Rea v. Smith

By the Court,

Nelson, Ch. J.

The only question worthy 0f not¡ce jn this case, is whether Merrifield, after the release from the defendant, was a competent witness.

The action was trover against the defendant, a constable, for taking the property on executions against the witness; the plaintiff claiming it by virtue of a previous purchase from him, but which the defendant alleged was fraudulent. Merrifield was called to prove the fraud. Aside from the question of fraud, he would seem to have been indifferent, for then, in any event of the cause, he stood responsible to the losing party, either to the purchaser or judgment creditor as the case might be. It was supposed that Bland v. Ansley et al., 2 New R. 330, is an authority against this view ; but on looking at that case it will be found that the point there was whether the property had in fact been sold to the plaintiff by the witness, and hence there was no liability over to the plaintiff admitted, if the verdict resulted for the defendant. The interest therefore was exclusively on one side. 2 Starkie, 751, Phil. ed. (n. c.) In Davis v. Dinwoody, 4 T. R. 678, a new trial was granted, not on the ground of the interest, but upon the principle that forbids husbands and wives from being witnesses for or against each other. The case, as stated by Mr. Starkie, 2 vol. 401, is calculated to mislead the reader. A note on the same page, however, sufficiently explains the text.

But assuming to be true what the witness was offered to prove, and did most effectually prove, namely, a fraudulent sale by him of the property in question to the plaintiff; could the latter now recover back the price paid, since a verdict for the defendant has, in effect, taken the property out of his hands ? In other words, did the witness stand indifferent in consequence of being legally liable over to the plaintiff, in case he failed in the suit ? If not thus liable; then his interest was exclusively in favor of the party calling' him. It is true, the witness by the sale impliedly warranted the title. 6 Johns. R. 5. But such warranty did not extend to the operation, and effect of the fraud in the sale to which the vendee was a party; he must be considered as having assumed that hazard upon himself, as much so as if it had been made an exception in an express warranty of the title. Besides it would be against all principle, and an encouragement to fraudulent purchasers, to yield to them an indemnity against losses arising from their own wrong, the joint illegal act of themselves and the vendors. How then could the plaintiff recover against this witness the value of the property, even assuming the law has applied it to the payment of his debts ? I confess I know of no principle upon which the action could be maintained. The execution and sale would not show the taking from the plaintiff, by a title paramount, but by one subsequent ; he must therefore go into the particular, circumstances of the transaction, and they would develope a case in which it would appear, 1. That the implied warranty did not extend to it as before shown ; and 2. That in respect to the fraud upon which the title of the plaintiff failed, he was in pari delicto. 2 Doug. 450. I concede the vendor cannot defeat his own sale, on the ground that it was void as to creditors, because the statute made it void only as against them. Cro. Jac. 270. Cowper, 434, 2 T. R. 46, 13 Eliz. c. 5, 27 id. c. 4, 2 R. S. 137, § 1, and left it valid as between him and the vendee. But there the plaintiff would be obliged to affirm the fraud itself, in order to sustain the action; to permit which, would be against fundamental principles. Ex turpi causa non oritur actio. Cro. Jac. 270. Doug. 450. 1 W. Black. R. 363. 2 Barn.° & Aid. 367. Saund. Pl. & Ev. 527. 1 Stark. R. 60.

Did the release from the defendant operate to discharge the witness from his liability on the executions, so as to make him indifferent l Had it come from the party in interest, no doubt it would have had that effect. The constable, however, could not release the judgment or debt. The witness might still be called on to pay ; the judgment would or might be revived, in case of a recovery of the property taken, upon the ground that it did not belong to the defendant in the execution, and still remain an existing and operative demand.

New trial granted, costs to abide event.