Wilder v. Fondey , 4 Wend. 100 ( 1829 )

The following opinions were delivered;

By the Chancellor.

The bond and warrant of attorney on which the judgment of the defendants was entered were dated in 1821, long before the plaintiffs debt was contracted. If any thing was due at the time the judgment was entered, the defendants had a lawful right to enter up judgment and take out execution for what was then due, and they cannot be made liable for the penalty prescribed in the statute for such an act; but if they had taken a judgment for a larger amount than was due, for the purpose of defeating the plaintiffs’ recovery, they would have been liable for the penalty, although a part of the debt was actually due. The judgment being entered on a bond with a penalty, the nominal amount of the judgment must be the same, whether the whole amount specified in the condition of the bond was or was not due at that time. 1 think the court was right in supposing it ought not to be left to the jury to decide upon the motives by which the defendants were governed in entering that judgment. If it had appeared that they were amply secured in some other manner, and that it would be inequitable in them to give up that security, for the purpose of taking the only fund against which the plaintiffs could proceed, the question would have been entirely different. In that case the jury would have had a valid ground to question their motives in entering this judgment. But where the party has no other means of securing his debt, I do not think his motives in obtaining security can legally be questioned. The cases of Holbird v. Anderson, (5 T. R. 235,) and Meux v. Howell, (4 East’s R. 1,) referred to by the supreme court, fully support their decision on that question.

But there is a difference in this case from both the cases referred to, which does not appear to have been noticed by the supreme court. It is evident, from an examination of the second and fourth sections of the statute of frauds together, that the legislature meant to prohibit fraudulent executions as well as fraudulent judgments, as each may be used for the purposes of fraud. A judgment is a lien on the land of the defendant, and would prevent purchasers from giving its full value on the execution of another party, and might thus delay and defraud him in the recovery of his debt, although no execution was taken out for many years afterwards. If a valid judgment was obtained, and afterwards paid, in whole or in part, a creditor might be defrauded, if the parties to that judgment by collision took out an execution and levied on the goods of the defendant for the whole amount.

I am satisfied that the plaintiffs had no right to recover on the first count in their declaration. But the second count is for talcing out an execution fraudulently and levying it on the goods. If the whole’""amount of the judgment was then due, the defendants had a perfect right to obtain a preference in that way, and their motives could not be enquired into unless it was shown that they-had money in their own hands, or some other means of obtaining the debt. From the statement of the case in the report, (6 Cowen’s R. 284,) I infer that the judgment was taken to cover future advances in part, and yet the execution was issued with a direction to collect the whole sum specified in the condition of the bond, together with costs. In that view of the case, although the judgment bond might legally be taken for the purpose of covering future advances, if an execution was issued after the failure of S. Fondey for more than was actually due at that time, it would be a fraud upon the other creditors if intentionally done. If it was issued by mistake for a larger amount than was intended, it would not be a fraud which could subject the plaintiffs in the execution to a penalty. From the opinion of the supreme court which was delivered on the application for a new trial it does not appear that this question was raised, aud if it had been it is hardly possible that it should have been entirely- overlooked there. In addition to this, I am informed by the chief justice that the case before tjiem did not raise the question whether an execution fraudulently issued upon a judgment which had been paid, wholly or in part, subjected the party issuing it to the penalty. The decision of the circuit judge on the second trial was made in reference to the decision of the supreme court. If the plaintiffs',wished to prove facts to take the case out of that decision, the question should have been fairly presented to the circuit judge,' unconnected with the question of the validity of the judgment. In Lucas and others v. Nockells, (2 Young & Jarvis, 304,) on a writ of error from the court of long’s bench, in the exchequer chamber, the judges unanimously decided that it was competent and proper to submit the question to the jury, whether the goods were seized bona fide under the execution to satisfy the debt, or colorably only for a collateral 'purpose; and in that case the acts of the judgment creditor both before and after the levying of the execution were allowed to be given in evidence for the purpose of ascertaining his motives. If the plaintiffs in the case before us had proved or offered to prove that execution was taken out for more than was actually due at that time, I think they should have been permitted to go to the jury upon the question whether it was so issued by mistake or with a fraudulent intent.

