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21 Conn. 586

Bunnell v. Read

Supreme Court of Connecticut

Decided June 15, 1852

Supreme Court of Connecticut · decided 1852-06-15

<p>Where a contract was made between H, an individual living in New York, and P, a manufacturing company in this state, that P should convey to H, all the real estate and privileges used and occupied by P, in working the mills of the company, situated in the town of B; for which H promised to pay to P a certain sum of money, and to D, another sum; H performed on his part; and to carry this agreement into effect, on the part of P, he gave a deed of the property, describing it as situated in B; a portion of the property was in fact situated in the adjoining town of T, separated from the residue, only by an ideal township line, having been originally purchased and used for the purpose of a reservoir of water for the mills connected therewith, and necessary for their profitable enjoyment; on a bill in chancery, brought by a party claiming under H, for a legal title to the estate in T, it was held, 1. that whether the inaccuracy in the deed, was the result of fraud or mistake, the plaintiff was entitled to the relief sought; 2. that an interest vested in H, creating in him a trust, which was assignable and descendible, and which could be taken on execution.</p> <p>Where W, the grantee of D, in such case, claimed, that his deed was prior in time to the plaintiffs’ lien, and that when he received it, he had no notice of such lien; it was held, that if he would avail himself of his purchase and want of notice, it was incumbent upon him, in plea or answer, to aver those facts, and set out the consideration of his purchase.</p> <p>After a hearing on the merits and a decree passed, it is quite too late to except to the bill for want of proper parties.</p> <p>Qu. Whether it is necessary at all, to make a person, who has formerly had an interest in property, but which has since been wholly taken and set off on execution, a party to the suit?</p>

Decided 1852-06-15

Church, Ch. J.

¶1The superior court has found the averments in this bill to be true. Upon a first reading of it, there seems to be a doubt as to what property the parties to the deed to Hubbell, Thatcher & Green intended to include, by the description of the premises contained in it; and *591whether they meant to sell and to buy anything not situated in the town of Bridgeport. The defendants act upon the assumption, that nothing else was in contemplation, and that no other property was paid for, by Hubbell & Co. We think this is a false construction of the language of the bill, and a misapprehension of the object of the purchase.

¶2Although the deed from the Pequonnuck Manufacturing Company and Diantha Bunnell to Hubbell, Thatcher & Green, referred to by the bill, does not, in its terms, describe property located out of Bridgeport, yet it is averred, that the proposition of the grantees was, to convey all the interest which the grantees had in all the real estate and privileges used and occupied, by the Pequonnuck Company, in working their mills; and it must have been equally the intention of the purchasers to buy them. But a portion of this property was in fact situated in the adjoining town of Trumbull, separated from the residue only by an ideal township line, and was originally purchased and used, for the purpose of a reservoir of water for the use of the mills themselves, and necessary for their profitable enjoyment. As we understand this bill, the only difficulty was, that Hubbell & Co., when they purchased, did not know that the town line separated the property they had contracted for, but the grantors did.

¶3Whether the omission in the deed to give a full and accurate description of the property, was the result of fraud or mistake, is not material; in either alternative, a court of equity will interfere to do justice between the parties interested.

¶4The superior court has found, that the intention of all the parties to the conveyance, was, that the property now in dispute should be conveyed to Hubbell & Co., as a part of their purchase, and that the whole was paid for, by them, by the satisfaction of their demand against the Pequonnuck Company, and the payment of the claim and mortgage of the said Diantha Bunnell.

¶5If then Hubbell & Co. actually contracted and paid for the property in question, and either by fraud or mistake, have not received the legal title to it; yet they have a vested equitable interest and title, so that their grantors may be treated as holding the legal title in trust for them. 2 Sto. Eq. § 789. 1212. Champion v. Brown, 6 Johns. Ch. R. 398.

¶6*592But it is objected, that, as Hubbell, Thatcher & Green claim nothing, and do not insist either upon fraud or mistake in the conveyance, these plaintiffs, strangers to the purchase, have no right to disturb it. If this had been merely a contract for a purchase, unexecuted on either side, by payment of the consideration, or possession taken, a mere chose in action, so that no interest, either legal or equitable, in the land itself, had vested, this argument might avail; but here, as we have said, an interest did vest in Hubbell & Co., so as to create a trust, which was assignable and descendible, and which could be taken on execution. 2 Sto. Eq. § 1212. Whittlesey v. McMahon, 10 Conn. R. 138. Beers v. Botsford, 11 Conn. R. 369. Davenport v. Lacon, 17 Conn. R. 278.

¶7It must follow, from these premises, that these plaintiffs, creditors of Hubbell & Co., had a right to take their interest, by execution;-a right which does not depend upon the consent or coöperation of the debtors. Such equitable interest as Hubbell & Co. had in the property situated in the town of Trumbull, has been set off to the plaintiffs, their creditors, on execution, and it is the duty of a court of equity to make it available to them, unless some other objections of greater weight exist, that have yet been suggested.

¶8It is however claimed, for William R. Bunnell, one of these defendants, that it does not any where appear, that he had notice of the condition of the title, when he received his deed, prior in time to the plaintiffs’ lien. This is true; but it does not appear, although he received a release or quit claim deed from Diantha Bunnell, that he was therefore a purchaser for valuable consideration, without which, he is not protected by want of notice, if indeed he was without notice. If he was such a purchaser, the fact was known to himself; and if he would avail himself of this and a want of notice, it was incumbent upon him, in plea or answer, to aver it, and set out the consideration of his purchase. 2 Sw. Dig. 236. Coop. Eq. Pl. 281. Mitf. Pl. 277 and notes.

¶9Still another objection is made, which is, that Hubbell, Thatcher & Green are not made parties to this proceeding. The bill alleges, that these persons have no remaining inter*593est in the property in dispute, which has all been taken, and set off on the plaintiffs’ execution. Why then should they be made parties? If they have in truth yet an outstanding interest, notwithstanding the allegations in the bill to the contrary, and the defendants would avail themselves of it, for any purpose, it should have been by demurrer, for want of parties, or in some other appropriate way. But however this may be, it is quite too late now, to make this objection in this way, as we have often decided. Lee v. The New London Bank, 11 Conn. R. 112.

¶10We are satisfied, that no good objection exists against granting the prayer of this bill; and that the decree of the superior court should be affirmed.

In this opinion the other judges concurred, except Waite, J., who was disqualified under the late statute.

¶11Judgment affirmed.

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