{
  "id": 2086755,
  "name": "JOSEPH LONG, ADM'R., OF REUBEN LONG vs. MILLY A. WRIGHT, ADM'X. OF STEPHEN WRIGHT",
  "name_abbreviation": "Long v. Wright",
  "decision_date": "1856-06",
  "docket_number": "",
  "first_page": "290",
  "last_page": "294",
  "citations": [
    {
      "type": "nominative",
      "cite": "3 Jones 290"
    },
    {
      "type": "official",
      "cite": "48 N.C. 290"
    }
  ],
  "court": {
    "name_abbreviation": "N.C.",
    "id": 9292,
    "name": "Supreme Court of North Carolina"
  },
  "jurisdiction": {
    "id": 5,
    "name_long": "North Carolina",
    "name": "N.C."
  },
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  "last_updated": "2023-07-14T17:04:13.305795+00:00",
  "provenance": {
    "date_added": "2019-08-29",
    "source": "Harvard",
    "batch": "2018"
  },
  "casebody": {
    "judges": [],
    "parties": [
      "JOSEPH LONG, ADM\u2019R., OF REUBEN LONG vs. MILLY A. WRIGHT, ADM\u2019X. OF STEPHEN WRIGHT."
    ],
    "opinions": [
      {
        "text": "Pearson, J.\nTlie position that a conveyance of slaves made with an intent to hinder, delay and defraud creditors, is void against a subsequent purchaser, who bought \u201c in good faith, and paid therefor a fair price,\u201d is not supported by any statutory provision, or by any principle of the common law.\nThe Act which protects subsequent purchasers against fraudulent conveyances, by its terms, is confined to \u201c lands and hereditaments.\u201d Rev. Code, eh. 50, sec. 2, (27 Eliz.) It of course, does not apply to slaves. Garrison v. Brice, ante 85. After some hesitation, it was held to apply to copy-hold estates, Doe v. Rutledge, 2 Cowper\u2019s Rep. 710 ; but there is no intimation to be met with in the books that it applies to personal property.\nThe common law protected against fraud, only such rights as existed at the Ume of the conveyance. One who acquired a fight after the conve_yance, was without remedy except in a Court of Equity. Upon this principle it w^as held, that aliusband had no remedy at Law against a conveyance made by the wife shortly before the marriage, with an intent to defraud him of his marital rights. Logan v. Simmons, 1 Dev. and Bat. 13. But relief was given in Equity. Logan v. Simmons, 3 Ire. Eq. 494. Indeed, the principle has\u2019been settled ever since Twyne\u2019s case 3 Coke\u2019s Rep. 83 . 1 Smith\u2019s Leading cases, 8. \u201c It was agreed that by the common Law an estate made by fraud, should be avoided only by him who had a former right, title, interest, debt or demand, as by 33, II. 6, a sale in open market by covin shall not bar a right which is more ancient: nor a co vinous gift shall not defeat execution in respect of a former debt, as it is agreed in 22 Ass. 72 ; but he wdio hath right, title, interest, debt or demand more puisne, shall not avoid a gift or estate precedent by fraud, by the common law.\u201d At page 14, Mr. Smith remarks, \u201c the statute 27 Eliz. was perhaps a more beneficial enactment than that of 13 Eliz., for it has been laid down that at common law no fraud was remedied which should defeat an after purchase, but only that which was committed to defraud a former interest. Cro. Eliz. 445 and 7 and 8 pp. supra : yettliereisatiiciwiof Lord Mansfield to the contrary in Cadogan v. Kennett, Cowp. 434.\u201d\nThe 13 Eliz. is declaratory of the common law so far as regards existing creditors. The remedy given to subsequent creditors rests upon the enactment of the Statute. In this sense it is sometimes said that 13 Eliz. was in affirmance of the common law. But the remedy given to subsequent purchasers by the Stat. 27 Eliz. rests wholly upon the enactment of the Statute. Co. Lit. 290 b. 3 Ba. Ab. Tit. \u201c Fraud\u201d p. 307.\nIn Cadogan v. Kennett, the question was whether a settlement made by a husband in consideration of the marriage and of \u00a310.000, Ids wife\u2019s portion (which was supposed to be more than the amount of his debts) of all his real estate and likewise his house-hold goods, his real estate alone not being thought an adequate settlement, in trust to himself for life, remainder to his wile for life, remainder to the children of the marriage, was void against a creditor at the time of the settlement, under 13 Eliz. It was decided that the settlement was good against creditors ; but Lord Mansfield in his sweeping manner, commences his opinion with this broad proposition, i. e., \u201c The principles and rules of the common law, as now universally known and understood, are so strong against fraud in every shape, that the common law would have attained every end proposed by the statutes 13 and 27 Eliz.\u201d This proposition has never received the sanction of any adjudication, and is treated by Mr. Smith and other writers as a dictum. It certainly is a striking illustration of his Lordship\u2019s proneness to break through the distinction between Law and Equity.\nOur attention was called, in the argument, to Plummer v. Worley, 13 Ire. 423, where Ruffin, C. J., uses this language: \u201c It is true, that the Statute of 27 Eliz. is in its terms confined to lands, but it has been often said that it was but in affirmance of the common law.