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88 Mass. 440

Couillard v. Duncan

Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court

Decided September 15, 1863

Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court · decided 1863-09-15

Tost against a constable for the conversion of a horse, wagon and harness, by attaching them upon a writ in favor of Benjamin B. Mansfield against S. D. Wing. At the trial in the superior court, before Ames, J., the plaintiff claimed title under a bill of sale from Wing to him, dated July 4, 1862. The defence was that this sale was not absolute, but merely as collateral security for a debt, and that it was fraudulent and void as against creditors.

Decided 1863-09-15

By the Court.

¶11. Whether Mansfield was a creditor, and to what amount, were material questions in the case.

¶22. The defence was, that the sale to the plaintiff was not absolute, but as a security for debt. The court, in instructing the jury, stated the question clearly, and left it to them to determine whether the sale was absolute or as security only. No point was raised by the defendant at the trial as to the distinction between a pledge and a mortgage.

¶33. The amount of the verdict renders the question as to the rule of damages unimportant.

¶4Exceptions overruled.

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