Public-domain · open source
OpenJurist

24 Mass. 247

Webb v. Peele

Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court

Decided November 8, 1828

Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court · decided 1828-11-08

Scire facias. From the answers of Peele it appeared, that on August 14, 1826, James Silver was in failing eircuinstances by reason of the failure of Richard Wheatland, for whom he was liable as indorser, and that he was desirous of securing Peele against loss from his liabilities on account of Silver, and also of securing to J. Hodges, E. Appleton, J. Day and M. Day the payment of certain debts contracted by Silver on his own account and then unpaid, in preference to the…

Decided 1828-11-08

Per Curiam.

¶1We are of opinion that the land passed by the deed, there being a valid consideration ; that the purpose being to pay debts, it passed in trust; and that it is to be accounted for at its actual value. But the deed being absolute, the land is to be applied to those debts before resort is had to the personal estate ; it must be considered as a payment pro tanto. If there shall afterward be a surplus of personal estate, Peele must be charged for it. This cannot be ascertained without first coming at the value of the real estate. Perhaps this may be determined by agreement, but if not, the respondent should be allowed an opportunty to sell. We consider the whole property as put inte his hands to be applied to the discharge of the debts and liabilities specified, and that he will be liable as trustee for the surplus.1

¶2 But neither choses in action nor land assigned, are, in the hands of the assignee, goods, effects or credits of the assignor liable to the trustee process, even in case the assignee would be trustee after receiving money by means *256of the choses in action or as the proceeds of the sale of the land. Gore v. Clisby, 8 Pick. 555. See also Bissell v. Strong, 9 Pick. 562; Tucker v. Clisby, 12 Pick. 22. So held, where the assignee had sold the land after the process had been served on him but before he had filed his answer. Sanford v. Bliss, 12 Pick. 116. See Fall River Iron Works v. Croade, 15 Pick. 16.

¶3The court will not compel the assignee to apply first such land to the pay. ment of the creditors, parties to the assignment, in order to create a sur plus of the goods to which the trustee process may attach. Tucker v. Clisby 12 Pick. 22; Gore v. Clisby, 8 Pick. 555.

/24/mass/247 · .json · Public domain