42 So. 545 | Ala. | 1906
— Minnie Pippin and Ed A. Pippin, according to the averments of the bill were, up to the fall term, 1900, of the chancery court of Greene county, lawful husband and wife; that said Minnie, on a bill theretofore filed by her against her said husband in said court for the purpose, ^ obtained a decree divorcing her from him, and they did not, thereafter, live together as man and wife.
In the said bill, said Minnie prayed not only for a divorce, but for alimony and counsel fees, and in aid of her said suit, she prayed for and procured an injunction to be issued against her said husband, whereby he was enjoined from disposing of any of his property pending the suit.
Prior to filing her bill for divorce, the said Minnie had abandoned her husband, and went to Montgomery to live. After the filing of the bill and the issuance of said injunction, the said Ed A. Pippin went to Montgomery, and without knowledge or consent of plaintiff, wlm Avas
In consideration of this agreement and the execution of said deed, Mrs. Pippin agreed to return and live Avith her said husband as long as he should keep his promise to cease the use of intoxicating and spirituous liquors; to have the injunction in said divorce suit dissolved and continue said divorce suit for the period of two years, and if her said husband should keep his agreement as to intoxicating liquors during that time,, to dismiss her said suit. It was further agreed, that should Mrs. Pip
It is alleged that about Maich, 1900, Mrs. Pippin made an affidavit before an officer duly authorized to administer it, that her said husband’ had violated his said agreement not to. drink intoxicating liquors, and delivered the same to Messrs. 1-Iill &■ Hill, who immediately delivered said deed to her, and she, immediately filed said deed and affidavit in said probate office, where they were duly recorded.
The bill alleges that the said E. A. Pippin is insolvent, and lendeied himself so by the execution of said deed, and has remained insolvent ever since.
The- complainant, being a creditor of said E. A. Pippin, by his bill assails said deed as -a voluntary conveyance, made without valuable consideration, .and that-it is null and void as to complainant; that the property conveyed in said' deed is of the value of $1,500 in excess of the amount said Pippin had the right- to convey to his wife in lieu of alimony, and-as to such excess the deed was voluntary. ■ ' ; ■
The deed was not voluntary. A voluntary deed is one “founded merely and exclusively on. a good,, as distinguished from a valuable consideration, on motives of generosity and affection, rather than on a benefit received by the donor, or detriment, trouble, or prejudice to the donee. If the donor receives a benefit, or the do-nee suffers detriment, as the. consideration of the conveyance, the consideration is valuable,' not good merely. However, inadequate such consideration may be — however trivial the. benefit to the one, or the damage to the other, the conveyance is not voluntary.”—Bibb v. Freeman, 59 Ala. 615; Early & Lane v. Owens, 68 Ala. 174.
Tbe bill does not aArer that tbe deed was made “Avitli tbe intent to binder, delay or defraud” the defendant, or any creditor of tbe grantor, and even if tbe bill contained such an allegation, and it were proved, tbe sale could not be set aside at tbe instance of a creditor, where a valuable consideration bad been paid for the property, unless it Avere averred and shown, that- the purchaser knew of and participated in the fraudulent intent of tbe seller. Tbe burden of making this proof is on the attacking creditor.— Simmons v. Shelton, 112 Ala. 291, 21 South. 309, 57 Am. St. Rep. 39. “An embarrassed or insolvent debtor may sell bis property, and if tbe sale be an honest one, in good faith, and for a valuable consideration, it is not void.” —14 Am. & Eng. Ency. Law (2d Ed.) 204; Allen v. Riddle, 141 Ala. 621, 37 South. 680.
It is claimed that tbe value of tbe property conveyed was in excess of tbe alimony by $1,500. Tbe defendant was entitled, if successful in her divorce suit, to temporary and permanent alimony and to counsel fees. Por a wife to give up Avhat this one did, in entering into said contract,' and surrendering tbe rights she did, Avas a legitimate sirbject of contract betAveqn her and her husband. Even if she demanded a large price to again con-, ditionally submit herself to- a husband who hád blighted her life by debauchery in strong drink, on bis promise
It is charged that the grantor in said deed, conveyed substantially all his property to his wife. If that, were a fact, it made no difference under the averments of the bill, so far as she was concerned, but, by these aver-ments, it appears that said Pippin owned other' properties besides that embraced in said deed, to the value of between eight and nine hundred dollars.—Shealy v. Edwards, 75 Ala. 412; Inman v. Schloss, 122 Ala. 468, 25 South. 739.
No error appearing, the decree of the court is affirmed-
Affirmed.