Morgan v. Olvey

53 Ind. 6 | Ind. | 1876

Buskirk, J.

This was a proceeding by the appellees, Elizabeth Olvey and her husband, against James and Elias Morgan, to set aside as fraudulent a conveyance of certain real estate from Elias to James Morgan, and to subject the same to sale to satisfy a judgment in favor of the female plaintiff and against the said Elias Morgan.

There was issue, trial by jury, and verdict for plaintiffs, and, over a motion for a new trial, judgment on the verdict.

The errors assigned call in question the action of the court in overruling a demurrer to the complaint, in sustaining a demurrer to the second paragraph of the separate answer of James Morgan, and in overruling the motion for a new trial.

The complaint is unquestionably good. Hence, the demurrer thereto was properly overruled.

All the facts alleged in the second paragraph of the answer were admissible under the general denial, except the averment that the land in question was purchased by the appellants as partners; and these averments are not sufficient. It is alleged that the land in controversy was purchased by the appellants as partners, they being partners in the purchase and sale of stock, but it is not alleged that it was purchased for partnership purposes.

Eeal estate purchased by partners, with partnership funds and for partnership purposes, is treated as personalty, and is not subject to be sold as real estate to satisfy the personal debt of one of the partners, during the continuance of the partnership and until the partnership debts are all paid. Partnership property is primarily liable to the payment of partnership debts. The interest of the partners in such, partnership property is in the surplus remaining after the payment of partnership debts.

There is no averment that the land in question was necessary or purchased to carry out the objects of the partnership. Huston v. Neil, 41 Ind. 504, and authorities there cited. There was no error in sustaining the demurrer to the second paragraph of the answer. Besides, the appellants were permitted, without objection, to prove, under the general denial, all the facts relating to such partnership. If the answer had been good the error would have been a harmless one.

We next inquire whether the court erred in overruling the motion for a new trial.

The appellants complain of the instructions given. We have carefully examined them, and are entirely satisfied that no error was committed of which the appellants can complain.

But the judgment must be reversed for a failure of the evidence to sustain the verdict and judgment. The complaint alleged the recovery of a judgment in the Tipton Circuit Court by the female plaintiff against Elias Morgan; the filing of a certified copy thereof in the Hamilton Circuit Court, where the land was situated; that Elias had conveyed his undivided interest in said real estate to his father, for the purpose of cheating and defrauding the said judgment plaintiff'; that his father had accepted of such conveyance with full knowledge of the fraudulent purpose of the said Elias, and held the same for the fraudulent purpose of preventing the collection of the said judgment; and that the said Elias had no other property that was subject to levy and sale to satisfy said judgment. These averments were sufficient to make the complaint good, but they were not proved upon the trial. The recovery of the judgment, the filing of the transcript, and the conveyance from Elias to James were fully proved by the plaintiffs; but there was no evidence that Elias conveyed, and that James accepted of such conveyance, for the purpose of cheating, hindering, delaying or defrauding the plaintiffs. On the other hand, it was proved by the appellants that the land in question was purchased by James and Elias in partnership, and mostly on credit; that, in consideration of said conveyance, James paid Elias two hundred dollars, and assumed the payment of said partnership debts; that the land was sold for its full value; and that when the conveyance was made James had no knowledge that Elias was indebted to the female plaintiff, the deed having been made before the rendition of the judgment.

There was no attempt made by the appellees to contradict, explain, or in any manner to overcome the evidence offered by the appellants. Nor was there any evidence that Elias did not have other property subject to levy and sale with which said judgment might have been satisfied.

The evidence of the plaintiffs wholly failed to establish fraud, or a necessity of resorting to the property in question. The evidence of the defendants shows a legal and bona fidetransaction.

Fraud is not to be presumed, but must be-established like any other fact which may be in controversy.

It is a clear case of failure of evidence to sustain the material averments of the complaint. The judgment cannot be sustained.

The judgment is reversed, with costs; and the cause is remanded for a new trial.