69 Ky. 185 | Ky. Ct. App. | 1869
delivered the opinion op the court.
Prather having sued out execution on a replevin bond of Wm. and C. S. Harper as principals and appellees as securities, and having it levied on the property of said decedent Thompson, the securities filed a petition, and obtained an injunction from further proceedings for the alleged causes that said bond was not executed before and attested by an officer, but signed by them on a Sunday at the instance and request of C. S. Harper, who then had the paper, and afterward delivered it to Robinson, the officer who had the execution; also because Prather had permitted more than a year to elapse after the issual of one execution before he took out another.
The execution issued on the judgment against the Harpers. September 6, 1860, which was returned indorsed “Replevied October 10, 1860, as per bond inclosed. J. M. Robinson, D. S., for Wm. Cromwell, S. H. C.”
The evidence in the case shows that it was_ signed in blank at church on Sunday by appellees, and delivered to C. S. Harper, who afterward delivered it to the deputy sheriff, but not on Sunday.
As this made C. S. Harper the agent of the appellees to deliver the bond, and he delivered it not on. Sunday to the officer, but, as must be presumed, on the day it bears date, and as it did not become obligatory until delivered to the officer, it can not be regarded, so far as appellant’s rights are concerned, as executed on Sunday. Nor does the want of attestation by the officer, nor other mere faultiness because of omission of some duty by the officer, vitiate it as a statutory bond, as was decided by this court, in Hopkins v. Chambers, 7 Mon. 261, which said: ‘‘ Whether, when taken by a sheriff, a bond has the force of a judgment has never been supposed to depend upon critical exactness. Though inaccuracies of the most palpable sort be committed by the officer, and the bond be taken for too much or too little, its force and efficacy as a statutory replevin bond has nevertheless always been understood to be the same as if no error existed in the bond. It is to replevy bonds, that the law communicates the force of judgments, and it must be to the bond, and not the conduct of the officer in taking it, that we should have recourse in ascertaining its efficacy.” And, as decided in said cause, if the bond he merely faulty, it may be quashed upon proper notice made in proper time.
But after abiding by and recognizing the efficacy of said bond on March 7, 1861, and then taking no steps to quash it, nor raising any objection 'by legal proceedings, until the filing of this petition, September 4, 1865, it is
March 6, 1861, Prather’s execution, which had been issued on said replevin bond February 25th preceding, was levied on a negro man and five mules, the property of the principal, William Harper.
On the next day, at the “request” of Harlan and Thompson, and on their executing a writing “to remain bound for said debt in as full and complete manner as if the same had not been stayed in any way, hereby consenting that the collection of said debt shall be delayed so long as said Prather may desire,” Prather ordered the return of said execution, which the officer accordingly did, indorsing thereon, “This execution is ordered to be returned by plaintiif.”
Matters thus remained until July 12, 1865, when this execution now enjoined was sued out and levied on Thompson’s farm, twelve days thereafter.
In the.mean time the late war had become flagrant; that country much disorganized; the civil courts suspended; the country controlled much of the time by martial law, administered by the military authorities of the United States; until the spring of 1862 possessed and controlled by the military of the “.Confederate States;” and nearly all the time overrun by the military of the one side or the other. These appellees in the mean time had never complained of Prather’s delay, and had given him no notice to proceed to collect the debt.
This case is very different from the case of McCauley v. Offut, 12 B. Mon. 386, in its facts, reasons, and motive of delay. The execution in that case was stayed at the instance of the principal and before levy, and on the consent thereto by the securities. Here the execution was
This case is more similar in its features to the case of Furber v. Bassett, 2 Duvall, 433, and must be governed by the principles announced therein. Appellees having by their own conduct produced the delay, and that too when the principal’s property was levied on, and having agreed in consideration thereof to be bound on the bond
Wherefore the judgment is reversed, with directions to dissolve the injunction and dismiss appellees’ petition absolutely.