31 Ga. 150 | Ga. | 1860
By the Court.
delivering the opinion.
The exceptions in this case go either to the charge of the Court, or to the verdict of the jury.. I will consider the former first, from number five to number eleven, both included, though this inverts the order observed in the bill of exceptions.
I do not deem it necessary to review these exceptions seriatim. The fifth and sixth complain of refusals by the Court to charge, as requested by defendants’ counsel.
We justify the refusals to charge, as requested, on the points embraced, because the charges asked were not pertinent to the issue, and . would, almost certainly, have confused the jury, and diverted their attention from- material to immaterial questions. We find no error in the charges positively given and exceptéd to.
The first, second and third exceptions assail the verdict of the jury as against law, against evidence, and as strongly and decidedly against the weight of evidence, and these we shall consider in connection.
We state the following proposition as the rule, which, in equity, should govern this case: If the evidence develop a conspiracy between Gainey Westbrook and Ward, to secure the land in dispute to the former, or to his family, against the just claims of his creditors, and if John S.p Westbrook subsequently became a party to this conspiracy, then, both the deed to Ward and his bond for titles to John S. West-brook, should be set aside to let in creditors.
The allegation in the bill is: That this property, having been levied on to satisfy a judgment against Gainey West-brook, in the year 1843, was purchased by Ward at a very
The answer of Ward explicitly denies the agreement with Gainey Westbrook, and all collusion and conspiracy; admits the receipt of money from Gainey Westbrook, but avers that it was received in- payment of rent, due for the land in dispute, and avers that he had afterwards bona fide bargained and sold the land to John S. Westbrook. John S. West-
No witness proves, of his own knowledge, the existence of the collusive agreement between Gainey Westbrook and Ward. But the witness, Thomas J. Hood, testifies: That, subsequently to the execution of Ward’s bond to John S. Westbrook, and before the commencement of this suit, Ward told witness, that “he, Ward, held the land in dispute; that he was holding it for the benefit of Gainey Westbrook and family; that Westbrook had paid all up but a small remnant, and that, when that was paid, he, Ward, intended to make a deed to the boys, so that it should be equally divided among them.” Witness, further, testifies: That, on the same day, he communicated this conversation to John S. Westbrook, who “called upon witness to bear in mind the conversation and declarations of Ward, as there might, some day, be a lawsuit about' it, and that he, Westbrook, believed Ward to be mean enough, at some future day, to try to defraud the children out of it.” Tandy King testifies — “That, at different times, between the years 1852 and 1854, defendant, Ward, told witness that “he bought the land in dispute, at sheriff’s sale; that some thirty or thirty-five dollars of the purchase money was still owing him, and that, if he could get the money due him, that he had advanced towards the land, and get hack his bond for titles that he had given to some of the Westbrooks, he would make a. deed.” Wm. J. Russell testifies that, “about the year 1851, Gainey West-brook and defendant, Ward, came to his office (he being clerk of the Superior Court) to inquire about a bill of costs, that had accrued in and about holding Westbrook’s land (doubtless referring to the claim case mentioned in bill and answer), and that Ward told Westbrook, if he would pay the bill of costs, and twenty-five or thirty dollars attorney’s fees, the land was his, Westbrook’s, and he, Ward, would make a deed to any one for him.
This testimony of three witnesses certainly negatives the answer of Ward, and fully justifies the verdict, as to him.
But it is insisted that Ward’s sayings are not evidence against John S. Westbrook, his co-defendant. The latter is certainly bound by the declarations of Ward to- the witness,
Are there not corroborating circumstances?
ist. There is the continued residence of Gainey Westbrook on the land, to his death, and of his family subsequently.
2d. The relationship between himself and Gainey West-brook.
3d. His minority at the time of the execution, and delivery of the bond for titles, by Ward to himself.
4th. The fact that, after • the making of this bond, his father and Ward are found conferring together relative to the making of titles, not to John S., but to “some one for the father,” and Ward is-found demanding, not of John S., but of Gainey Westbrook, payment of costs, and of attorney’s fees, accrued in the Holding his, Westbrook’s land, as preliminary to this making of titles.
It must not be overlooked that the defendant in error predicates his prayer for relief upon fraud, which he charges upon Gainey Westbrook and the plaintiffs in error, Ward and John S. Westbrook. Mr. Justice Story, remarking upon
This rule, applied jto the position of John S. Westbrook, in this case, leaves him without a shadow of claim for protection.
We are of opinion that the evidence in the cause develops the state of facts embodied in the proposition with which we commenced an examination of this case on its merits, and that the verdict of the jury, setting aside the deed and bond, and letting in the creditors, should not be disturbed. We think, moreover, that there is in it no fatal vagueness or uncertainty, as alleged in the fifth exception.
JUDGMENT.
Whereupon, it is considered and adjudged by the Court, that the judgment of the Court below be affirmed.