Affirming.
The widow and six children of Frank Isaacs on November 20, 1934, sued J.L. Hignite under section 439 of the Civil Code of Practice in an effort to collect a judgment for $625.87 they had against Hignite. Green Montgomery and his wife were summoned as garnishees, an attachment was levied on 10 3/4 acres the Montgomerys had bought of Hignite, and the Isaacs, having been unsuccessful, have appealed.
The Montgomerys answered on December 26, 1934, that they owed Hignite two notes, one for $450 due February 15, 1935, and the other for $800 due February 15, 1936.
On March 25, 1935, E.W. Strong of Lansing, Tenn., filed his petition to be made a party, alleged his ownership of the $450 note, under assignment of it to C.D. Smith by Hignite in good faith and for a valuable consideration on August 15, 1934. and assignment by Smith to Strong on September 8, 1934.
On March 27, 1935, Thresa Brumback of Laurel, Ind., filed her petition to be made a party and alleged ownership of the $800 note, under an assignment of *Page 59 it to her by Hignite in good faith and for a valuable consideration on October 9, 1934.
Mrs. Brumback testifies the consideration for the transfer to her by Hignite of the $800 note was:
Fencing ...............................................$ 30.00 Seed Wheat ............................................ 45.00 6 cows and 2 heifers .................................. 370.00 22 ducks .............................................. 7.70 Cash .................................................. 297.30 ------- Total. ........................................$750.00
There is no contradictory evidence, hence the court correctly adjudged these parties to be the owners of these notes.
It is urged these are not negotiable notes, and for that reason that the court's action was erroneous. Negotiability may affect the defenses to a note under some circumstances, but the question here does not concern defenses, but ownership, and the negotiability or nonnegotiability of these notes is of no concern.
This is more like the case of Hiatt v. Bourne,
"A purchaser in good faith for value is to be favored by the law. The presumption of innocence is in his favor, and, to rebut this, the circumstances must be such as to satisfy the mind that he had notice of the vendor's intention to defraud his creditors."
The Montgomerys bought this 10 3/4 acres on July 31, 1934. The suit wherein the Isaacs obtained the judgment they are now undertaking to collect was then pending, but it was not known until September 8, 1934, that they would prevail. Montgomery had heard of that suit and had been told if he traded with Hignite he had better hold back enough money to pay the Isaacs in case they should get a judgment against. Hignite. The Montgomerys testify they thought the $1,250 for which they gave notes was sufficient "hold-back."
The question is: Was that enough to give notice to the Montgomerys of such fraudulent intent on the part of Hignite as is contemplated by section 1906, Ky., Statutes? This is not always an easy question to answer. Each case must be governed by its own particular facts, but we discussed this question in Hickman Bank Trust Co. v. Pickard and Mayberry,
In order to establish fraud on the part of the purchaser, there must be evidence thereof; fraud will not be presumed; some participation by the purchaser in the fraudulent design must be shown. Brown v. Foree, 7 B. Mon. (46 Ky.) 357, 46 Am. Dec. 519; Brown v. Smith, 7 B. Mon. (46 Ky.) 361; Ratcliff v. Trimble, 12 B. Mon. (51 Ky.) 32; and see West's Digest, Fraudulent Conveyances, key 155 to 171, inclusive.
We find no error in the record. The judgment is affirmed.
The whole court sitting.
