106 Pa. 1 | Pa. | 1884
delivered the opinion of the court
The single question here is whether the appellant is entitled to subrogation on the judgment No. 216, April T., 1874. This judgment was given by appellant and W. F. Moser, the decedent, for a portion of unpaid purchase money for certain real
The learned judge refused the subrogation upon the ground that Ackerman and Moser were both principal debtors. This was so as between them and the plaintiff in the judgment. But as between themselves, Ackerman was surety for Moser, and paid his share of the joint liability. This clearly appears from the testimony of Ackerman and Dr. Buzzard. It is true the court say's of Ackerman’s testimony, that he was an incompetent witness, and that Buzzard’s testimony was “too vague to be of any value.” But Ackerman was examined not only without objection, but with the consent of appellee’s counsel, and in our view Dr. Buzzard’s testimony is as explicit as language can make it. He said: “I wras present and assisted in the transfer of judgment No. 216, April T., 1874, from the estate of John G. Miller to J. J. Utt, and heard William F. Moser say that the entire balance due on said judgment was for him (Moser) to pay; I also heard Moser say the same the year previous, when I). H. Ackerman paid the balance of his part of said judgment.”
The learned judge was evidently misled by a dictum in Mehaffy v. Share, 2 P. & W., 861, and felt constrained to adopt the view he did by reason of the absence of authority the other way. In McCormick v. Irwin, 11 Casey, 111, it was said by Justice Strong : “The doctrine (subrogation) docs not depend upon privity, nor is it confined to cases of strict suretyship;” and in Cottrell’s Appeal, 11 Harris, 294, by Justice Woodward: “Subrogation is founded on principles of equity and benevolence, and may be decreed when no contract or privity of any kind exists between the parties. Wherever one not a mere volunteer discharges the debt of another, ho is entitled to all the remedies which the creditor possesses against the debtor.” And in Mosier’s Appeal, 6 P. F. S., 76, where a junior judgment creditor, believing the land would be sacrificed, after the execution plaintiffs had refused to assign their judgment to him on payment, paid the executions to the sheriff, and satisfaction was entered; no other liens having intervened, he was subrogated to the rights of the execution plaintiffs, and the satisfaction cancelled.
Such is the case here. As between Ackerman and Moser, Ackerman was security for Moser’s share, and having been compelled to pay it, is entitled to the benefit of the judgment to that extent.
The decree is reversed at the costs of the appellee, and it is ordered that distribution be made as reported by the auditor.