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204 Pa. 162

Goodwin v. McMinn

Supreme Court of Pennsylvania

Decided November 10, 1902

Supreme Court of Pennsylvania · decided 1902-11-10

Appeal, No. 10, Oct. T., 1902, by plaintiff, from decree of C. P. Greene Co., No. 18, in equity, dismissing bill in equity in case of William Goodwin v. T, Reed McMinn. Held: but which writing was neither sealed, acknowledged nor recorded. It denied any fraud or intention to defraud Shaw or his creditors. It also stated an account. The case was heard on bill, answer and proofs.

Relies on Goodwin v. McMinn

Affirmed · Decided 1902-11-10

¶1Opinion by

Mb. Justice Mitchell,

¶2It is undisputed that the original conveyance by Shaw to appellee was to secure the latter for his advances and liabilities on Shaw’s account, to enable him to sell the property, repay himself, and turn over any balance remaining to Shaw. This purpose was set out in writing, but the paper was not under seal and was not acknowledged or recorded. As the conveyance to appellee was absolute on its face, the case prima facie came under the act of 1881 as an ineffectual defeasance.

¶3But the bill, as was pointed out by our Brother Dean, when the case was here before (193 Pa. 646), is not founded on the agreement as a defeasance, affecting the character of the original transaction, but on fraud of the appellee, in procuring the deed as security to himself for liabilities already discharged, and the subsequent misapplication of the property in his hands, or the proceeds of that sold by him. The averments of fraud being technically admitted by the demurrer, all we said was “ that plaintiff is entitled to a hearing.”

¶4The hearing has now been had and the court below has found explicitly that there was no fraud on the part of the appellee, and that “ taking into consideration the full amount of the obligations paid as surety for Shaw, together with the judgment and mortgage paid off on the property conveyed to him, and rating said property at its market value in the years 1891 and 1892, McMinn has paid a full and fair price for the same.”

¶5This is equivalent to finding that upon an account between Shaw and the defendant, Shaw would not be entitled to recover. McGovern, under whose judgment plaintiff claims as sheriff’s vendee, was a subsequent creditor, and plaintiff’s rights, therefore, are no higher than Shaw’s.

¶6Decree affirmed with costs.

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