Braselton v. Patrick
Braselton v. Patrick
Opinion of the Court
A. B. Braselton was sheriff of Jackson county, and he appointed B. M. Patrick his deputy, taking from him the bond required by the statute. Inman & Co. placed in the hands of Braselton, or his deputy, a mortgage fi. fa., with instructions to levy the same upon the property therein named and advertise it for
As appears from the record, it was agreed that if the sureties upon the bond of Patrick, the deputy sheriff, were not liable, Mrs. Patrick, as administratrix of her deceased husband, should not be held liable. Consequently, when the motion for a nonsuit was made, the only question for the court to consider was whether those sureties were entitled to a judgment of nonsuit; and we are of opinion that the court was right in holding that the nonsuit should be awarded as to them. It appears from the pleadings and the uncontroverted evidence in the case, that while Braselton’s deputy sheriff was at liberty, under the last order set forth in the statement of facts, to proceed to enforce the lien of the mortgage fi. fa. of Inman & Co. against the property described therein, and which was in his hands as receiver, he went forward as receiver and in that character had the property sold, and in all this he was countenanced and aided by Braselton himself, who, with full knowledge of the facts, actually cried off and sold this property, knowing that Patrick as receiver would collect the proceeds of the sale; and we do not think that now, having thus actively participated in the course of dealing with this property which put the funds arising from the sale in the hands of Patrick as receiver, he will be heard, in a suit against the sureties on Patrick’s bond as deputy sheriff, to insist that Patrick’s failure to account for and pay over the proceeds to him, or to the plaintiff in the mortgage fi. fa., was such a breach of Patrick’s official duties as deputy sheriff as will render his bondsmen liable at the suit of the sheriff. Quite a different question would be presented for decision if this were a suit of Inman & Co., the plaintiffs in the mortgage fi. fa.; but the claim of Inman & Co. had been satisfied and discharged by Braselton himself, under a judgment in a former proceeding. It was the duty of Patrick to have promptly proceeded, under the order last referred to, to make the money out of the property by a sale under the fi. fa. in favor of Inman & Co. The rights and priorities of the lien of the plaintiff in that fi. fa. were so clear that no doubt could have arisen in regard to them in the mind of any one, and the sheriff should never have consented for his deputy to sell the property and receive the proceeds as receiver.
Judgment affirmed.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- BRASELTON v. PATRICK, administratrix
- Status
- Published