Chase v. Walker , 26 Me. 555 ( 1847 )

The opinion of the Court, Siiepley J. not having been present at the argument, and taking no part in the decision, was drawn up by

Whitman C. J.

The report in this case was probably drawn up by the counsel for one of the parties, and hastily agreed to by the counsel for the other, and hence it may have been signed by the presiding Judge without examination. It is certainly very defectively drawn. A deed introduced by the defendant is said to have been found by the jury, in a former suit between these parties, and in reference to another piece of land, therein purporting to have been conveyed, so tainted with fraud as to be void. It is not stated under what circumstances it was so found to be void ; whether the fraud set up was such as to render the deed void as between the grantor and grantee, and therefore totally inoperative; or whether it was so only under the statutes of Elizabeth, so far as bona fide creditors were concerned, and were disposed to question its validity. If the former, then the former verdict, with proof that the decision was upon the ground, that the deed was absolutely null and void, might well be regarded, under the circumstances of this case, where the plaintiff could not plead the former judgment specially, as conclusive between the parties, for it is not essential, that the subject matter to be affected by the decision is not the same. Bullers N. P. 332 ; 2 Stephens’ N. P. 1665 ; Gardner v. Buckbee, 3 Cowen, 126. If the latter, then the former decision might be admissible, and be conclusive, if upon the trial there should be no ground to support the validity of the defendant’s title, other than was set up in the former case. A deed void only as against the interfering rights of creditors, is good as between the parties, and against all who have not a right as creditors to impeach it. And, if a deed conveys two distinct parcels of land, it may be avoided as to one parcel by creditors, when, as to the other, it might be deemed bona fide and unimpeachable. Of one parcel, for instance, the vendee may have held a bond for many years, stipulating to convey it on the payment of the agreed consideration, which might have been paid, so that a right to a conveyance would have become absolute ; and this parcel might be conveyed with another, which might be inserted for the purpose of defrauding creditors. In such case the deed, as to the former, might be deemed bona fide, but not so as to the latter; the deed being voidable only so far as- bona fide creditors, who had become such before the making of the deed, or were designed to be defrauded by it, might be injuriously affected by it.

When the presiding Judge intimated an opinion that the former decision was conclusive, it must probably have been with the understanding, that no other ground was relied upon, as to the one parcel of the estate conveyed, than as to the oilier; yet, in drawing up the report, there is an omission to state that such was the case. Upon the supposition, that the fraud set up in the former case, was merely such as arises under the statutes of Elizabeth, and it seems to be probable that no other was thought of, and as it does not appear, that the two parcels of the estate purporting to have been conveyed were affected with the same taint, it seems to be necessary that, we should grant a new trial to ascertain how the fact, in reference to that particular, may be.

I have remarked, that the former judgment, with proof that the decision was upon the ground, that the deed to the defendant was fraudulent as against creditors, and no other ground appearing to uphold it, in reference to the premises in question, might be conclusive ; and this seems to be well settled in the cases of Wood v. Jackson, 8 Wend. 9; Howard v. Mitchell, 14 Mass. R. 241; Gardner v. Buckbee, 3 Cowen, 120; Burt v. Steenburgh, 4 ib. 559; Adams v. Barnes, 17 Mass. R. 365. In those cases it was distinctly held, that if the party in whose favor a judgment had been obtained, in which the same point had directly occurred as the ground of decision, and which ho could not present in a plea, he might give it in evidence against the same adverse party; and that, under such circumstances, it would be as effectual as if pleaded specially.

The case at bar, being a writ of entry, it may be presumed, although nothing appears in the report about it, that nul dis-seisin, was pleaded. In such case, the plaintiffs could not be apprised, that the defendant would again set up his deed in defence. Hence he could not, with propriety, reply that the deed had been adjudged fraudulent and void. His only alternative was, on the introduction of it, to give that matter in evidence. In the case of Gardner v. Buckbee, before cited, it appeared that a note of hand, then in suit, formed part of the supposed consideration for the promise contained therein, and that another note, forming another part of the same consideration, had before been put in suit, and had been adjudged void on account of fraud, affecting the whole of the supposed consideration ; and, thereupon, it was held, that the question, then pending between the parties, had been judicially' settled, affecting both notes alike; and this adjudication was had without any special plea setting forth the ground relied upon, when it Would seem that a special plea for the purpose, might well have been pleaded ; and it may admit of a doubt whether it should not in that case have been deemed requisite. But in the case at bar, as we, have before seen, it would be otherwise; and in other respects can scarcely be distinguishable from that case, if the defendant’s conveyance is liable to be affected, in reference to the" lot now demanded, by the same taint that prevented its operation before.

New trial granted.