8 Johns. 479 | N.Y. Sup. Ct. | 1811
The principal question is, whethe deed from Cox to Bryant is not void. It was executed bn the 14th July, 1810. It was a quitclaim deed^ and for the consideration of 300 dollars-, and it purported to convey lands -worth 2,500 dollars. A verdict in ejecthierit for the lands in question, had passed against Cox-, at the circuit court, in June-, preceding the sale, and -Bryant, at the time of the purchase, knew of the trial and verdict.
Upon these facts, we consider the deed tó be void, under the act to prevent and punish champerty and maintenance. (Laws, vol. 1. 343.) The first section declares, “ that no officer or other person shall "take Upon him any business that is or may be in shit in any court, for to have part of the thing in plea or dehiahd, and no person upon any such agreement shall give Up his right to another, and every such conveyance or agreement shall be void.” This provision contains the substance of the English statutes of West. 1. c. 25. West. 2. c. 49. and 28 Edw. 1. c. 11. on this very point. The statute of West. 1. enacted that no officer, See. should maintain pleas, &c. hanging in the king's courts for lands, he. for to have part or profit thereof, by covenant made, &c. The statute of West. 2. extended also to the public officers of justice ; but the 28 Ediv. I. enacted that no officer nor any other, for to have part ofthé thing in plea, should take upon him the business that is in suit, nor upon any such covenant shall give up his right to another, he. Our .statute is nearly verbatim with the last, which also ehxbraced the substance of the other two, and it undoubtedly never meant to weaken the force, or destroy the application of the decisions under those ancient statutes, and which had become incorporated into the body of the common law. Our act has even a more explicit provision than these English statutes, when it declares, “ that every such conveyance and agreement shall be void.” The established doctrine, under these statutes, is,
The present case is stronger than any to be met with in the books. It is too gross and palpable a violation of the statute, to uphold a doubt as to the malafdes of the transaction. The purchase and quitclaim, for less than one eighth of the value of the land, and after the knowledge of the verdict in ejectment against Cox, are
The verdict must, therefore, be set aside, and a new trial awarded, with costs, to abide the event of the suit.
New trial granted.