Rhodes v. Hooper

6 La. Ann. 355 | La. | 1851

The judgment of the court was pronounced by

Rost, J.

John Rhodes died in 1830, leaving Sarah Rhodes, his widow in community, and six minor children, James, Armislead, John, Benjamin, Alexander and Theodore B. Rhodes. Two of these children have since died; namely, Alexander, in 1843, and Armislead subsequent to the institution of this suit.

It appears that the widow and minors were the owners in common of several slaves, some of whom were purchased by the widow after the death of her husband, and that upon an execution issued in the case of Skolfield v. T. B. Rhodes, Sarah Rhodes and E. Hooper in July, 1845, these slaves were seized, and Hooper became the purchaser at sheriff’s sale at the price of $4175. This action is brought by some of the children of Rhodes against Hooper, for the purpose of recovering the negroes, a reasonable sum for their hire since they came into the possession of Hooper, and their value if not restored. Sarah and Theodore B. Rhodes were not made parties by the plaintiffs, nor has the defendant attempted to bring them into the cause.

Hooper in his answer set up title as a purchaser in good faith under the sheriff’s sale, and also pleaded that in June, 1845, the slaves were mortgaged to the Union Bank by Mrs. Rhodes, as widow and tutrix, for the security of a loan; that he paid the bank, and being subrogated to its rights, is entitled to set off that amount against any claim the plaintiffs may have against him.

It is obvious that the sheriff’s sale upon execution against two only of the owners, Sarah and Theodore B. Rhodes, did not divest the title of the other co-proprietors, — the plaintiffs in this cause. It operated only upon the interest of Sarah and Theodore, — the debtor’s and defendants in execution.

The plaintiffs, then, are entitled to be recognized as owners of their interest or undivided shares of these slaves, and to be restored to possession, or, in default of such restoration, to recover the value of their slaves. They are also entitled to compensation for the lost services of the slaves, of which Hooper and his heirs have had the benefit.

The first question which presents itself for our consideration is, from what date this hire or compensation is to be allowed, — from the date when Hooper took possession under the sheriff's sale, or from the inception of this suit? This point depends upon the question whether, quoad the interest of the plaintiffs in the property so bought at sheriff’s sale, Hooper was a purchaser in good faith. For if he bought in good faith, that is to say, if he had just reason to believe that it belonged entirely to Sarah and Theodore Rhodes, the defendants in execution, he is bound, under articles 3414 and 3416, to account to the true owners only from the time of the claim for restitution. But if he was ah initio a possessor in bad faith, that is to say, if he knew, when he bought, the defectiveness of his title, he is bound to account from the date of his purchase. O. C. 3415, 492. A witness testified that Hooper knew, at the date of the sheriff’s sale, that the property was owned in part by the plaintiffs, and that he and the sheriff were warned at the auction of their rights. This testimony is not contradicted by any other witness, and on the contrary, is corroborated by the fact that Hooper made an agreement with Skolfield, by which he was induced to have the slaves seized, and gave the sheriff a bond of indemnity, to induce him to levy upon and sell them.

In the estimation made by the court of the amount to be paid for hire, we are of opinion that a sufficient allowance was not made in favor of the defendant for the expense of clothing the slaves, taxes, medical attendance and loss of time; which are just elements in calculating the compensation to be paid even by a possessor in bad faith. The true owner, if his possession had not been disturbed, would have incurred these expenses and drawbacks, which are incident to this class of property.

There is a controversy with regard to one of the slaves sold at the sheriff’s sale, named Hager. This slave was bought by Mrs. Rhodes in her own name. She was at that time tutrix of her children; the community had not been settled, and was under her administration. A witness, the son of Mrs. Rhodes, testifies that she paid for this slave, to use his expression, with the proceeds of the crops in community between witness, his mother and her children. The rule which, under certain circumstances, is recognized in the equity jurisprudence of England and our sister States, is perhaps one which would be recognized here, to wit, that where a person.who is acting in a fiduciary capacity uses the trust fund to make a purchase for himself, the beneficiary may, as between himself and the trustee, elect to take the property. But aside from other difficulties which would, perhaps, interpose -themselves to the application of the principle to the present case, it is not clear from the evidence that the latent equity now invoked was known to Hooper.

After a careful consideration of the evidence, we have found it necessary to reduce the estimate of the value of some of the slaves made by the district judge. As the defendant was instrumental in obtaining the seizure and sale of the entire property in disregard of the partial ownership of the plaintiffs, and obtained possession in bad faith quoad their interest, we cannot allow him to set up in compensation the Union Bank claim against the amount due by him to the plaintiffs. See Nolan v. Shaw, ante p. 40. McKee v. Amonett, ante p. 207. His lights, however, under the bond, mortgage and subrogation will be reserved by our decree.

It is conceded in the brief filed by the counsel for the defendants that the interest of Alexander and Armistead Rhodes, deceased, has passed to their surviving brothers and mother. And as it appears to be the desire of the parties-that this court should terminate the litigation as far as possible, we will frame, our decree with reference to the inheritance of the shares of the deceased persons by the plaintiffs T. B. Rhodes and Mrs. Rhodes respectively.

One of the plaintiffs, Janies S. Rhodes, after the suit was commenced, transferred his interest to Chapman, who then appeared, filed his deed of assignment, and became a party in the cause. It is said that this was the purchase of a litigious right, and consequently that the defendant is entitled to be released from all claim on account of James' interest, by paying to the transferree the price of his purchase. He cites the 2622d article of the Code. But the defendant cannot avail himself of its provisions, because, after being informed of the transfer and its price, he did not tender the money, but continued to contest the claim and protract the litigation. See Leftwitch v. Brown, 4 Ann. 105.

It is therefore decreed, that the judgment of the district court be reversed. And it is further decreed, that the plaintiffs, to wit, James S. Rhodes, John Balcer Rhodes and Benjamin F. Rhodes, recover, as the owners in common, from the succession of Elihu Hooper an interest amounting to 437-1280 in the following slaves, to wit, Peggy, Rose, Betsey and her two children, Phillis and Sam, Sarah and her two children, Mary and a young child, (name unknown,) Malinda, Milly, John, Mary, Wyatt and Caroline, being the slaves described in the plaintiffs’ petition, and any increase born of any of said female slaves since the institution of this suit; and that the possession of said interest be delivered to the said plaintiffs by the defendant, administratrix of said succession and tutrix of the minor children of said Hooper within twenty days from the rendition of this decree. And that in default of such delivery, the said administratrix do pay to the said plaintiffs the value of said interest in said slaves, to wit, the sum of $2660 62, with interest from the date of this decree. And it is further decreed, that the said plaintiffs do recover from said succession of Hooper, by said administratrix represented, the sum of $1448 68, as a compensation due to said plaintiffs, James, John and Benjamin, for the services of said slaves from the 6th September, 1845, with interest on said sum of $1448 68, from the date of this decree until the same be paid. And it is further decreed, that the rights of said succession of Hooper, by reason of the obligation and mortgage executed by said Sarah Rhodes, for herself and as tutrix of her minor children, in favor of the Union Bank, and the subrogation thereto, whereof copies are on file in this cause, be reserved to the said succession of Hooper. And it is further decreed, that the costs of this suit in the court below be paid by the said succession of Hooper, and that the costs of the appeal be paid by the plaintiffs.