Churchill & Alden Co. v. Ramsey

172 N.W. 779 | S.D. | 1919

POLLEY, J.

This action was brought to set aside and cancel a deed, executed by the defendant W. H. Ramsey, purporting to convey to defendant Ella B. Ramsey the title to two building lots in the city of 'Sioux Falls. Defendants are husband and wife. The court made findings of fact to the effect that the conveyance was fraudulent, and entered judgment canceling and annulling said deed.

The defendants, contending that the evidence is insufficient to support the finding’s of fact, appeal to this court.

[1] At the trial, the plaintiff called both of the defendants to the stand for cross-examination under the statute. This was objected to on the ground that it was compelling husband and wife to testify against each other without the other’s consent, and violated the provisions of section 486, Code of Civ. Pro. (section 2717, Rev. Code 1919). This section reads, in part, as follows:

“A husband cannot be examined for or against his wife without her consent; nor a wife for or against her husband without his consent.”

Under the facts as they appeared at the time the objection was made, the objection was well taken as to the defendant W. H. Ramsey, and as to him' should have been sustained. But the objection was properly overruled as to the defendant Ella B. Ramsey. According to defendants’ theory of the case, the property involved had been conveyed to Mrs. Ramsey by W. H. Ramsey for a good and valuable consideration. Therefore she was the absolute owner of the property, and' he had no interest whatever in the controversy. The result is that Mrs. Ramsey was not testifying against her husband, but against herself only, and her testimony was not incompetent under the quoted portion of the statute. On the other hand, W. H. Ramsey, having no interest in the result of the suit, was not testifying against himself, but was testifying against his wife; and his testimony should have been excluded.

Disregarding' the testimony-of W. H. Ramsey, the facts as they appear from the testimony of Mrs. Ramsey are as follows: On or prior to 1896, defendants resided in Sioux Falls, occupying a home, title to which stood in the name of W. H. Ramsey. Some time during that year he deeded said home to his wife. At that time he was engaged in the shoe business in iSioux Falls, and does not appear to have been indebted to any one. He continued in this business in Sioux Falls until some time during the year 1910, when he removed such business to Minneapolis, where he continued to run it until the month of August, 1912. He then traded such business for a quarter section of land in Kidder county, N. D. In 1907 the home that had been deeded to Mrs. Ramsey in 1896 was sold for $3,400. This sum of money was turned over to W. H. Ramsey, and by him used in his said shoe business. No note or other evidence of indebtedness was given to Mrs. Ramsey. for this money, nor was there any time fixed whep it should be repaid to her; but she testified that there was an understanding between them that, at some future date, this money should be used to purchase another home. During all of the above times the defendant' W. H. Ramsey was the owner of the two lots involved in this action. On the 12th day of July, 1912, by a quitclaim deed, he conveyed his equity in said lots to his wife, Ella B. Ramsey. No consideration passed from her for this conveyance at the time it was made, and the only consideration that she claimed ever passed from her for such conveyance is the $3,400 that was received for the home in 1907 and put into defendant’s shoe business at that time.

Mrs. 'Ramsey testified that, when she took the deed to the said lots, she did not do it in an endeavor to hinder, delay, or defraud plaintiff, or any other creditor of Mr. Ramsey. She admitted that she knew, at that time, that he was indebted to plaintiff, but testified, that she did not know how much.

[2] If W. H. Ramsey disposed of 'his full stock and the lots in question with intent to hinder, delay, or defraud his creditors, and his wife had knowledge of such design, or, if she had sufficient knowledge to put her upon inquiry, then the conveyance was fraudulent, and should be set aside. But, in the absence of W. H. Ramsey’s testimony, there is- no evidence to show that he intended to defraud any of his creditors; nor were the circumstances such as to put his -wife upon inquiry or to charge her with notice. Mrs. Ramsey’s testimony showed that she paid a fair price for the conveyance, and this testimony was not disputed. In the absence of some evidence to overcome the' testimony of Mrs. Ramsey, there is nothing to show a fraudulent intent, and the finding of the court that the conveyance was fraudulent and without consideration is not supported by the evidence.

The judgment appealed from is reversed.