Summary
A new trial having been granted, pursuant to the opinion of this court, (16 Conn. R. 276-291.) the cause was tried again, at Litchfield, February term, 1845, before Hinman, J.
On the 27th of November, 1840, Barnabas Payne leased to Nathaniel E. Bradley about six acres of land in Bln,ron Valley, with a furnace for the manufacture of iron, and a dweliing-house and store thereon, from the 1st of April, 1841, to the 1st of April, 1844. On the 17th of March, 1841, an additional agreement, between the same parties, was entered into, in relation to the rent. Bradley, by virtue of said lease, entered into possession of the premises therein specified, and continued in possession thereof until the 16th of February, 1843. On the 5th of that month, he left the state, as was supposed, to find a market for his iron ; but he has never since returned, and he in fact absconded, at that time.
On the 4th of January, 1842, a contract was entered into between Payne and Bradley, a copy of which appears in 16 Conn. R. 277, 8. The plaintiffs admitted, that Bradley had paid Jeremiah Calkins, named in that contract and one of the plaintiffs, for the coal delivered by him before the execution of the contract ; but to show the liabilities of Payne under it, they read in evidence a contract entered into between Bradley and Calkins, on the 24th of February, 1842, and the guaranty thereof by Payne endorsed thereon ; under which, Calkins, before tire 3rd of January, 1843, delivered to Bradley, on the premises above-mentioned, 28,416 bushels of coal, for which Bradley became indebted to Calkins. The amount of such indebtedness, on the 16th of February, 1843, was 1,837 dollars; for which Payne was liable, by virtue of his guaranty. The plaintiffs also read in evidence, for the same purpose, a contract entered into between Bradley and Henry Bird and Charles Kilmer, two of the plaintiffs, dated the 4th of January, 1842, which was also guarantied by Payne. Under this contract, Bird and Kilmer, before the 9th of January, 1843, delivered to Bradley, on the same premises, 34,908 bushels of coal, for which he became indebted to them, and Payne became liable, by virtue of his guaranty. For the amount of such indebtedness Bradley and Payne gave their promissory notes.
The plaintiffs claimed to have proved, that on the 16th of February, 1843, Payne went to the furnace premises, then in the occupation of Bradley, and in the presence of witnesses, took possession, under his contract with Bradley of the 4th of January, 1842, of two parcels of pig iron, lying near the furnace door, one containing 10 tons, called No. 1. iron, and the other about 95 tons, called No. 2. iron, and commenced the removal of said iron, employing several persons to assist him in such removal; that it was completed as soon as it could conveniently be done, on the same day and the sue- - ceeding evening, the iron being deposited in the high-way adjoining the premises of Aaron Reed; that on the next day, Payne, Galkins, Bird, and Kilmer met in the high-way near said iron, and agreed, that the plaintiffs should purchase and receive the iron of Payne, at the rate of 26 dollars a ton, to be applied on his guaranties ; and that, in pursuance of this agreement, the iron was then delivered by Payne to the plamtiffs, and received by them, to be so applied.
The witnesses to the point of delivery, stated, that immediately after the terms of the agreement had been concluded, Payne and the plaintiffs stepped up to the iron, and Payne said to the plaintiffs, “ 1 deliver this iron to you, at that price,” or words to that effect; that then Lockwood, one of the defendants, carne up, and said, that lie claimed the iron, and addressing the parties, added “ Stand away,” or words to that effect ; that then the attorney of the plaintiffs, in their behalf, demanded the iron of Lockwood; and that Lockwood replied to the demand, that he should not give it up. There was no further evidence of the delivery of the iron to the plaintiffs, or of the acceptance of it by them.
It was proved and admitted, that the defendant Lockwood, claiming to hold the iron by virtue of several writs of attachment against Bradley, previously levied by him as a deputy-sheriff’, a few days after the 17th of February 1843, removed said iron from the highway, where it was put on the 16th of February, and where it had hitherto remained.