I have had- some doubts in this case whether all such evidence was not necessarily excluded by the decision of the circuit judge; but as that decision was only intended to apply to a case where the whole amount of the execution as well as the judgment was actually due, he cannot be said to have decided this question, and the same should have been fairly presented to him by the plaintiffs in a different shape before they submitted to a nonsuit. The offer to prove the judgment fraudulent, by showing the improper proceedings under the execution, was a mere evasion of the decision of the supreme court, and was properly put down by the circuit jwlge.

Por these reasons, although I am of opinion that the plaintiffs had a right to recover, if the execution was fraudulent and intended to hinder or delay them in the collection of their debt; even if the judgment was bona fide, I think the judgment of the supreme court in this case should be affirmed.

By Mr. Senator Oliver.

This case presents two questions for the consideration of the court: 1. Whether the evidence produced by the plaintiffs was competent to sustain the allegation that the defendants’ judgment was fraudulent and without a valid consideration; and 2. Whether it was competent to prove that the defendant had wittingly and willlingly enforced such judgment by a fraudulent execution.

To bring the case within the statute of frauds, it is necessary to prove that the judgment was in fact fraudulent and without a valid consideration in its concoction, (4 East, 1, 14,) for such are the express provisions of the statute by which the penealty sued for is given, (1 R. L. 76, § 4.) The evidence produced and offered does not pretend to shew that the judgment was without a good and bona fide consideration ; on the contrary, it proves and offered to prove nothing more than the proceedings of the deputy sheriff under the defendant’s execution at Geneva, while the defendant's were in the city of Albany; for the plaintiffs have neither proved or attempted to prove that the defendants were cognizant of those proceedings. How, then, does this evidence prove fraud in entering up a judgment on a bond and warrant executed three years previous ? Can the proceedings of the deputy sheriff under the execution, without the interference of the defendants, involve them in fraud, and subject them to a grevious penalty 1 or can those proceedings, if irregular, relate back to the execution of the bond and warrant and entering up of the judgment ? Suppose the whole were bona fide and for good consideration; would any irregularity of the sheriff or his deputy in relation to the proceedings under the execution impugn either the bona fides or consideration of the judgment ? This would indeed be a novel doctrine applicable to penal statutes, and repugnant to the settled rules of law in such cases. I wish not however to be understood that I consider the proceedings of the deputy sheriff as irregular, for that, in my judgment, is not a point before the court.: wpaj- j mean to say is, that the defendants cannot be subjected to the penalty of the statutue for his misconduct.

Again; the defendants’ bond and warrant was executed about three years prior to Stephen Fondey’s indebtedness to the plaintiffs, and when, for aught that appears in evidence, he did not owe one cent to any person except the defendants. How, then, can their judgment in its concoction be adjudged to have been devised of malice and covin to defraud and delay the plaintiffs in the recovery of their just debts. (1 R. L. 76, § 2.)

To sustain the second count of the declaration the second and fourth sections of the statute must be taken in connection. The second section declares every fraudulent judgment and execution contrived of malice, fraud, covin, &c. to delay and defraud creditors, &c. (only as against the persons who shall or may be hindered or defrauded thereby) to be void; and the fourth section, under which this action is brought, dedares that the parties to a fraudulent judgment and execution, or who shall wittingly and willingly put the same in use, shall be subject to the penalty. The offence consists of two things which must be combined to incur the penalty: 1. A fraudulent judgment, and 2. Wittingly and willingly putting such judgment in use. Neither the evidence produced or offered tended to prove either of the particulars specified in the statute, for it is idle to contend that either can be proved by the sole acts of an executive officer to whom an execution is delivered to be executed according to law. Yet this is all the evidence produced or offered in this case.