\u201d It is apparent, reference is here made to the dictum of Lord Mansfield, and the inference is indistinctly suggested that the principle of 27 Eliz. might be extended to \u201c things personalbut the idea is not followed out, and the decision is put on the ground, that the pretended sale to plaintiff\u2019s intestate under the circumstances, did notin fact pass the title. The subject matter being a horse, in the transfer of which no ceremony or form is requisite, and it being considered that it amounted to a mere pretended transfer to baffle creditors, leaving the actual ownership in the debtor who had \u201c authority as the secret cestui qv,e trust, or as the agent of the pretended purchaser to dispose of the property by saleof course the title having never been out of the debtor, passed by sale to defendant.\nBut in our case the subject matter is a slave, and a deed is made use of to pass the title. In the absence of statutory provision, making it void against a subsequent purchaser, the legal effect of the deed was to take the title out of the debtor and vest it in the plaintiff\u2019s intestate, notwithstanding a fraudulent intent in regard to creditors, and tlie trust intended for tire debtor. The legal title being out of him, it follows that he could pass nothing by the deed subsequently executed to defendant\u2019s intestate. Whether it passed the supposed Rust so as to entitle the defendant to relief in Equity, is not for us now to say, as it cannot affect the rights of the parties at law.\nSo the case is distinguishable from Plummer v. Worley, and is governed by that of Garrison v. Brice.\nWe concur with the remark of Lord Kenyon, \u201cit is safest to preserve the ancient landmarks of the law'.\u201d If the dividing line betw'een Law and Equity be destroyed, the science of Law will be in utter confusion, and no one -will be able to see his way.\nIt is not necessary to notice the other branch of the charge, as an error in this is decisive. There is error.\nPer Ouriam.\nVenire ele novo.",
        "type": "majority",
        "author": "Pearson, J. Per Ouriam."
      }
    ],
    "attorneys": [
      "Strange, for plaintiff.",
      "Shepherd, for defendant."
    ],
    "corrections": "",
    "head_matter": "JOSEPH LONG, ADM\u2019R., OF REUBEN LONG vs. MILLY A. WRIGHT, ADM\u2019X. OF STEPHEN WRIGHT.\nA fraudulent conveyance of personal property passes the legal title as to subsequent purchasers, though void as to creditors under the Statute 13 Eliz. (Garrison v. Brice, ante 85, cited and approved.)\nThis was an action of trover to recover the value of slaves Esther and Henry, tried before his Honor, Judge Caldwell,- \u2022 at the Spring Term, 1856, of Columbus Superior Court.\nThe intestates of both plaintiff and defendant derived title to the slaves in question from one Washington Long. On the 23rd of June, 1849, he conveyed by deed of that date, to the former four slaves, to wit, Esther, Maria, ITenry and Sam, for the consideration expressed of $800. On the 16th of May, 1851, he conveyed to the latter. two of these slaves, that is, Esther and Henry, for the consideration of $700. All four of the slaves remained in possession of Washington Long from the date of the deed to plaintiff\u2019s intestate, to the time of the sale to defendant\u2019s intestate, when according to the terms of the sale, the slaves Esther and Henry went into the possession of defendant\u2019s intestate. There was evidence tending to show that the deed was made to secure and indemnify plaintiff\u2019s intestate, against a liability of between three and five hundred dollars, which had been since discharged by Long\u2019 himself; but there was plenary evidence that this deed was made to hinder delay and defraud the creditors of Washington Long in the collection of their debts.\nThere was evidence also, that the sale to defendant\u2019s intestate was bona fide, but that he had notice of the deed to plaintiff\u2019s intestate, its purposes and designs.\nA question arose below as to the competency of Washington Long as a witness, but not being considered by this Court, it is not deemed material to notice it more distinctly.\nThe plaintiff\u2019s counsel insisted on the trial below, that if defendant\u2019s intestate had notice that said deed was intended as a security, or had notice that it was intended to hinder, delay, and defraud creditors, the defendant could not protect himself under the deed of 1851.\nBut the Court charged the jury, that if the intestate of de- \u25a0 fendant purchased the slaves in question in good faith, and paid therefor a fair price, though he had full notice that said deed was executed as a mere security to save harmless plaintiff\u2019s intestate, or to hinder, delay and defraud the creditors of the said Washington, or both, that defendant was entitled to their verdict. Plaintiff excepted to this charge.\nYerdict and judgment for defendant, and appeal by plaintiff.\nStrange, for plaintiff.\nShepherd, for defendant."
  },
  "file_name": "0290-01",
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}