Baylor v. Scott

| Ala. | Jun 15, 1835

By Mr. Chief Justice Saffoljk

This was a proceeding instituted by motion in the Circuit Court, by the plaintiff in error, against the defendant, as late sheriff of Jefferson county, for failing to pay over to said plaintiff in error, who was defendant in an execution, a certain sum of money, which it was alleged said sheriff had levied and collected out ■of the plaintiff’s property, it being an excess over the amount necessary to satisfy the whole judgment, with interest and cost; and which, on demand, had been refused.

The facts,- as disclosed by the record, are the following.- At October term, 1830, of the Jefferson Circuit Court, a judgment was rendered in favor of Mc'-Gregor & Darling against Baylor, the plaintiff in error, for $74-9 22, besides $51 26 cents costs of suit, upon which a fi. fa. was issued to Scott, as sheriff i by virtue of this execution, he levied Upon and sold property of the plaintiff to the value of $1047 87 1-2. Part of the property thus sold, consisted of a negro-boy about ten, and a girl about twelve years of age, the proceeds of which amounted to $650.

In reference to these two slaves, the sheriff returned upon the execution, that they were sold to the plaintiffs in execution, by .their agent — (subject to a deed of trust to Thomas M. Adkins trustee, to secure a debt to Maj. J. Steel, for $356 69,-due four or five-months thereafter, with interest for twelve months, and the costs of said deed,, and twelve- dollars for the hire of fine boy for three months, he having been hired by the defendant in execution, before the levy, for that time, and the wages paid to him, making the whole lien of Steel $398 39 1-4.) The return also stated the proceeds of other property levied upon and sold at the same time, making with the sum mentioned $.1047 81 1-4 cents, and leaving, (as the return reads,) after deducting the claim under the deed of trust, &e. $649 39 1-4 to be applied on this execution.

It is also shewn, that on the trial of the motion, the plaintiff in error, in urging his objection to the authority of the sheriff to adjust the demands mentioned, other than the amount of the execution, and to the manner of his doing so, offered in evidence said deed cf trust, to shew the true amount due upon it, and the time payable ; also offered to prove that the plaintiffs in execution had not purchased the trust debt, and that he did not owe Steel the twelve dob-lara, allowed as hire for the boy; all which evidence the Court rejected. He then moved the Court to disallow these last mentioned payments ; but the Court' overruled the motion, and decided, that the sheriff s return was conclusive as to the matters set forth in it, and that the return not shewing a surplus or excess, the motion could not be sustained.

From the bill of exceptions it further appears, that in bar or opposition to the motion, the defendant introduced as evidence, a record, shewing, that a previous motion had been made in the case of McGregor & Darling vs. Baylor, at the instance of the defendant, against said sheriff, to compel him to enter a credit on the execution to the full amount for which all the property levied upon, had been sold, and that the motion had been overruled.

Upon consideration of the case now before Us, this motion was also overruled.

The present plaintiff assigns for error various causes ; embracing—

1. The rejection of his evidence, shewing the circumstances under which the sheriff had allowed, and. paid, other demands than the execution.

2. The decision, that the sheriff’s return was conclusive evidence as respects the matters therein contained, so that no excess in his hands could appear.

3. The judgment overruling the motion.

According to the views we entertain of the law governing motions of this hind, a brief investigation of the subject will suffice; especially of the two first points presented for consideration.

