Opinion

Turner v. . Eford

  • 58 N.C. 106
Court
Supreme Court of North Carolina
Filed
Dec 5, 1859
Status
Published
Author
PjsaesoN
On the bench
PjsaesoN
Cited by
4 cases
Authority
More cited than 71.4%

The opinion

PjsaesoN, C. J.

The plaintiffs have established the allegations of their bill, by proving that their ancestor made a valid contract for the land in controversy, paid all the purchase-money, and had the title made to the ancestor of the defendants, upon a parol trust, to hold it for him. So they have .brought the case within the principle established by

Cloninger

v.

Summit,

2 Jones’ Eq. 513, and

Cousins

v.

Wall,

3 Jones’ Eq. 43, and would be entitled to a decree, but for the fact, that it is proved, fully, that their ancestor procured the title to be made to the ancestor of the defendants, with an intent to hinder, delay and defraud creditors; among others, one Edmund Smith, who had an execution against their ancestor, and' actually had it levied on his interest in the land ; and to evade it, he fraudulently had the title made to the ancestor of the defendants.

Upon this state of facts, it is a well-settled principle of this Court, not to interfere so as to aid the party, or those who claim under him, to reap the fruits of his iniquitous dealing. “ One must come into Equity with clean hands.”

This principle is fully recognised by

Pinckston v. Brown,

3 Jones’ Eq. 494; and that case is excepted out of its operation, on the ground, that an ignorant old woman, who was prevailed upon by her son (who had the management of her business and exercised great influence over her) to convey all her property to him, although she did so with an intent to de-

*108

Traud creditors, was not

in pari delicto

so as to have forfeited the right to call upon the Court for its aid. But special pains •'are taken to show the very peculiar grounds on which it was 'made an exception. No such grounds appear in this case. The bill must be dismissed, but without costs.

Pee CueiaM, Bill dismissed.

This is a copy of a public record, reproduced as it was published. It is not legal advice, and it may not be the version a court would rely on. Check the official source before you cite it.

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