Manning v. Solis , 1867 N.Y. App. Div. LEXIS 204 ( 1867 )

Leonard, P. J.

It was very properly conceded, at the argument by the counsel for the respondent, that no case, authorizing an arrest, was made against the defendant, except under the 4th subdivision of the. 179th section of the Code, for “fraud in contracting the debt, or incurring the obligation for which the action is brought.”

The defendant purchased from the plaintiffs a large amount of cotton on the 1st of March, 1867, for cash on delivery, in eight days. The largest part of the cotton was delivered by the plaintiffs, and received by the defendant, but some part of the lot sold was refused by the defendant, as not equal to the sample. The defendant paid about one third of the price, on the day of the delivery, but the residue has not been paid. The delivery was made about ten days after the sale, the time of delivery having been extended by agreement. On the same day of the delivery to the defendant, he sold the cotton to a third party for about two cents per pound less than he had agreed to pay to the plaintiffs for the same, and received payment from the purchasers, in full. '

Usually the fact that a purchaser sells for less than he pays, almost immediately after he obtains the possession of the purchased article, is considered a strong badge of fraud, and' pi-etty conclusive evidence that the purchaser intended not to pay the price. In the present case it is stated, in the moving papers, and not denied by the plaintiffs, that the price for which the cotton was sold, was the full market value. It also appears that the portion of the proceeds of the sale, not paid over to the plaintiffs, was temporarily deposited by the defendant with a friend, who refused to repay him on demand, upon the ground of an indebtedness due to him from the defendant.

These are circumstances, as, I think, fully explaining facts which ought otherwise to be regarded as conclusive evidence of a fraudulent intention not to' pay. for the cotton purchased.

The order appealed from should be .reversed, and the order of arrest vacated, with $10 costs

Sutherland, J. concurred.