If it were conceded that the sheriff had authority to adjust the trust demand, and extinguish the supposj ed lien under the deed, it would follow as a necessary consequence that his conduct would be subject to legal scrutiny Tor any alleged abuse of that power, if while liable to the summary redress for failing to pay over money made on an execution, or to restore an excess, he shews by his return a different application of the money, the Court would be competent to investigate the circumstances, so far at least as dis-> closed by the return and other parts of the record, and if it appear to have been misapplied; to hold him responsible, as in case of payment ill .his own wrong: or should it appear that a sheriff has assumed a judicial power, or private agency, with which he was not clothed ; and by his official return he offers the exercise of this, as an excuse for not accounting for money which he otherwise should, the Court would be bound to disregard the excuse, and decide the case as if unconnected with it. The cause stated in this return, of there being no excess, is, that the sheriff gave a priority to a trust debt, &c. having sold, the property subject to that lien. Was he authorised to do so ? It is provided by statute,^a that a plaintiff in execution may have the benefit of a deed of trust, on paying off the debts secured by it; and on such payment shall be placed in the situation previously occupied by the person for whose benefit the trust was executed, and the trustee shall execute the trust for him in the same manner. Thus it appears, that if these plaintiffs in execution had paid off the trust debt, the trustee alone, pursuant to the directions of the deed, not the sheriff, by virtue of an execution, was auüiorised to adjust the demand. But in this case it doss not even appear that the trust debt had been extinguished, or in any manner transferred; the-contrary presumption exists. The remark is also due, that the language of the return, so far as it speaks of the slaves having been sold subject to the deed of trust, seems to import a sale of the property under the in-cumbrance, with notice that the lien was to continue', and be subsequently enforced against the property. Other parts of the return explain that the contrary course was pursued, but as we think, without the authority of law. That a sheriff’s return is not conclusive in his favor, in a direct proceeding against him, in rola'ion to either the law or facts involved, is equally clear.

The foregoing reflections have been made, not for the purpose of shewing any wilful dereliction on the part of the sheriff, 'or even that injustice has been done, but to shew, that the authority of the sheriff' lias been mistaken and transcended; and that if from other considerations we should not feel authorised to reverse this judgment, the principles- of the decision below have not our sanction.

It is only necessary farther to enquire, if the plaintiff in error was entitled to redress at the time and in the manner sought by his motion ? The right' is not contended for, otherwise, than on the authority of the statute. The only statute relating to the. right of a defendant, in execution to obtain restitution of any excess of monies collected against him, is the act of 1807.^a This act provides, in such case, that if the sheriff fail or refuse to pay such excess or surplus, when required, he “ shall be liable to the like penalty and judgment in favor of the debtor, as is prescribed and directed by law, in favor of the plaintiff against the sheriff, for not paying the principal, interest, and costs, levied on an execution.” Another section of the same act, (the law above referred to^a) inprescrib-ing the mode of redress to the plaintiff in execution, against a sheriff who has actually made the 'money on execution, or-rendered himself responsible for it, as in case of a voluntary escape, provides, that it shall be lawful for- the creditor or plaintiff in execution-, upon a motion, made at the next succeeding Court from which such unit shall issue, and on t.en days notice given, to demand judgment against such officer for the'money mentioned in such writ, or so much as shall be returned levied thereon, with interest at the rate oí fifteen per' centum per annum thereon, from the return day of the execution, until the judgment shall be discharged, and such Court shall award judgment and execution accordingly. It may be observed, that in this proceeding the plaintiff in error has failed to pursue the course prescribed, in two respects. Instead of the ten days notice as required by the statute, the notice purports to have been given during the same term at which, on the fourth day'thereof, the motion was to have been made: in fact, the motion wras entered on the rule docket, bearing equal date with the notice. But as the parties are shewn to -have .appeared to the motion at the first term, and it does not appear that the sheriff objected to the notice, but that the cause was continued until the next term, let it be conceded that this defect, if otherwise available, has been waived. Then how stands the other objection, that the motion -was; not made at the next succeeding Court from whence ■ the writ issued, but two years or more thereafter,

The act of 1819,^b prescribes no "form of remedy, being only declaratory of the sheriff’s duty, and of the amount of penalty incurred by liis failure to pay the same over to the party entitled: it therefore can afford no aid in the determination of this question.

The act of 1826,^a is the only remaining one which can be supposed applicable to this case. It provides, in substance, that whenever any sheriff shall fail or refuse to pay over any money collected by him upon any execution, on the application of the plaintiff, it shall bo lawful for the Court, upon one day’s notice being given to said sheri if, and on motion of the pialu-tiff in execution to render judgment against the officer thus failing, and his security, or any or either of them, for the amount of money thus received, together with fi.^eper centum upon the amount of the execution, as damages for each and every month detained.

