The action in Hallidie v. Enginger, supra, was brought by the plaintiff, as trustee for the stockholders of the corporation, which had forfeited its charter, to recover a sum of money received by the defendant from dividends and as proceeds from the sale of stock which the defunct corporation had been induced to sell to the defendant by his false representations. It was clearly and essentially an action grounded in fraud, and not one for the direct payment of money upon contract, express or implied. Whatever liability existed on the part of the defendant arose solely through his fraudulent representations, and consequently the gravamen of the action was fraud.

But such is not the case here. The recovery which is sought by the plaintiff is a definite sum of money, due on a contract of lease for the payment of rent. The question here is whether this action is one within the purview of subdivision 1 of section 537 of the Code of Civil Procedure. That subdivision does not contemplate the right of attachment in an action ex delicto for fraud. This statement is in accord with Hallidie v. Enginger, supra. [2] The action must be one upon contract, express or implied, for the direct payment of money. If a recovery upon such a contract is the purpose of the suit, so far as the right of attachment is concerned it is immaterial whether the action be regarded as strictly legal or strictly equitable, or partly legal and partly equitable. The subdivision does not in terms prescribe that the action must be one in law, or that it may not be one in equity, or that it may not be one of either law or equity, or of both. Hence it is not necessary in order to uphold the writ of attachment to establish the proposition that the action is either legal or equitable. What must be established is that the action is based upon contract, either express or implied, for the direct payment of money. It is clear that this action addresses itself to both the legal and the equitable powers of the court. But that circumstance will not operate to deny the plaintiff a writ of attachment if he is seeking recovery upon the breach of such contract. It is to be kept in mind that there is no suggestion that fraud entered into the making of the contract. The respective obligations of the parties thereunder were for a time performed and then one of them committed a breach of the contract. So the basis and essence of the action is an executed contract for the direct payment of

money, and in order to have satisfied any judgment that may be recovered for such breach the plaintiff sues out a writ of attachment. In order to establish the proposition that the property attached should be responsive to such a judgment the plaintiff invokes certain well-recognized equitable principles. [3] But this does not have the effect of converting the action on the express contract for the direct payment of money into one ex delicto for fraud. Consequently, even if such an action may properly be regarded as partially legal and partially equitable, it will make no difference. The plaintiff is nevertheless entitled to a writ of attachment by virtue of the fact that he is suing for a recovery upon the contract which is the gravamen of the action. In stating, as we have, that it does not matter that the relief sought partakes of both law and equity we do not mean to be understood as holding that an attachment may be issued upon a creditor's bill to set aside transfers of property in fraud of creditors. In such a case the gravamen of the cause of action against the transferee is the fraud. But in the present action the facts alleged in the complaint make out not merely a case where the transferee took the property as part of a scheme to defraud creditors, but one where the transferee is in fact the original debtor masquerading under a different name. If the action were one against the tenant by name to recover the rent due, it could not be questioned but that it was one upon a contract for the direct payment of money. Yet that is what the present action really is.

[4] But the appellant argues in support of his contention that this is an action ex delicto for fraud that the plaintiff did not in his prayer to the complaint ask for a money judgment. The only direct reference to the claim in the prayer is in these words: "That it be adjudged and decreed . . . that the said defendant holds said property. . . charged with the payment of the plaintiff's claim for $3,617.60, with interest and costs; that the said property be sold for the payment of plaintiff's claim and costs." While the prayer does not in express terms ask for a money judgment, it is nevertheless plain that such a judgment was the purpose of the suit. However, the respondent stated in oral argument that a motion would be interposed in the court below to have the complaint amended in that regard. This may be done. It was said in Kohler v. Agassiz, 99 Cal. 9, [33 Pac. 741]: "Even

CLXXX Cal.-23

on demurrer to the complaint the defendants cannot object to the prayer, and certainly, so long as the complaint contains every essential of an action upon contract, they cannot upon motion to dissolve an attachment accomplish what they could not upon demurrer; a motion to dissolve the attachment cannot reach the defects in the complaint." It was further held in that case that a motion to dissolve an attachment could not be turned into a demurrer, but that on such motion we are "simply to determine whether: (1) The complaint showed the action to be founded upon contract, express or implied; (2) whether it states facts sufficient to constitute a cause of action against the defendants; and, if not (3) does it appear therefrom that it can be so amended as to state a cause of action upon contract." The complaint sufficiently states a cause of action upon an express contract for the direct payment of money to satisfy the requirement of subdivision 1 of section 537.