Again; it is difficult to conceive of a fraudulent execution without good consideration upon a subsisting bona fide judgment for good consideration. The statute, in terms, connects the judgment and execution together, when it describes the offence as consisting of a fraudulent judgment, and wittingly and willingly putting such judgment in use. How put it in use? By issuing an execution thereon; for. if the judgment is fraudulent, the issuing an execution thereon is a progressive step towards accomplishing the fraud; and when the éxecution is issued with knowledge of the fraud, the preson who does it, or causes it to be done, becomes a partaker in the fraud, and liable for the penalty.

But the plaintiffs contended that the judge erred in withholding the evidence produced by the plaintiffs from the jury. This, in my judgment, depends upon the sufficiency of the evidence to prove the plaintiffs’ declaration. The offence complained of is created by the statute, and is clearly a question of law for the court to determine, whether the requisites prescribed by the statute to make out the offence have been proved. (9 Johns. Rep. 339.) Then if the evidence does not come up to the requirements of the statute, there was no matter of fact proved for the jury to pass upon. With respect to the evidence offered as stated in the bill of exceptions and overruled, there was no specification of the facts meant to be proved to shew a fraudulent intent in entering up the judgment, and of course the relevancy of the evidence does not appear. How then could the court admit it 1 The party who offers evidence, is bound to point out its relevancy, to enable the court to judge of it. Hence it follows that the general offer to prove the proceedings under the execution, without specifying what these proceedings were, did not enable the judge to determine that the evidence when taken would have been relevant, and therefore the offer was properly rejected. ■

Many suggestions of fraud were thrown out by the plaintiffs’ counsel in argument against the defendants, but as there is no evidence to warrant them, and the defendants were not put upon their defence, it would be improper to allow any weight to such suggestions ; for that would be in a degree to prejudge the merits of a defence, which the defendants have not been required to present.

For these reasons I am of opinion that the judgment of the supreme court ought to be affirmed.

By Mr. Senator Todd.

A bill of exceptions confines the inquiry to the question which was presented to and decided by the judge. This case is presented and was argued in a manner calculated to mislead, without we particularly examine the question presented and decided by the circuit judge. The evidence which the plaintiffs offered must have been under the first count in the declaration ; it was offered to prove the judgment fraudulent. The decision of the judge must have been upon the offer thus made of evidence under the first count, and he undoubtedly intended to decide that question and nothing more. When, therefore, he uses the language, “ that the plaintiffs cannot sustain their action without proving that the defendant’s judgment was fraudulent,” the expression must be understood as applying to the evidence offered under the first count, and his meaning must be restricted accordingly—that the plaintiffs could not sustain their action on the first count without shewing the judgment fraudulent. Evidence had been offered of the bond and warrant of attorney, their date, the time which had elapsed between their date and the entering up of the judgment, the time of issuing the execution, the time when the plaintiffs’ cause of action accrued against Stephen Fondey, and the commencement of the suit against him. These were circumstances which, in connection with the conduct of the defendants under their execution, would have been proper for the consideration of the jury; but the plaintiffs’ counsel did not insist upon referring to the jury the consideration of all the facts, but reposed themselves upon their exception to the opinion of the judge, which presents the single question whether the conduct of the defendants under their execution, unconnected with other evidence, is competent to shew the intent of the defendants in entering up their judgment averred in the first count of the declaration.

The statute applies to a fraudulent judgment, and none other. It must be fraudulent in its inception, and no subsequent conduct of the parties can change its character from what it possessed at the time it was perfected. The abuse of a valid judgment may be the subject of complaint, but to such a case the statute does not apply, and the penalty is not incurred. A judgment which is regularly entered is not under all circumstances bona fide and upon good consideration. A party affected by it may impeach its bonafides. It is, however, prima facie fair and honest; and so long as this character remains, an execution issued upon it will be justified, and the conduct of the parties under it cannot render them liable to the penalty inflicted by the statute, unless the evi•deuce goes beyond the execution, and proves the judgment itself fraudulent. If the bond and warrant of attorney upon which the judgment was entered were given to enable the defendants to avail themselves of a preference over other creditors, and in carrying into effect such intent other creditors were necessarily delayed and hindered in the collection of their debts, it could not be fraudulent; for such a preference may be lawfully given and lawfully exercised in collecting money actually due.