The defendants claimed to have proved, that Bradley run the furnace mentioned in said lease, during two blasts, commencing in midsummer, and terminating, the first about the 1st of February, 1842, and the second, about the same time in 1843 ; that in prosecuting this business, Bradley, from time to time, purchased on credit large quantities of coal, iron-ore and other materials used in the manufacture of iron at the furnace, and employed a large number of agents and hands in making the iron, and in transporting the ore and coal used in such manufacture; that Bradley, at all times after he entered upon the premises, under said lease, and particularly, after the 4th of January 1842, carried on said business at the furnace, in his own name, with the knowledge of Payne, as being solely interested in the business, and the ex-' - elusive owner of all the property in and about the furnace, and of all the coal and other materials delivered there, and of all the iron manufactured there, with the right to dispose thereof as he might see fit; that by so carrying on said business, he obtained large and extensive credits, particularly between the 4th of January, 1S42, and the 16th of February 1843, and became indebted, during that period, for coal delivered at. the furnace, to divers of the attaching creditors above referred to, and other persons; and that those creditors, and others who had dealings with him, and to whom he became indebted, during that period, trusted him on the credit of said business and property, in the confident belief that he was the sole and absolute, owner thereof.
The defendants claimed, that when said contract of the 4th of January, 1842, was entered into, it was understood and agreed by the parties, that it should be kept secret, and that they accordingly did keep it. secret, until Payne disclosed its existence, on the 16th of February, in the manner above stated. To show the secresy practiced by Payne and Bradley in respect to said contract, the defendants offered sundry witnesses to prove, in connexion with the other facts claimed by them to be true, that they, the witnesses, from the 4th of January, 1842, to the 16th of February, 1843, had respectively dealings with Bradley, at. the furnace, and were in the habit of daily intercourse with him. and often saw Payne there, and yet they had no knowledge of the existence of said contract, until after the taking of the iron by Payne, on the 16th of February ; and that it was not public!}' known until that time. To tins evidence the plaintiffs objected, and the court excluded it.
The defendants also offered evidence to prove, and claimed they had proved, that the stock, iron and personal property, which Bradley had on or about the furnace premises, at the execution of the contract of the 4th of January 1842, and the iron which he made at the furnace, and the coal, ore, and other materials for the manufacture of iron, which he had on the furnace premises, constituted all his property, and all the means which he had to pay the debts contracted by him in said business, or otherwise ; and that he, being indebted to Richard Clark in the sum of 300 dollars, on book, for board-ins workmen in said business, sold to Clark, on or about the „ ,, , . 1st of February 1843, in payment of such debt, said 10 of No. 1. iron, claimed to have been taken by Payne, which, as the defendants claimed, was separated, by Bradley and Clark, from oilier iron belonging to Bradley, and delivered to Clark, and placed on the premises in a pile by itself, where it was lying, when taken by Payne, on the 16th of February, as claimed by the plaintiffs.
The defendants then claimed to have proved, that Payne, after said pretended taking of the iron by him, and in the course of the same day, put into the hands of Lockwood, then a deputy-sheriff, a writ of attachment against Bradley, in a suit on his covenants in said lease, by virtue of which Lockwood attached both the piles of iron, called No. 1. and No. 2.; immediately after which, certain other creditors of Bradley caused sundry writs of attachment, in their favour against Bradley, to be levied on the whole of said iron, subject to Payne’s attachment; and that, by virtue of Paynds writ and the writs of the other creditors, the officer, with the knowledge and consent of Payne, took into his possession the whole of said iron, and removed it oft' from the premises into the highway, adjoining the land of said Reed; and that the removal of said iron, claimed by the plaintiffs to have been made by Payne, was in fact made by said officer, under and by virtue of said attachments ; that Payne soon afterwards, (and before the sale to the plaintiffs on the 17th of February, as now claimed by them,) directed the officer to release said iron from his attachment, which was accordingly done ; and thenceforth, the officer held said iron under the attachments of the other creditors only.
The defendants also claimed to have proved, that said iron claimed to have been taken by Payne under the contract of the 4th of January, 1842, was manufactured during the last run of the furnace, and was mostly made during the month of January, 1843, and all of it, more than one fortnight before said pretended taking of Payne under said contract; and in at Bradley had been, at all times, after said iron was made until said taking on the 16th of February, openly in the possession of said iron, and for many months before said taking, had been openly in the possession of the furnace, and of a!! the materials, and in the making of the iron in dispute, and of all other iron manufactured at the furnace ⅝ -and that when the attachments of said creditors were levied on the iron in dispute, all except two or three tons of it, which had previously been removed, was on the premises occupied by Bradley, visibly in the same condition it was in before the pretended taking by Payne under said contract, except that some men and teams were then employed in removing it, under the direction of the agent and attorney of the attaching creditors; that before the levy of these attachments, the agent and attorney of the creditors, having no knowledge of the contract of the 4th of January, 1812, nor of said taking by Payne, under it, enquired of him as to the amount of his claim against Bradley under his attachment, which he then stated to be six' or eight thousand dollars ; that he stood by, both before and during the levy of said attachments, and during the removal of said iron by the officer, under those attachments, and did not make known to the defendants, nor the other attaching creditors, nor to their attorney, either the contract of the 4th of January, 1842, nor his taking of the iron under it, on the morning of the lfith of February, as claimed by tire plaintiffs ; and that the defendants, and other attaching creditors, and their attorney, had'no knowledge of either, till some time during the next day.
