51 Vt. 396 | Vt. | 1878
The opinion of the court was delivered by
The case shows that defendant, as constable, had attached five cows as the property of Rockwood on a writ of attachment in favor of Harriet Stowell against C. M. Rockwood and others; that he had perfected his lien by leaving an attested copy of the process in the town clerk’s office, and that before the twenty days expired he took actual possession of the cows, and sold them regularly on the writ; that plaintiff, being aware of the defendant’s attachment before the cows were actually removed, as an authorized person, attached one of said cows, described in his return as “ one small, light-red cow,” by leaving a copy of his writ and attachment in the town clerk’s office.
It appeared that Rockwood owned, and had on his place, seven instead of six cows, as defendant supposed at the time of his attachment. The defendant knew that this “ light-red cow ” was owned by Rockwood and on the place, and was one of the five cows he described, or intended to describe, in his return ; but his return shows merely that he “ attached five cows,” without any specific description.
The writ upon which the defendant as an authorized person, attached one “ light-red cow,” is directed “ to any sheriff or constable in the State or to George Brooks.” The plaintiff was not otherwise authorized to serve the writ.
Where authority or jurisdiction is given to a person sub modo, it is usually necessary that the conditions and circumstances giving special jurisdiction and authority should affirmatively appear ; otherwise in case of one having general jurisdiction and authority. In case of authority to issue process against the body of a debtor under specified conditions, it has always been held that these conditions must affirmatively appear as a prerequisite to the exercise of authority. It would seem more consistent with analogy that it should appear that the person authorized by directing the process to him, was “ an indifferent person,” such as the statute specifically requires.
II. The defendant had attached five cows, and given a list of the property attached in his return, and had done all that the statute required. He was not required to give a particular description of each animal, so that a subsequent attaching officer could not possibly err. It would be impossible to describe each particular animal, in the attachment of cattle, sheep, colts, and pigs, in language, that would make identity certain. The case
Judgment reversed, and cause remanded.