Responsa for Bava Metzia 19:16
ואי אמרת ארבע אמות של אדם קונות לו בכל מקום נקנו ליה ארבע אמות דידיה
for it is written: <i>For unto me the children of Israel are servants; they are My servants</i><span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Lev, XXV, 55. ');"><sup>16</sup></span>
Teshuvot Maharam
Q. A lent money to a Gentile. Part of this money belonged to B, but the Gentile was unaware of it. A collected the loan but refused to give any part of it to B saying: "Go and demand your money from the Gentile."
A. A must pay B the money coming to B from the Gentile for the following reasons: a) We assume that A became a trustee for B's part of the loan and, therefore, must collect it for B, for how else did B expect to get his money back?; b) A caused a definite loss of money to B and must compensate him for such loss; c) the Gentile became obligated to pay money to B, even though he did not know that part of the money loaned to him belonged to B. Therefore, when the Gentile paid off his debt to A, he gave to A the money he owed to B, and A must give that money to B.
SOURCES: Pr. 254.
A. A must pay B the money coming to B from the Gentile for the following reasons: a) We assume that A became a trustee for B's part of the loan and, therefore, must collect it for B, for how else did B expect to get his money back?; b) A caused a definite loss of money to B and must compensate him for such loss; c) the Gentile became obligated to pay money to B, even though he did not know that part of the money loaned to him belonged to B. Therefore, when the Gentile paid off his debt to A, he gave to A the money he owed to B, and A must give that money to B.
SOURCES: Pr. 254.
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