2. The appellant further contends that attachment will not lie herein because of lack of privity of contract between the plaintiff and the defendant corporation. This is equally without merit. It is true that the contract was entered into between the plaintiff and the Maryland Dairy Lunch Company, and that the Lunch Company assigned all of its assets to the defendant corporation except this lease with the plaintiff. As the lease was not included in the bill of sale the law will not imply a promise on the part of the defendant corporation to pay the rent. (7 R. C. L. 183; 76 Am. St. Rep. 800, note.) [5] But it is well established in this state that under circumstances such as these where a corporation reorganizes under a new name but with practically the same stockholders and directors and continues to carry on the same business, a court of equity will regard the new corporation as a continuation of the former corporation, and will hold it liable for the debts of the former corporation. (Blanc v. Paymaster Mining Co., 95 Cal. 524, [29 Am. St. Rep. 149, 30 Pac. 765]; Higgins v. California Petroleum Co., 122 Cal. 373, [55 Pac. 155]; 147 Cal. 363, [81 Pac. 1070]; Strahm v. Fraser, 32 Cal. App. 447, [163 Pac. 680].) The allegations of the complaint as to the fraudulent scheme to avoid the payment of the plaintiff's rent go to the point of making out, as they do, that the defendant, by name the M. Schwind Company, is, in fact, the tenant formerly by name the Maryland

Dairy Lunch Company. That equity will strip off the mask of a separate corporate identity, when it is but a mask, is amply sustained by these authorities. [6] Nor is it necessary, as asserted by appellant, to make the former corporation a party defendant. (Blanc v. Paymaster Mining Co., supra.)

[7] 3. Objection is raised to the sufficiency of the affidavit to support the attachment on the ground that it does not state the fact that the defendant corporation is a nonresident. The question thus presented is whether, within the meaning of sections 537 and 538 of the Code of Civil Procedure, in every case of a nonresident defendant, the fact of nonresidence must be averred in the affidavit on attachment. We think not. Under subdivisions 1 it is the nature of the cause of action against a nonresident defendant rather than the fact of his residence that controls. Only in those cases wherein the cause of action is one contemplated by either subdivision 2 or 3 is it necessary to aver that the defendant is a nonresident. In the case at bar, while the defendant corporation is a nonresident, the cause of action comes within subdivisions 1 and, as already stated, the affidavit is in strict accord with those subdivisions. Subdivisions 1 do not mention the subject of the residence of the defendant. It is only in subdivisions 2 and 3 that the requirement appears. These latter subdivisions are drawn expressly for the benefit of those seeking to attach the property of nonresidents. It follows that in attaching property of a resident the affidavit must be drawn. under subdivision 1 of section 538; but it does not follow, as claimed by appellant, that in seeking to attach the property of a nonresident the attachment cannot be sued out under subdivision 1 without averring the fact of nonresidence. It is only when a cause of action does not come within subdivision 1 of section 537 that advantage may be taken of the more liberal requirements of subdivisions 2 and 3. These apply only to nonresidents and in every instance the fact of nonresidence must be averred. Where the cause of action comes under subdivisions 1 of the two sections the residence of the defendant is immaterial. The affidavit is sufficient. Order affirmed.

Shaw, J., Olney, J., Wilbur, J., Melvin, J., and Lennon, J., concurred.

[S. F. No. 8214. In Bank.-May 9, 1919.]

HUTCHINSON CO. (a Corporation), Respondent, v. CHAS. B. GOULD et al., Appellants.

[1] STREET LAW SIGNING OF CONTRACT ON BEHALF OF OWNER — AUTHORITY SUFFICIENCY OF EVIDENCE.-In this action to foreclose a mechanic's lien upon certain lots for street work done under private contract, it is held that the finding that the owner of the lots was bound by the signature of the person signing the contract on his behalf, is sustained by the evidence, which showed a ratification by the owner.

[2] PRINCIPAL AND AGENT-RATIFICATION OF ACT OF AGENT-LACK OF FULL KNOWLEDGE - LIABILITY OF PRINCIPAL.-The lack of full knowledge does not protect a principal who is willfully ignorant, and deliberately chooses to act without such knowledge, as where, knowing that he is ignorant of some of the facts, he has such confidence in his agent that he is willing to assume the risk and ratify the act without making inquiry for further information than he at the time possesses, or where he intentionally and deliberately ratifies without full knowledge, under circumstances which are sufficient to put a reasonable man upon inquiry.

[3] STREET LAW-LIEN-CREATION BY LAW.-The lien for the contract price for work done upon a public street is created by law, and a contract providing for liens "as provided by section 1191 of the Code of Civil Procedure of the state of California," by reference makes the law concerning liens for work done on public streets a part of the contract.

[4] ID. PRIVATE CONTRACT FOR STREET WORK-WRITING NOT ESSENTIAL. Contracts for the performance of work upon public streets by private contract need not be in writing.

[5] ID.-PAROL RATIFICATION OF CONTRACT.-Ratification of the act of signing a contract for street work on behalf of the owner of lots may be made by the owner by parol, notwithstanding the contract provided for a lien for the value of the work.

APPEAL from a judgment of the Superior Court of Alameda County. William H. Waste, Judge. Affirmed.

The facts are stated in the opinion of the court.

Reed, Nusbaumer & Bingaman for Appellants.

Robinson & Robinson & Price, James S. Moore, Jr., and R. W. Macdonald for Respondent.