Racine Basket Manufacturing Co. v. Konst

51 Wis. 156 | Wis. | 1881

The following opinion was filed November 10, 1880:

LyoN, J.

The learned counsel for the plaintiff maintained in argument, that when property is sold by an insolvent debtor or one in failing circumstances, to his creditor to pay an antecedent debt, if the sale is made for the sole purpose of paying the debt, and without any intent to defraud other creditors, it is valid as against such other creditors, although the effect of it would necessarily be, and must have been so intended, to hinder or delay them in the collection of their demands against the vendor. This is the only question argued by counsel on this appeal. The position seems to be supported by many authorities cited, and by very cogent arguments urged by the counsel.

The learned circuit judge, in his charge to the jury, evidently assumed that if the sale and purchase in question was made with the intent to hinder or delay the other creditors of the vendor, it is void as against them. This appears also in the form of the questions of fact submitted to the jury. We regret that for want of proper exceptions we cannot determine the question on this appeal. The record fails to show that any exception whatever was taken to the charge of the court, or to the form of the questions submitted to the jury. Neither was there any instruction ashed, or any question proposed to be submitted to the jury, embodying the proposition for which counsel now contend. Indeed, one of the instructions asked on behalf of the plaintiff shows that the proposition was not in the mind of counsel when the,cause was tried. It reads thus: “ The plaintiff cannot be charged with fraud in the transaction unless you find that its agent acted in bad faith, and with the intent to hinder and delay other creditors.” On well-settled principles — so well settled and understood that it is quite unnecessary to cite cases thereto, — the question which has been so ably argued is not here for determination.

The exception to the refusal of the circuit j ndge to give the • instructions prayed, is general. He refused to give them, and “ plaintiff excepted.” That is all there is of it. If any one of them was properly refused, the exception fails to raise the question whether others should have been given. This is also well settled. Jenks v. The State, 17 Wis., 665, and cases cited in Yilas & Bryant’s notes; Harrison v. Crocker, 39 Wis., 68. One of these instructions reads thus: “If you find from tbe testimony tbat Perkins, tbe managing agent of tbe Eaeine Yeneer & Seating Company, called in G-orton, tbe managing agent of the plaintiff, and in his presence pointed out to him and set apart the goods in question, and that Gor-ton, as the agent of the plaintiff, then and there accepted the goods, that constituted an actual and valid delivery, and gave the plaintiff the absolute title to and control of such goods.” This instruction ignores the question of fraud entirely, and is faulty for that reason if for no other.

We have looked into the special verdict, but fail to find that the answers returned by the jury to the questions submitted are in conflict with each other, or with the general verdict foi the defendant, or that any of them are evasive. Further than this we cannot, on the exceptions in the record, review the findings; for no exception was taken, either to questions or answers, until after the trial. Gillett v. The Wis. Cooperage Co., 44 Wis., 463; Ward v. Busack, 46 Wis., 407; Barkow v. Sanger, 47 Wis., 500; Schultz v. Railway Co., 48 Wis., 375.

Clearly, the verdict supports the judgment; and, because we find no error in the record which we can properly review on this appeal, the judgment must be affirmed.

By the Court. — Judgment affirmed.

A motion for a rehearing was denied February 8, 1881.