Primrose v. Browning

| Ga. | Aug 15, 1877

Warner, Chief Justice.

This was a claim case, on the trial of which the jury, under the charge of the court, found the property subject to the plaintiff’s ft. fa. levied thereon. The claimant made a motion for a new trial on the several grounds therein stated, which was overruled, and the claimant excepted. It appears from the record and bill of exceptions, that the plaintiff, at the trial, introduced the sheriff as a witness to prove that the defendant in the ft. fa. was in possession of the property at the time of the levy. The sheriff stated that the defendant was living in the house, and that the claimant, who was his wife, was also living in it. The plaintiff closed his evidence, and the claimant made a motion for a non-suit; and after argument had for and against tlie motion, the court called the witness back to the stand, and asked him upon whom he served the notice of the levy as being in possession % The sheriff said he served the notice on the defendant. Thereupon the court instructed the sheriff to so amend his return as to make that fact appear, to which claimant objected, and when his objections were overruled, tendered a traverse of said amended entry by the sheriff, and asked that said issue be tried separately by the jury; this the court refused, but said that said traverse might be tried with the other issues in the case — the court holding that the evidence for the plaintiff was sufficient to cast the burden of proving title to the property on the claimant. The action of the court, as hereinbefore recited, is one of the errors complained of in the claimant’s motion for a new trial.

1. There was no error in overruling the claimant’s motion for a non-suit.' The possession of the property by the defendant in fi. fa. at the cime of the levy thereon by the sheriff, was sufficient to cast the burden of proving title to the property in the claimant, notwithstanding the claimant was the wife of the defendant, and living in the house with him. In this state the husband is the head of the family, and the wife is subject to him. Code, §1753.

2, 3. Although the subsequent action of the court was unnecessary to make out a prima facie case for the plaintiff in fi. fa., still, there was nothing objectionable in its action, in view of the facts, which would authorize this court to interfere and control its discretion in cond ucting the trial of the case before it. See the latter part of the opinion in Moore & Co. vs. Cameron, 12th Ga. Rep., 266.

4. "Whether the defendant, Primrose, was insolvent or not when he made the voluntary conveyance of his property to Ids wife, as set forth in the record, or whether that conveyance was made with intention to delay or defraud his creditors, and such intention known to the party taking, were questions of fact, to be determined by the jury from the evidence, under the charge of the court as to the law applicable thereto. The court charged the jury as follows:

“ This case arises upon a levy and claim — they?./», levied is for $3,000 — no objection is made to it, it has been levied on two lots of land as the property of P. II. Primrose — the wife of defendant claims this property. The court has merely decided when the plaintiff closed, that he had made out a prima facie case of title in the defendant, so as to shift the burden of proof on the claimant to show title. The claimant has put in evidence a deed from her husband to her, conveying certain property, also a deed from Shew-make, assignee of M. O’Dowd, to her. She contends that the property bought of Shewmalce was the property levied on, and was bought with the proceeds of the property conveyed by her husband to her. Plaintiff says this title is bad for two reasons: 1. It was made to delay or defraud creditors. 2. That it was a voluntary conveyance, not for a valuable consideration, and made by Primrose when he was insolvent.

Here' paragraphs two and three of section 1952 of the Code, were read. The burden of proof is on the plaintiff to show that the claimant’s title is bad. It is for you to say whether the proof shows that.. If you believe that the deed from Primrose to his wife was made with the intention to delay or defraud his creditors, and such intention was known to the party taking it, it is void against plaintiff. Fraud is never presumed — it must. be proven; it-may be proven by circumstances. - You may look to the deed itself to see if it contains any internal evidence of such intention. A valuable consideration is for money, or other things of value. A good consideration is for love and affection. Was Primrose insolvent at the time he made the deed to his wife? If, when he made it, he owed more than he had property or means to pay, he was an insolvent man. When he put his name to O’Dowd’s paper as an indorser, he became a debtor to the holder of that paper, as much so as the maker or security, though the maker is primarily liable to pay the debt. If he was legally liable as indorser or otherwise for more than he had means to pay, he was insolvent. If you find that the claimant’s title is bad, for either of the reasons given, yon will find the property subject. If you find the title was good, you will find the property not subject. Whether or not this deed was made with the intention to delay or defraud creditors is ex clusively a question of fact for you, also whether Primrose was, or not, insolvent at the time.”

We find no error in the charge of the court to the jury, in view of the evidence contained in the record, and that evidence being quite sufficient to support the verdict, the motion for a new trial was properly overruled. Let the judgment of the court below be affirmed. d