The defendants requested the court to instruct the jury, that if they should find it was the original intention oí Payne and Bradley in entering into said contract, that Bradley should remain in possession of the property therein comprised, and exhibit himself to the world as the absolute owner thereof; or if the jury should find, that it was understood by and between Payne and Bradley, at the execution of said contract, that it should be kept secret, so that Bradley might obtain credit, in and by said business and propo fy ; in either case, said contract would be fraudulent and void against the creditors of Bradley,
They also requested the court to instruct the jury, that if there was no such original purpose, yet if the jury should find, that Payne did in fact keep the contract secret, under the circumstances claimed by the defendants ; or if Payne suffered Bradley to hold himself out to the world as being the absolute owner of all the property from time to time at the furnace, and pariiculariy of tiic iron in dispute, and of the materials used iu making it; or if Payne himself held out Bradley r.s bein',■ such um ner ; then, in either ease, such con- . , ‘ , i . ~ . , . „ y-, „ , , •. tract won d on void against uradlcy $ creditors.
The dofendaWs a1 so reque-ded the court to instruct the jury, that il'th v should find, that Bayne did in fact keep said contract p"Cu\, dm-icy the period claimed by the defendants; part! ''ik’.dv, if the'.’ shouid iind, that Bradley transacted said business rd the furnace, in the manner claimed by the defendants : he n crecy vend be ovidcncc, that said contract va: fraudulent. And also, if they should lind, that the prupeny b s mohig ío Bradlt y, iu and about the furnace, at the evcuii¡itu <>;' sued contract and the coal and other mate-ria! ⅞ for mailing non (Mimed at the furnace, and the iron made thereof from the execution of «--aid contract until the taking by Payne, of the iron in dispute, on the 16th of February, constituted all the property of Bradley, and all his means of paying his debts; then such fact would be evidence of fraud in said contract; and especially would it be so, if the jury, in addition to this fact, should find, that said property was of the amount and value claimed by the defendants, and that Bradley transacted said business at the furnace, in the manner claimed by them.
The defendants also requested the court to instruct the jury, that if they should find that Payne suffered Bradley, from and after the execution of said contract, to retain possession of all “ such stock, iron and personal property,” as was in and about the furnace, when said contract was executed, and to dispose thereof; then such fact would be evidence of fraud in such contract. Also, that if Payne did, at all times after said contract was entered into, suffer Bradley to receive, in his own name, and as his own property, all the coal delivered at the furnace, from and after the 4th day of January to the 16th February, such fact would be further evidence of fraud in said contract. Also, if Payne did, at all times after the same date, permit Bradley to possess, and to dispose of, in his own name, and for his own use, all the iron made at the furnace, during said period, (except the iron in dispute,) and all other personal property which he had on said premises, during said period; then such possession and disposition would be further evidence of fraud in said contract. And finally, that if Payne suffered Bradley to -have possession of the iron in dispute, and of the materials used in making it, in the manner claimed by the defendants; then such possession is evidence of fraud in said contract, as against creditors, and, in this case, conclusive evidence, inasmuch as the plaintiffs have not shown to the court any reason which the law deems sufficient, to justify sucii possession.
