41 Ala. 93 | Ala. | 1867
In the court below, the plaintiff’s judgment was adjudged to be satisfied. The bill of exceptions sets forth the entire evidence in the case, together with the charges, upon which the verdict, that the judgment was satisfied, is predicated. One Williams was, in 1863, the agent of the plaintiff, having authority to collect the judgment, or to transfer it, provided the plaintiff should incur no liability by such transfer. Williams, the agent, transmitted the amount due upon the judgment, to the plaintiff, and endorsed upon the execution docket a written transfer, without recourse, to himself; which was signed
A remark made in Walker v. Palmer, (24 Ala. 358,) might be regarded as opposing the proposition above laid down, if considered without reference to the point involved ; but, when the question of the case is observed, the decision harmonizes with our proposition. Although some of our own decisions, above cited, restrict the right of avoiding the sale to the principal, or trustee, we fortify our proposition in that regard by reference to the following cases : Davone v. Fanning, 2 Johns. Ch. R. 268; Hawley v. Cramer, 4 Cowen, 744; Jackson v. Walsh, 4 Johns. 415; Jackson v. Van Dalisen, 5 Johns. 47. We have found no case, English or American, which is opposed to our proposition. In New Jersey it has been held, that the cestui que trust may avoid a sale by a trustee to himself, by an ejectment; and therein is a difference from the other decisions; but the question as to the rights of the respective parties is adjudged in that State conformably to our proposition.—Scott v. Gamble and Wife, 1 Stockton, 218. See an able review of the authorities on the subject, in the notes to Fox v. Mackreth, 1 White & Tudor’s Lead. Cas. in Eq., m. pp.92, 217.
If Williams in fact paid the amount of the judgment to the plaintiff, as a payment and discharge thereof, it would be discharged; and a false entry upon the execution docket, of a transfer to him, would not change the case. Whether this was the case or not, was a question for the jury.
Under a recent act of the legislature, Williams will be a competent witness, and the question of his competency on the previous trial is unimportant.
Reversed and remanded.