46 Mo. 391 | Mo. | 1870
delivered the opinion of the court.
The plaintiff sued out before a justice of the peace of Buchanan county a writ of attachment against one Austin, and summoned defendant Beattie as garnishee. Boattie appealed to the District Court from the judgment rendered against him, when again the plaintiff recovered judgment, and the case is brought here after an affirmance by the District Court.
The record is attacked for various errors and irregularities both
Irregularities in obtaining the judgment against the principal debtor, provided jurisdiction is obtained of the person and subject-matter, will not vitiate that against the garnishee, and the former judgment will protect him in a new action. Mr. Drake states the point with great force: “It follows hence that a garnishee must, for his own protection, inquire first whether the court has jurisdiction of the defendant, and next whether it has jurisdiction of him. If the jurisdiction exists as to both, ho has no concern as to the eventual protection which the judgment of the court will afford him; it will be complete.” (D’rake’s Attach., § 695.) The defendant Beattie, then, has a right to complain of the judgment against him, and to. seek its reversal, although •he stands indifferent between the parties.
The justice never acquired jurisdiction; his judgment is reversed.