20 Ala. 587 | Ala. | 1852
This was an action of trover, brought by Alfred E. Going, as administrator de bonis non of Thomas Woolfolk, deceased, against Thomas Carpenter, to recover damages for the conversion of a slave, which belonged to the decedent'at the time of his death. The defendant, for the purpose of mitigating the damages, offered to prove the following facts: Thomas Woolfolk, before his death, executed his last will and testament, whereby he appointed his wife executrix, and made her his sole legatee during her widowhood. After his death, the widow proved the will, which was admitted to probate, but did not take out letters testa
We think tbe counsel for tbe plaintiff in error properly admitted, that under our statutes, tbe sale by tbe widow gave tbe defendant below, who is plaintiff in error, no title to tbe slave, as against tbe rightful administrator; and tbe only question, therefore, is, was tbe testimony admissible in mitigation of damages? We can consider Mrs. Woolfolk in no other light than as an executrix de son tort; and consequently sbe bad no legal title to tbe slave in question. Having none herself, as against tbe lawful administrator, sbe could impart none to her vendee. It would never do to allow a purchaser to obtain a good title to tbe goods of tbe deceased, as against tbe lawful administrator, by tbe mere act of sale, by an executor of bis own wrong. I intend, however, to confine tbis remark to tbe precise Avords I have expressed, for there may be cases in which a purchaser may get a good title; as if judgment be rendered against an executor de son tort, and tbe goods of tbe deceased are sold under an execution issued thereon, tbe title of tbe purchaser may be valid. This, however, I do not intend to decide; and I have stated tbe supposed case, to show that we now bold that tbe mere voluntary sale by an executor de son tort, without any legal compulsion, will not confer on bis purchaser a better title than be himself bad.
Tbe counsel for tbe plaintiff in error, admitting tbis proposition to be true, contend, that when an executor de son tort is sued in trover by tbe rightful administrator, that though be cannot defeat tbe action in foto, yet he may show that be has paid tbe debts which tbe administrator was bound to pay in due course of administration, and if such payments equal tbe value of tbe property sold, tbe administrator can recover only nominal damages. I admit that this is tbe settled law
It may, however, be said, that tbe purchaser from a mortgagor, or from one who held tbe lien on tbe chattel, can reduce tbe recovery to tbe extent of tbe debt or lien, and that this is a mere subrogation at law to tbe rights of him from whom be purchased. But it must be borne in mind, that tbe purchaser acquires this right by bis own act, to wit: tbe act of tbe purchase, and tbe chattel comes to bis bands clothed with it; be therefore asserts his own equity in making that defence, and not tbe equity of another, arising after bis liability is fixed or perfect, and from an act to which be is not privy.
I am satisfied, that tbe defence ought not to be allowed at law, and it is not now necessary to say whether it can avail tbe party in a court of equity; but if be can insist on it at all to reduce tbe amount of tbe recovery, it must be in that court, and not in a court of law. I have said, that tbe executor de son tort, when sued in trover by tbe lawful administrator, may reduce tbe damages, according to tbe English law, by showing that be has paid debts which tbe administrator, in due course of administration, would have been bound to pay. I do not, however, intend to decide, that under our statutes, this can be done at law, even by tbe executor de son tort himself; but even conceding that be may, we all concur in this, that bis vendee cannot, by showing payments after bis purchase.