gift,” in this section of the statute, refer to or include a deed of gift of real property not made in trust, and admitted to have been made without any intention to defraud anyone. Our stattue (Rev. Stats., sec. 3022) says that, except in the eases provided in section 3021, “the question of fraudulent intent is one of fact, and not of law.” How can it be claimed that this case, the facts in which do not bring it within the exceptions of section 3021 of the Revised Statutes, is one of fraudulent intent?

The plaintiff brought his action under the provisions of section 5558 of the Revised Statutes, which section provides, inter <alia, that “when there is a deficiency of assets in the hands of an executor or administrator, and when the decedent in his lifetime has conveyed any real estate or any rights or interest therein with intent to defraud his creditors, or avoid any right, debt or duty of any person,” etc., the same shall be void. There is neither claim nor pretense that the decedent, in making the conveyance in question, had any intent to defraud anyone. He •conveyed the property to his daughter, and the schedule of indebtedness of the decedent shows that, out of $5,954.06 of such indebtedness, $5,348.28 is made up of claims of contesting heirs. Accepting appellant’s statement of his case, we are unable to find any merit whatever in the appeal. The action cannot be sustained under the provisions of section 5558 of the Revised Statutes, and section 3019 cannot be made applicable, by any recognized rule of construction, either legal, logical, grammatical, or otherwise. The judgment of the district court is affirmed. Costs awarded to respondents.

Sullivan, C. J., and Quarles, J., concur.