The defendants also requested the court to instruct the jury, that if they should find that Bradley did ⅛aid business at the furnace, in the manner claimed by the defendants, and possessed and disposed of all the iron, and all the coal on the furnace premises, and the other materials used in making iron in and about the furnace, from tire 4th day of January to said 16th day of February, as claimed by the defendants; and if he had in his sole possession the iron in dispute, and the materials used in making it, in the manner, and for and during the period, claimed by the defendants; and if they should also find, that the same iron, up to the time of its attachment by Lockwood, remained visibly in the possession of Bradley, or on his premises, in the same condition it was in before the supposed taking by Payne under his contract; and also, that the attachments of said creditors of Bradley, were levied by them, in ignorance of the rights of Payne, as now set up under said contract; and also, that Payne stood by, during the levy of such attachments, and knowing thereof, did not make known to the officer, nor to the attaching creditors, nor to their attorney, either the existence of said contract, or his taking of said iron under it, as now claimed, on the 16th of February; then and in such case, the attaching creditors can hold the iron, notwithstanding such contract, and the pretended taking of Payne under it.
The defendants also requested the court to instruct the jury, that if they should find the tacts and circumstances last above specified to be proved and true ; then the defendants, excepting said Lockwood, are not liable to the plaintiffs, inasmuch as it does not appear, that such defendants had notice of the plaintiffs’ title before said suit was instituted ; nor that they were required to deliver said iron to the plaintiffs ; and that, under such facts and circumstances, (if found by the jury,) none of the defendants are liable to these plaintiffs, m-asmuch as Payne could not create a title to the iron in the plaintiffs, in opposition to said attachments, and in opposition to an officer who had taken said iron in discharge of his duty; and that the defendants, under such circumstances, were not obliged to take notice of the plaintiffs’ title, or to deliver said iron to the plaintiffs; and therefore, the neglect or refusal of Lockwood to deliver said iron to the plaintiffs, when demanded, was not a conversion.
They also requested the court to instruct the jury, that if they should find, that before said pretended sale to the plaintiffs, the defendants had taken said iron out of the possession of Payne, so as to become liable to him in trespass or trover, he could not, while said iron was wrongfully holden by the defendants, sell it to the plaintiffs ; and that, upon a title thus acquired, the plaintiffs could not recover. And if, in addition to these facts, the jury should find, that the parties to the pretended sale, merely agreed, that the plaint ills should have said iron at 26 dollars per ton, to be applied on the claims as proved ; and that Payne used said words about the delivery of said iron, as claimed by the plaintiffs, and then the parties separated, without doing any thing more ; the transaction would not, in point of law, be a sale : that a verbal agreement that the price of the iron should be applied on said claims, would not be payment: that such words would not be a delivery of said iron, if it was then adversely in the hands of Lockwood, as claimed by the defendants : that Payne had no right, by the terms of the contract, to sell said iron to the plaintiff's, in the manner lie did : that the contract of Jeremiah Calkins was not specifically comprised in the contract of the 4th of January, 1842, and that the general clause in said contract providing for the indemnity of Payne against the liabilities he might thereafter assume, was void, as against creditors: and that the notes executed by Bradley and Payne to Bird and Kilmer, was an extension of credit, in such manner that Payne had no right to sell, even under said contract, until such notes fell due.
In respect to the facts so claimed to be proved by the defendants, the plaintiffs denied their truth, and claimed, that there was no evidence worthy of credit before the jury, in support of the claims of the defendants ; and especially, that the only evidence tending to impute fraud to Payne was derived from a witness whom the plaintiffs introduced evi- ' . dence to impeach, and who, as the plaintiffs claimed, was wholly unworthy of credit. And the plaintiffs introduced ev-jdeilce tending to prove, and claimed they had proved, that the debts guarantied by Payne, were bona fide debts : that said guaranties were made in good faith ; and that the contract of the 4th of January, 1842, was made for the purpose of securing an honest liability, in an honest manner, and for no other purpose.
And the plaintiffs claimed, that said iron was manufactured during the last run of the furnace ; that the furnace made about four tons a day, and that it blew out about a fortnight before it was taken possession of by Payne ; and that he had taken possession thereof, and had removed several loads, and was in the act of removing the residue, when said attachments were levied thereon.
The plaintiffs further claimed, and offered evidence to show, that the contract of the 4th of January, 1842, did not embrace all, nor the principal part, of the property of Bradley ; and that the security was no more than reasonable and adequate to the demands thereby secured. The evidence to show that Bradley ’had other property than that embraced in the furnace establishment, consisted in the declaration of Bradley to the defendants' witnesses, which came out on the cross-examination, and the testimony of Mills S. Wheeler, who stated, that in consequence of what Bradley toid him, he went to Neiv-York, and found by the records and by reputation, that Bradley owned a furnace-stand in Orange county, N. Y., and that he had a claim on some property in Haver sir aw, on which there appeared to be clue him about 5,000 dollars.
