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16 Tenn. 417

Simpson v. Mitchell

Tennessee Supreme Court

Decided August 15, 1835

Tennessee Supreme Court · decided 1835-08-15

This is an action of trover, to recover two negro slaves, and some other property, which had been tallen .as the property of John Staples, and sold by Mitchell as sheriff, and to which the plaintiff claimed title By virtue of a deed, which, though absolute in terms, appeal’s from other parts to be only a surety for a debt from said Staples to himself, dated the 27th of January, 1832.

Cited by 1 later decisions — most recently May 1957

1 state decisions

Good law ✅— No negative treatment on recordhow we know

Decided 1835-08-15

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Green J.

¶1delivered the opinion of the court.

¶2It is manifest from' the face of the deed in this case, that although it purports in terms to be an absolute conveyance of the property, that, in fact, it was only intended as a security to Simpson. The stipulation that some of the property should be again sold, and the proceeds accounted’ for, and to be applied to the payment of certain debts, is demonstrative that there was a trust reposed in Simpson, and that the conveyance was only for his security. In this view of the case, the deed is liable to the full force .of the objection which existed in the cases of Darwin vs. Hadly (3 Yer. Rep. 502), and Sommerville and Crutcher vs. Horton (4 Yer. Rep. 541). Doubtless there was an honest debt due to Simpson, to secure which, the deed was in part intended; but as it also included property which must necessarily consume in the using, and which must have been covered by the deed, that’it might be secured for the use of Staple’s family, it was so far fraudulent, and was made to “hinder and delay creditors,” and being fraudulent in part, it is good for nothing.

¶3Had it been an absolute sale, without any reservation of a trust for the use of Staples, then the property having remained in possession of Staples for two years, all the *420time being used as though it were his, would be evidence g,au(j^ wj1jcj1 is repelled by proof of fairness. The jury was, therefore, justified in finding that the deed was fraudulent; and the judgment will therefore be affirmed.

¶4Judgment affirmed.

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