17 Ind. 133 | Ind. | 1861
Suit by the assignees of a promissory note, against the assignor. Averments that suit had been instituted, judgment recovered, mortgaged property sold, and return of no other property found; and, also, that the makers were insolvent, at, and continually after, the maturity of the note.
At the first term of Court, after the maturity of the note, a judgment was recovered against one of the makers, and the cause continued for about six months, as to the other, for publication, before j udgment, as to him. No execution issued on the first, until after the second ’ judgment. No excuse was shown for the delay. This was, prima facie, a want of diligence. The proof' on the second point, was, that the defendant was a householder of the county, and the head of a family; that his property was worth only two hundred dollars; and that when the execution did issue, he took the benefit of the exemption act. The other defendant was a non-resident. Was this sufficient evidence of insolvency, to dispense with diligence in prosecuting the suit?
The Constitution provides, Art, 1, § 2?, that, “The privilege of the debtor to enjoy the necessary comforts of life, shall be recognized by wholesome laws, exempting a reasonable amount of properly from seizure, or sale, for the payment of any debt,” &c. In pursuance of this provision, the Legislature enacted, “That an amount of property, not exceeding in value three hundred dollars, owned by any resident householder, shall not be liable to sale on execution,” &c. 2 R. S., § 1, p. 337.
Thus it will be seen, that property to the value of the sum named, is exempt from liability to a forced sale. Although it may be said, perhaps, that the debtor must claim the exemption, avail himself of this right, and that he may by express acts, or, even implication, waive it; yet we can not perceive but that the property, when within the exemption.
Per Curiam. — The plaintiffs having recovered below, the judgment is affirmed, with 3 per cent, damages and costs.