The plaintiffs also claimed, that on no occasion had Payne done, or suffered any thing to be done, to induce credit to be given to Bradley; and that, on the only occasion on which it was claimed, he ever spoke concerning the credit of Bradley, viz. in the conversation above referred to with Mills S. Wheeler, the answer of Payne to Wheeler discouraged, and was calculated to discourage, Wheeler from giving credit to Bradley; and that Wheeler stated in his testimony, that he did not in fact give Bradley credit, in consequence of what Payne said to him.
As to the pile of No, 1. iron, the plaintiffs claimed, and offered evidence to prove, that after the pretended sale— thereof to Clark, it was suffered by him to remain on the premises of Bradley, and in his possession, and in the same visible situation as before such pretended sale, though a reasonable time had been allowed for its removal; and that Bayne took possession thereof under his contract, while it was so in the possession of Bradley; Payne being entirely ignorant of any pretended claim thereto by Clark.
The plaintiffs claimed, and offered evidence to prove, that after Payne had taken possession of the pile of No. 1. iron, a controversy arose between him and said Clark, in relation thereto ; and that in order to put an end to that controversy, Payne directed Lockwood to attach said pile of No. 1. iron, on the attachment in his favour above-mentioned against Bradley; and that Payne did not direct Lockwood to attach the pile of No. 2. iron ; and that Lockwood did not in fact attach any other than said pile of No. 1. iron on Payne’s attachment; and that that was shortly after released from such attachment: that Lockwood, when he served the attachments of said other creditors, did not attempt to take possession of said iron, but levied thereon expressly subject to the rights of Payne, and held it subject to his rights, until after the sale to the plaintiffs, and until the demand made upon him by the attorney of the plaintiff's, and that after such demand, Lockwood held such iron adversely to Payne and the plaintiffs ; and that, in a few days after said demand, Lockwood removed and converted the iron : that Payne took open possession, in the presence of witnesses, of the iron, under his said contract, on the morning of the 16th of February, and was publicly engaged in removing the iron, by persons to whom he had communicated his right and title to take it under said contract.
, The plaintiffs did not claim, that Payne would have any right to the iron in dispute, or that they could derive any title thereto from him, as against the attaching creditors of Bradley. unless it was proved, that Payne had taken possession of the iron before the attachments were served. The plaintiffs also admitted, that if the intention of Payne and Bradley in entering into said contract, was, to defraud the creditors of Bradley, or to give him a false credit; and if the jury should find", that there was an agreement or understanding that the -contract should be kept secret; or if it was in fact kept secret, with any such intention, the contract was illegal and void ; that if in fact the defendants were drawn in, to attach the iron, by the concealment or abandonment by Payne of his right under said contract, that then the plaintiffs ought not to recover ; that delivery of the iron to the plaintiffs by Payne, was necessary to make the sale to them valid, which delivery they claimed to the jury was sufficiently proved ; that Payne could not sell more than enough to pay such an amount of the guarantied debts as had fallen due, at the time of sale ; but they claimed, that under the contract, he had a right to take and keep possession, to indemnify him; and that being in possession of the iron for that purpose, and as the liabilities guarantied by him were to these plaintiffs, and as the iron was held as surety for the debts of these plaintiffs, it was rightfully in their possession, to secure their entire demands ; and they therefore claimed to recover for it of the defendants.