It is well settled by the decisions under the English statute of 13th Eliz. of which ours is nearly a transcript, that it is not fraudulent for a debtor to give preference to one creditor over another. The case of Holbird v. Anderson, (5 T. R. 235,) was this: Shepherd had a judgment against Charter ; Charter was also indebted to Holbird, and knowing that execution was about to issue on Shepherd’s judgment, confessed a judgment to Holbird, on which execution was issued and delivered to the sheriff two hours before Shepherd’s. The sheriff levied upon Shepherd’s execution, and returned Holbird’s nulla bona. Holbird then sued the sheriff for a false return, and his defence was put upon the ground that Holbird’s judgment and execution were void under the statute, being with intent to delay and hinder Shepherd in the collection of his execution. It was held that there was no fraud; that it was a lawful preference in which there was no illegality or injustice. The case of Meux qui tam v. Howell, (4 East, 1,) is more directly applicable to the case now under consideration. It was a case, like the first count in the declaration in this cause, to recover the penalty imposed by the statute for putting in force a fraudulent judgment against J. Norton. The facts were these *. The plaintiff was landlord of Norton and had distrained for rent, and had also an account against him. The defendant being also a creditor of Norton, sued him. He was surrendered by his bail. Finally he gave a judgment for the benefit of all his creditors, upon which execution issued, and Norton’s goods were taken and sold. The question, under these circumstances, was Whether the judgment against Norton was not fraudulent within the statute. Lord Ellenborough, in discussing the question, said, “ It is not every feoffment, judgment, &c. which will have the effect of delaying or hindering creditors of their debts, that is therefore fraudulent within the statute ; for such is the effect pro tanto of every assignment that can be made by any one who has creditors.” Grose, justice, observed, that “ if the judgment be given bona fide and upon good consideration, it is not within the act.” The same principle seems to be recognized and settled in our own courts. In the case of Mackie v. Cairns, (5 Cowen, 547,) the cases on this subject were fully considered, and the doctrine recognized.

The second count in the plaintiffs’ declaration was intended to present the question, whether an execution may not be fraudulent although issued upon a judgment which was given bona fide and for good consideration. Executions as well as judgments are named in the act. The mischief which was intended to be reached and remedied by declaring the judgment alone void, would not be reached and a remedy applied to the extent which was intended by the legislature, if executions were not placed on the same footing as judgments. The term executions, I apprehend, would not have been used, unless it had been supposed that they might be feigned, covinous and fraudulent, and put in use as true and bona fide, to delay and hinder creditors in the collection of their just debts. Suppose a judgment bona fide for $10,000 is subsequently paid and settled so far that only $100 remains due, the plaintiff then issues an execution for the full amount of the judgment, and sweeps all the defendant’s property from the reach of creditors, I should have no doubt but such an execution was fraudulent; and I can see no difference in principle between putting in force such an execution and puttihg in force a judgment which is confessed for $10,000, when only $100 is due. The fraud is the same, the mischief the same, and being embraced in the act, the penalty should be the same. This question was discussed by the counsel on both sides, on the argument of this cause, although, as I understand the case, it is not raised by the bill of ex<ceptions; and as this court will not decide any question except such as is bronght here for review from the opinion of the court below, it is unnecessary now to decide it.

From the examination which I have been able to give this case, I have come to the conclusion that the plaintiffs could not sustain their action on the first count in the declaration, without shewing the judgment confessed by Stephen Fondey to the defendants in this suit fraudulent, and that the acts of the defendants under the execution issued upon that judgment are not of themselves sufficient evidence of fraud from which a jury would be warranted in finding the judgment fraudulent.

I am therefore of the opinion that the judgment of the court below ought to be affirmed.

And this being the unanimous opinion of the court, the judgment of the supreme court was thereupon affirmed, with costs.