Moore v. Dortic

The Court, in examining the authorities referred to, admits that the case, cited from McCord’s Reports, is one in point, and would control this question, if this Court adopts the rule, as applied in that case. But as this Court feels itself bound, in the construction of all Law, to pursue the rule, laid down by the most eminent Judges, from Sir William Blackstone, down to the present day, it cannot concur with the rule laid down by the Judges in that case. What are these rules ? 1st. Words are to be taken in their most common and known signification— if they be doubtful, then the context. Next, the subject matter. And, lastly, the reason and spirit of the Law, and which is called an equitable one. These are the rules, as stated by Mr. Blackstone. Now let us see whether these rules have been followed by other, and what Judges. *86“If words go beyond: the intention,' it wests with the Legislature^ make an alteration.” : ;⅛Our decision,” said Lord Tenterden -⅛⅞* recent judgment, “ may," perhaps, in this particular case, operate to defeat the object of the Statute; but it is; better to abide by this consequence, than to put upon it a construction, not warranted by the Act, in order to give efihet to what we may suppose to be the intention of the Legslature.” — (R. vs. Braham, 8 Barn, & Cres. 104.) In another case, the same distinguished Judge said. “ The words may probably go beyond the intention ; but if they do, it rests with the Legislature to make the alteration. The duty of the Court, is only to construe and give effect to the provision. — (Notley vs. Buck, 8 Barn. & Cres. 164.) “It is safer,” said Mr. Justice Ashurst, in a judgment on the Game Laws, “ to adopt what the Legislature have actually said, than to suppose what they meant to say.” — (1 T. R. 52.) “ I have often lamented,” said Lord Tenterden, near the commencement of his judicial career, “ that in so many instances, the Courts “have departed from the plain and literal construction of the Statutes, “relating to the settlement of the poor. As far as the authorities “go, I have always held, and shall always hold, myself bound ; but “ when they are silent, I hold myself bound to construe these acts of “Parliament, according to the plain and popular meaning of their words.” — (R. vs. Turvey, 2 B. & A. 522.) And see Lord Ellenbo-rough's observations, in R. vs. Bray. (3 M. & S. 20.) And the same disposition has been shown, and equally salutary doctrines inculcated, with regard to extending Statutes by Equity. — See Brand-ling & Barrington, 6 B, dp C. 475. From the foregoing authorities, it is clearly established, that Courts are bound by the words of a Statute, where they are not ambiguous. What arc the words of the Statute of 1792, which I am called on to give effect to? They are as follows : — “ Debts due by a testator, or intestate, shall be paid by “executors and administrators, in the order following, viz. funeral “and other expenses of the last sickness; charges of probate and “ will, or letters of administration; next, debts due to the public; “next, judgments, mortgages, and executions, (the eldest first): “next, rent; then, bonds, or other obligations; and, lastly, debts due “ on open accounts : but no preference whatever shall be given, to “creditors in equal degree, where there is a deficiency in assets, ex- “ cept in cases of judgments, mortgages that shall be recorded, from “the time of recording, and executions lodged in the Sheriff’s office. *87:“4he eldest of -which 'shall be f fir# ⅜⅜⅞,-⅛¾ those eases where a fetreditor may have a lien ott any part of tlieestate.’’

/The case now under consideration, and the demurrer filed, calls on the Court to say, whether judgments, mortgages, and executions, the eldest first, shall be paid, after paying off funeral and other expenses ⅞ the last sickness, and charges for administration and debts due the public; or whether the Court xvill construe these words in the Act tornean notes of hand, which the mortgage was made to secure : and as notes of hand are not named in the Statute, to interpolate them into the Statute, just before open accounts, as open accounts are last to be paid. From the rules before laid down, by the cases cited, for the construction of Statutes, this Court does not hold or possess the right, to say to the Legislature, you have said so, or so, but you did not mean what you have said. I construe your’words, tornean quito a different thing. You have said, mortgages shall be paid, with judgments and executions, the eldest first; but I say you meant the note of hand was to bo the rule by which you are to be paid. Were I to hold such rules, for construing the plain words of the Legislature, I think they ought, as speedily as possible, to deprive me of the power of being the interpreter of their words and meaning, or to execute their will.

It is therefore the decision of this Court, that, after the payment, by executors and administrators, of funeral and other expenses ofthe Last sickness’, charges of proba te and will, or letters of administration, and debts due the public, then judgments, mortgages, and executions, the eldest first. But, where there is deficiency of assets, creditors in equal degree, as different mortgagees and judgment creditors, the lion must be determined from the timo of its being recorded. Thus it will be seen, that whilst the Legislature have given to mortgagees a general lien on the estate of their deceased mortgagor, which, before las death, was hut a specific lien, they have, on the other hand, deprived the mortgagees of their specific lien, by postponing them to the funeral and other expenses of the last sickness, charges of probate &c. and next debts due the public : so that if the whole of a decedent’s property were under mortgage, and the decedent’s funeral expenses and last sickness, charge for probate &c. and debts due the public, were to fake the whole estate; the mort*88gagee would lose his lien and his debt. The mortgagee is therefore entitled to recover' her debt, in the order prescribed by the ⅝⅛⅜ of 1792.

From the pojnis raised in this case, under this demurrer, the Court-is called on t¿ decide, whether notes of hand, and other written promises or agreements, are provided for; and if provided for, where are they to stand, in payment of the assets. And here, the Court finds much more difficulty, in the construction of every part of the Act. If notes of hand be a casus omissus, then it can, in no case, be supplied by Courts of Law: Judges are bound to take the Acts of Parliament, as the Legislature have made them.- — (1 T. II. 5d.) If notes and other instruments in writing are provided for, it is under that part of the Statute which says, “ then, bonds or other obligations, and lastly, debts due on open account.” Now, according to the rule as laid down for the construction of Statutes, words are to be taken in their plain and popular meaning. Now is the Court to consider, that the Legislature did not intend to provide for the payment of notes and other written promises, whilst they have provided for the payment of open accounts 1 It is the opinion of this Court, that the Legislature did not intend to omit such evidences of debt; but used the words, “bonds and other obligations,” in their common or popular sense, and therefore included notes of hand, and other promises in writing, under the words, “ other obligations,’’'’ and placed them on the same footing with bonds. And this is the construction, which this portion of the Law has uniformly received, in the Middle District. This Court, therefore, decides, that bonds, notes, and other written acknowledgments of the decedent, should be placed on the same footing, in payment of the decedent’s debts.

The demurrer, for want of Equity, in complainant’s bill, is hereby, overruled, and the defendants ordered to answer fully, to complainant’s bill.