The court charged the jury, that if a vendor of personal property is suffered to retain the possession of the property after it is sold, the sale is void, against subsequent attaching creditors and bona fide purchasers of the vendor; being presumed to be fraudulent, unless some sufficient reason satisfactory to the court is shown for sucli retention of possession ; that this law applied to the 10 tons of iron, purchased by Richard Clark of Bradley, and put in a pile by itself, and suffered to remain in the possession of Bradley at the furnace : that as no reason was shown for its being so suffered to remain in Bradley's possession, it was, while in this condition, liable to be attached, by the creditors of Bradley, and to be taken by Payne, by virtue of his contract; but that this lien, under the circumstances of this case, had but a remote bearing upon the other parts of the case; that the contract under which Payne and the plaintiffs claimed, that Payne had the right to take possession of the iron in dispute, was a valid contract, upon the face of it ; and that unless it was infected with fraud in fact, it was to be carried into effect according to the intent of the parties in making it; but if it was made to conceal the property from Bradley's creditors ; or if it was made use of, by the parties, for any such purpose ; or if there was a design to make it appear, that the property was Bradley’s, that he might obtain credit thereby, and then that Payne might come in and sweep off the property from Bradley's creditors, it was void ; and if, as a means of accomplishing any of these objects, it was part of the design to keep the existence of the contract secret; or if Payne permitted Bradley to hold himself out to the world as owner of the property, when in fact he was not; or if he held out Bradley as owner, when he was not, with any such corrupt intent; then the contract would be void, and the plaintiffs could not recover ; or if, subsequent to his taking possession of the property, Payne held out Bradley as the owner of it, or in any way intentionally drew in the creditors of Bradley to attach the property, he claiming no interest under the contract, and by any such means the creditors were induced to attach the property, this would be such fraud as would es-top Payne from setting up title under the contract, and would operate as an abandonment of his rights under it, and prevent a recovery by the plaintiffs.
But the court instructed the jury, that if there was no fraud in the original concoction of the contract, nor in the management of the parties under it, then the case would, in a great measure, depend upon what took place between Payne and these parties on the 16th and 17th days of February, 1843: that if Payne took possession of the iron, in the manner claimed by the plaintiffs, on the 10th of February, before it was attached by any body, he would be entitled to a reasonable time to remove it; and that it was for the jury to say, whether he was guilty of any unreasonable delay in moving it. And the court expressed the opinion, that if, as the plaintiffs claimed the fact to be, he began to move it immediately, and employed two or three teams and several men to assist in the removal, there was no very unreasonable delay in removing the iron.
In regard to the contract of Payne, when the attachments' under which the defendants claimed were served, the court instructed the jury, that if Payne, by his conduct, in any way intentionally drew in the defendants to serve their attachments, he, at the time, claiming no interest under his contract, by means of which the defendants were induced to attach, this would prevent Payne from setting up title under the contract, and prevent a recovery by the plaintiffs ; but that ati attachment by Payne of the same iron, to secure another and different debt than that attempted to be secured by the contract under which he claimed the right to take the property, would not be an abandonment of any right lie might have under that contract.
The court also charged the jury, that the plaintiffs, to recover, must prove, that they had either the absolute or a qualified title to the iron in dispute, and also the right to the immediate possession of it; but that a qualified title derived from Payne, with the right to the possession of it, was sufficient to entitle them to recover the full value of it; and that whether they had such right derived from Payne, depended in part upon the delivery to them claimed to have taken place on the 17th of February, at the time of the sale claimed to to have been made to the plaintiff's. In regard to such sale, the court instructed the jury, that situated as the property was, it was not necessary that the plaintiffs should have removed it, on the 17th, in order to perfect the delivery to them ; but that it was sufficient, if the possession was in fact delivered, in the manner claimed by the plaintiffs, and received by them.
The jury returned a verdict for the plaintiffs ; and the defendants thereupon moved for a new trial, on the ground that the court erred in excluding the evidence offered by them, as well as in the charge to the jury, and in the omission to charge them as requested by the defendants.
