10 Ky. 485 | Ky. Ct. App. | 1821
delivered the opinion.
Samuel and Robert Purviance being the proprietors of ⅛ large quantity of land, in Henderson’s grant, conveved it, in trust, to Samuel Moale. He Sold it to Henry Purvi-ai.ee for $s1(jü,(j00, who mortgaged it to Moale to secure the payment of the purchase money. To foreclose this mortgage a bill was filed in the circuit court of the United Slates for the district of Kentucky, which decreed a sale of the premises and appointed commissioners for that purpose, who were directed to sell in such parcels as were likely to be most productive, and on a credit of six months, taking negotiable not’s with two good endorsers. Henry Clay was the counsel who conducted that suit, and had, as
He alledges that Henry Purviance became insolvent and died, and that Sam’!. & Rob’t Purviance are dead, and be makes-the unkno wn heirs of the two latter, Moaleg,
The only credit not allowed by the decree of the circuit court, to which there was an attempt in argumentan this court, to maintain Hopkins’ title, is that which is founded upon his claims to compensation for his services as agent for Henry Purviance. The evidence shews, beyond doubt, that he was the agent of Purviance for several years and that he was, in that character, at much trouble and ex-pence in selling lands and surveying them, and in receiving money and paying it over to Purviance ; and he was, no doubt, entitled to a remuneration for those services. Rut as he was in the habit, during his agency, of receiving and paying over money, the presumption is strong that be has been paid, by retaining what was considered by Purviance and himself as a sufficient compensation. This presumption might have been repelled by shewing that he had in fact paid over to Purviance all the money he received, but this fact is not established by the proof in the cause. On the contrary, it appears that he has ed more money than he has proved that he has paid over to Purviance or otherwise accounted for.
Supposing, however, the claim to be unsatisfied, still it would only be a claim upon the personal liability of Purvi-anee, and could, upon nó principle constitute a lien upon the lands which would follow them in the hands of
The other claims set up by Hopkins and not allowed by ¡the circuit'court, are clearly not sustained by the evidence in the cause, andas they have not been attempted to be maintained by his counset in tins court, we shall pass them over without further, notice.
''With respect to the decree for costs, it is sufficient to retnar^ *^®*» >n general, the chancellor ha* a discretion, 88 ,0 the costs of a suit, and as much of the casts in this case appears to have been incurred by Hopkins, in an attempt to shew bmself entitled to credits which he has failed to establish, we cannot say that the circuit court has abused its discretion in dividing the costs of the suit.
There exists, therefore, no error in the decree of which, on l he part of Hopkins, t here is any just cause to complain.
It remains then to enquire whether the perpetuation of the injunction, for the ten per cent, damages, on the amount of the bills of exchange, was an error tothe: preju-^’ce °l Clay. Hopkins, in the deed of trust, does not stipulate for ⅛⅝ payment of ten per cent, damages, but for the pay ment of damages generally, without specifying the ra,e or 1 '1⅜ amount, and the extent of bis obligation, there* fere, can only be inferred from the law of the case. Clay claims.the ten per cent, exclusively in virtue of the acts of Assembly of this state concerning bills of exchange., The acI of 1T93,. 1 ■ Lit*. 178, provides, “ that if any person or persons shall draw or endorse, any bill or bills Of exchange, upon any person or persons out of this state', and the same being returned unpaid, with a'legal protest, the drawee thereof, and all otliers concerned, shall pay the content of the said bill or bills, together with legal interest from the time said bill or bills were protested for non* payment, the charge of protest, and ten percent, advance for the damages thereof.” The same provision is reenacted. in the 5t!i sec. of the act of 1798, 2 Litt. 103. bul it is confined bv the latter act to the-case1 of bills drawn' anon some person out of this state and within some of the United- States.- These are the onlyacts in relation
Upon the whole, therefore, we perceive no error in the decree of the circuit court, it must therefore be affirmed» each parly paying the costs of their respective appeals.