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2 Edw. Ch. 373

Ross v. Hegeman

New York Court of Chancery

Decided October 14, 1834

New York Court of Chancery · decided 1834-10-14

Bill for a moiety of premises alleged to have been purchased by the complainant and defendant in common. It alleges that the complainant, John E. Ross, and the defendant, Peter A. Hegeman, who was his brother-in-law, made joint application in the month of August, one thousand eight hundred and twenty-five, to Charles W. Sandford, Esquire, for the purchase of two lots of ground in the Bowery.

Cited by 2 later decisions — most recently December 1877

2 state decisions

Good law ✅— No negative treatment on recordhow we know

Decided 1834-10-14

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The Vice-Chancellor:

¶1I think the plea might be well pleaded in form, within the rules of good pleading, as recognised and explained by the chancellor, in Bogardus v. Trinity Church, 4 Paige’s C. R. 178; and if I were as well satisfied of its sufficiency in substance, or its applicability to the case made by the bill, I should, without hesitation, allow it to stand as a bar.

¶2But it appears to me, the case made by the bill is not within the statute requiring the trust to be manifested by some note or declaration in writing. A trust may result or be implied from a joint advance of money upon a purchase in the name of one; and whether the money is paid by the party claiming the benefit of being a joint purchaser before or after the completion of the purchase would seem to make no difference, provided the payment is clearly, shown to be on account and in part of the purchase money. Upon the authority of Wray v. Steele, 2 Ves. & B. 388. (and see also Jeremy’s Equity Juris. 86.) I am of opinion, the present is not a case in which the want of an express declaration of trust in writing can be set up in bar to further discovery and relief. At any rate, I am convinced it is the safest course to overrule the plea, with leave to the defendant to raise the objection in his answer: Townsend v. Townsend, 2 Paige’s C. R. 415, and 577. The defendant is to put in a full answer and pay the costs within twenty days.

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