contended, 1. That the plaintiffs had no such title to the iron in question, derived from Payne, as would support this action. In the first place, it is to be kept in mind, that to sustain tro-ver, the plaintiff must have both the right of property and the right of possession. Bloxam v. Sanders, 4 B. Gres, 941. (10 E. C. L. 477.) Gordon v. Harper, 7 Term II. 9. 12. Secondly, the case is within the statute of frauds and perjuries ; as the plaintiffs did not accept and actually receive part of the iron, or give any thing in earnest, áre. Slat. 299, 300. (ed. 1838.) The language of the statute — “ actually received?’ — -is very strong, and shows that there must be a manual tradition — -a handing over — of one party, and a taking of possession by the other. A symbolical or virtual delivery is good, where, from the nature of the case, no other can be made ; because this gives the controul of the property — the dominion over it. But here, there was no delivery of any sort. The iron was not moved ; its weight was not ascertained; there was no symbolical or virtual delivery 5 nor was it a proper case for such a delivery. Bailey & ah v. Ogden, 3 Johns. R. 399. Maherly v. Sheppard, 10 Bing. 99. (25 E. C. L. 43.) Baldley v. Parker, 2 B. & Gres. 37. (9 E. C. L. 16.) Edan v. Dud field, 1 Ad. & El. N. S. 551. (41 E. C. L. 551.) Nicholle v. Plume, 1 Gar. & Pa. 272. (II E. C. L. 390.) Hold v. Griffin, 10 Bing. 246. (25 E. C. L. 118.) Acebal v. Levy, 10 Bing. 376. (25 E. C. L. 170.) Blenldnsop v, Clayton, 7 Taunx597. Elmore v. Slone, 1 Taini. 458. Astey v. Emery, 4 Mau. & Sel. 262. Bcnia.ll v. Burn, 3 B. &z Gres. 423. (10 E. C. L. 138.) Alexander v. Comber, 1II. Bla. 20. Hanson v. Meyer, 6 East, 614. Calkins v. Lockwood, 16 Conn. R, 287. Thirdly, if the property was adversely in the possession of Lockwood, Payne could not sell to the plaintiffs, so as to invest them with a title as against these defendants. Imlay v. Sage, 5 Conn. R. 489. Morehouse v. Canfield, Sup. Ct. Litchfield €o. Aug. 1834, cor. Daggett, J. Fourthly, Payne had no right to sell, as he did, to the plaintiffs, by reason of the provisions of his contract with Bradley. Peitibone v. Griswold, l Conn. R. 158. Shepard v. Shepard, & Conn. R. 37. Sanford v. Wheeler, 13 Conn. R. 165. North v. Bclden. Id. 376. Hart v. Chalker, 14 Conn. R. 77. Calkins v. Lockwood, 16 Conn. R. 288.
2. That the refusal of Lockwood was not a refusal by- the other defendants. Meredith v. Flaxman, 5 Car. & Pa. 99, (24 E. C. L. 231.) Sarjeant v. Cowan, Id. 492. (24 E. C. ij. 423.) Nicoll v. Glennie, 1 Mau. & Sel. 588. Me Comlie v. Davies, 6 East, 538. Bristol v. Burt, 7 Johns. R. 254. Rushworth v. Taylor, 3 Ad. & El. N. S. 699. (43 E. C. L. 932.) Alexander v. Southey, 5 B. & Aid. 247. (7 E. C. L, 85.) Smith v. Young, 1 Campb. 439. Hayward v. Seaward, 1. M. & Sc. 459. (28 E. C. L. 269.) Timothy v. Simpson, 6 Car. & Pa. 499. (25 P. C. L. 510.) Barnard v. Now, 1 Car. & Pa. 866. (11 E. C. L. 422.) Colegrave v. Nias Sara-tos, 2 B. & Ores. 76.(9 E. C. L. 80.) Leonard v. Tidd, 3 Mete. 6.
3. That in regard to the No. I. iron, Payne was not in a situation to defeat the title of Richard Clark, by purchase from Bradley. The right of Clark was the superior and. better right; and therefore, the charge on this point was wrong. Rob. Fraud. Con. 388.
4. That the possession of Bradley, under the circumstances claimed by the defendants, was conclusive on the point of fraud, notwithstanding the seizure of Payne. At any rate, it was evidence of fraud, and as such, should have' been submitted to the jury. The various badges of fraud insisted on by the defendants, should also have been submitted, as further evidence on the same point. Osborne v. Tidier, 14 Conn. R. 529. Carter v. Watkins, Id. 240. Mills v. Camp, Id. 219. Swift v. Thompson, 9 Conn. R. 63. Robins v. Parker, 3 Mete. 117. Twynes case, 3 Co. 80. Calkins v. Lockwood, 10 Conn. R. 288. 1 Sw. Pig. 274. Leonard v. Baker, 1 Man. & Sel. 250. Shurtleff v. Willard, 19 Pick. 202. 211. Jones v. Huggeford, 3 Mete. 515.
5. That the rejection of the evidence offered by the defendants to prove secrecy, was erroneous. 1 Sw. Dig. 274, Leonard, v. Baker, 1 Man. & Sel. 250. Twyne’s case, 3 Co, 80.
6. That Payne cannot avail himself of his seizure of the iron, because he stood by, during the attachment and removal thereof by the defendants, and disclosed neither his contract with Bradley, nor his seizure under that contract.