Now, the enquiry arises, does the act recited, of 1807, providing for the restoration to the defendant ■ in execution, of any excess of money collected, entitle him to the same remedy prescribed to plaintiffs in execution by the statute of 1826, last referred to? The penalty is materially different, having been raised from fifteen per cent, per arm,, as by the former, to Jive per cent, per month as authorised by the latter act: also the notice has been reduced from ten days to one. It is in the nature of a penal statute, requiring a strict construction, If it can he applied for the benefit of defendants, as nothing of the kind is therein expressed, it must be by implication, and on the principle alone, that the Legislature has substituted the latter act for that section of the act of 1807, to which, defendants, by a different section of the same act, were referred for their remedy, in case of any surplus or excess withheld from them, both which provisions have already been quoted. If by fair construction, the early act provided for defendants in reference to excess,, not only the cotemporary remedy allowed to plaintiffs in execution, but also any modifications of it that might exist when subsequently resorted to, the changes in the statute would inure equally for the benefit of defendants : but is such construction warranted ? The language of the early statute as already quoted, is, that the sheriff “ shall be liable to the like penalty and judgment in favor of the debtor, as is prescribed and directed bjr law in favor of the plaintiff,” — not, as is, or may be prescribed.

It is necessary to notice another difference between the remedy, as'prescribed by the early and late statutes referred to, or at least, in the express provisions of the two : it is that to which I have previously adverted, that the act of 1807 authorises the summary proceeding only “ upon a motion made at the next succeeding Court” from which such writ’ issued; when that of 1826 contains no express limitation of the time for making the motion. It may be a question whether the several statutes on this subject, should not be regarded as acts in pari materia, so as to extend the requisition to them all, even in respect to plaintiffs, that the motion shall be made at the next succeeding term of the Court from which the execution issued. This, however, is not a question now presented for consideration, and no opinion is intended to- be intimated upon it. But with, reference to the debtor or defendant in execution, the act of 1807, containing his only authority for restitution to an excess, in the summary mode, he must adopt that remedy, if at all, within the time prescribed. We can not, on the principle of the statutes being in pari materia, disregard the time, and apply the provisions of the subsequent act to the case of debtors ; reasons to the contrary are, that the relief to debtors or defendants in execution, is not mentioned in the latter, the remedy is more rigorous, and is of a penal character, and the limitation of time is not expressly waived by it.

It can not be maintained that the defendant in error has waived this objection. True it is, that he appeared and made defence to the motion in the Circuit Court, and it is not shewn that he claimed ‘this exception; but he being successful below, was under no necessity of spreading the exceptions he may have taken to the decisions of the Court, upon the record, and nothing appearing of record can have the effect to negative the idea that he may have urged this objection to the Court, and been overruled ; if he did, the plaintiff’s bill of exceptions would not necessarily shew it. Besides, the limitation in this respect, stands on a principle different from the ordinary limitation of actions; in respect to the latter, a subsequent promise to pay, would constitute a waiver of the defence, and by the rules of practice defendants are required to plead it, so that their failure to do so, implies a waiver. Here, the question relates not to the right involved, but to the summary jurisdiction of the Court, and we think the failure to plead •this matter does not constitute an estoppel. Advantage of it is now claimed in argument, and this ground alone was sufficient to have justified the decision of the Circuit Court, overruling the motion ; that different reasons were there given for the decision does not vitiate the result. If the judgment should be reversed, and the cause remanded, there is nothing to prevent the defendant in error from availing himself of this objection to the remedy on a future trial.

We arc therefore unanimous in the opinion-that the judgment must be affirmed.

a Aik. Dig.208, sec. 6.

a Aik. Dig.162. sec. 13.

a Aik. Dig.173, sec. 74,

b Toul. D. 316, sec

a Aik.Dig.174, sec. 76.