81 Ark. 68 | Ark. | 1906
The parties to this action, J. L. Jenkins, appellant, and P. G. Jenkins, appellee, were partners in the mercantile business at Sherrill, Arkansas, under the firm name of “P. G. Jenkins,” and during the pendency of said partnership the real estate in controversy, a house and lot in Sherrill, was purchased, and the conveyance made to appellee. The purchase price was’ paid out of funds of the co-partnership, but the same was charged on the books of the firm to appellee. Appellant immediately moved into the house and occupied it as his home until the commencement of this action. Subsequent ■ to the purchase of ,the property the co-partnership was dissolved, appellee purchasing, the interest of appellant in the partnérship property for the sum Of- $4,583.16, the payment of which was evidenced- by a written receipt signed by appellant reciting that it was for his “entire interest in stock of merchandise, store fixtures and book accounts.”
■ ; Appellant contends that the property was purchased to be used as a home for him, that it was paid for out of partnership funds, and was partnership property, the title being taken in the name of P. G. Jenkins, which was the style of the firm name, and that on dissolution of the firm it was allotted to him as a part of his share in the partnership property, and'that appellee agreed to convey it to him.
Appellee, on the other hand, contends that the property was not purchased as partnership but, as his individual property; that, though it was paid for with funds belonging to the firm, the same was at the time charged to him on the books of the firm; that he permitted appellant to enter upon- and occupy the premises as his tenant under, an agreement that appellant should pay rent. He also denied that said property was allotted to appellant as a part of his share of the partnership property, or that he had ever agreed to convey it to appellant. ■
Each of the parties introduced considerable testimony in support of their respective contentions, and the conflict in the testimony is irreconcilable. The chancellor found the facts to be in favor of appellee, and, while the question is by no means free from doubt, we can not say that the finding is against the preponderance of the testimony. That being true, it is our duty, under the rule well established by the decisions of this court, not to disturb the finding of the chancellor.
Eearned counsel for appellant argue that, because the real estate was paid for out of partnership funds, it became, from that fact alone, partnership property. Not so. Whether the purchase is as partnership or individual property is a question of fact not controlled entirely by the use of partnership funds, that being only a circumstance indicating the intention of the parties. It may or may not become partnership property, according to the intention of the parties as manifested by all the surrounding circumstances and the use to be made of it, whether for partnership or individual purpose. 17 Am. & Eng. Enc. Law, 945; 1 Bates on Partnership, § § 266, 284; Richards v. Manson, 101 Mass. 482; Hatchett v. Blanton, 72 Ala. 423.
While it is undisputed that the property was paid for out of partnership funds, appellee testifies that he immediately caused the amount to be charged to himself on the books of the firm, and that appellant recognized it as a purchase for individual use by his agreement to pay rent. Under the circumstances, the amount of the purchase price being charged to appellee on the books of the firm at the time of the purchase, a presumption even does not arise that the purchase was for partnership uses.
Decree affirmed.