7. That the charge of the judge on the title of Clark to the No. 1. iron, on the point of fraud, on the secrecy practiced by Payne, on the conduct of Payne when the defendants’ attachment was levied, and on the title of the plaintiff's as derived from Payne, was erroneous.
8. That the judge should have submitted the entire case, as claimed by the defendants, to the jury, with instructions in conformity with the request of the defendants.
remarked, in limine, That the rights of the plaintiffs, in this case, depend mainly upon the contract between Payne and Bradley of the 4th of January, 1842 ; the validity of which this court, one year ago, established, and decided that Payne might lawfully secure hinwelf thereby, in the manner in which he attempted to do. - 16 Conn, id. ¾76. The defence, now, is not, that the debts and liabilities assumed by Payne, are not rea! and bona fide ; nor that when Payne seized the iron and took it into his possession, he seized it as a mere sham for Bradley’s benefit ; nor that, upon the seizure, he held the iron for any other purpose than as security for bona fide liabilities. But the de-fence is, that Bradley continued in possession of properly, which Payne might have taken possession of, under the contract, as absolute owner ; that he got credit on it, as such owner; that Payne knew this; that he concealed the contract, in pursuance of an original understanding between him and Bradley that it should be kept secret; and that, in con-nexion with these facts, there was testimony offered by the defendants to prove, that the witnesses did not know the existence of the contract. The defence proceeds upon the idea, that some inference can be drawn against Payne’s title, because he did not exercise his rights under the contract. The counsel for the plaintiffs, then contended,
I. That no inference ought to be made against Payne, because he deferred taking possession of the property. His right to take possession, was indeed immediate, but his power to sell was deferred until pay-day ; and it was perfectly natural that he should wait until pay-day, before taking possession, in order to see if Bradley himself might not pay, and avoid the necessity of Payne’s troubling himself at all with the matter. Bradley rnet these engagements himself until February, 1843. Of course, Payne had no occasion to make a seizure until that time. Until possession taken, Bradley must necessarily appear as the owner, because he was then the owner, with full power to sell. Bradley’s appearing as owner, under such circumstances, was no evidence of fraud ; nor could it impair the rights of Payne under the contract. Seymour v. Boadley, 9 Conn. R. 418.
•J, That the testimony offered by the defendants, to show the secrecy of the contract between Payne and Bradley was properly rejected. Here it should be noticed, that proof of the concealment of the contract, and of its being kept secret, had been offered and received without objection. The defendants then proposed to show, that certain persons about the furnace did not know of the contract. This, at most,. , . , , ■ to show, that its existence was not made known ; bus not, that Payne and Bradley, or either of them, did any thing t0 concea| ¡t_ But the mere silence of a man about his business, (unless under peculiar circumstances where it is his duty to speak,) affords no inference against him. A man’s private business, is, of course, of a private nature. At any rate, the plaintiffs are under no responsibility for Bradley’s silence. Mills v. Camp, 14 Conn. R. 228. West v. Anderson^ 9 Conn. R. 107.
3. That the charge in relation to the secrecy of the contract and Bradley’s manner of conducting his business, was unexceptionable. The defendants called upon the judge to instruct the jury, that, the mere keeping of secrecy, under the circumstances of the case, would render the contract fraudulent. The defendants admitted, that if the contract was kept secret, with intent to defraud Bradley’s creditors, or to give Bradley a false credit, this would make the contract void ; and this question of fact was submitted.
4. That the defendants, under the charge, had the benefit of the other circumstances relied upon as evidence of fraud.
5. That the sale of the iron by Payne to the plaintiffs, was a valid sale, being accompanied with actual delivery.
6. That the fact that the iron, at the time of the sale to the plaintiffs, was subject to the pretended attachments of some of Bradley’s creditors, did not invalidate such sale, as those creditors, in attaching such property, were trespassers. The law against selling pretended titles, is not applicable to such a case.
7. That the sale of the No. 1. iron to Clark, not being accompanied by a change of possession, was constructively fraudulent and void, as against the claims of Payne under the contract.
8. That Payne’s attachment of this iron, which he soon abandoned, had no effect upon his rights under the contract.
9. That the conversion in this ease, was an actual conversion ; and as Lockwood acted by direction of the other defendants, they all participated in it. No demand was necessary.
Syllabus and headnotes are prepared by the reporter or publisher, not the court, and are not part of the opinion.
