Sheriff of Fayette v. Buckner
Sheriff of Fayette v. Buckner
Opinion of the Court
Samuel Williams having obtained a judgment in the Fayette circuit court, against John C. Buckner, issued his execution of capias ad satisfaciendum, to the County of Scott, where Buckner resided. After his apprehension, Buckner gave notice to the counsel of Williams, and before two justices of the peace of Scott county, delivered in his schedule, and took the oath of an insolvent debtor, and was thereupon discharged. This schedule the justices returned to the clerk’s office of the Fayette circuit court, from which the execution issued. A summons was then issued by the clerk to some garnishees named in the schedule as debtors to Buckner, which summons, after one of the garnishees had appeared and was sworn, was quashed by the court, and from that decision this appeal is prayed.
1. One of the grounds assumed for quashing the summons, is, that it did not appear that the schedule aforesaid, was rendered under the ca sa, issued at the suit of the appellant. In this we cannot concur with that court. It is true, the schedule itself, does not state under what execution it was rendered, nor is it necessary that it should. The justices however, returned it as attached to this execution, and the sheriff of Scott,
2. Another ground sustained by that court, was, that the schedule was returned by the justices, to the clerk of the Fayette circuit court. The act of assembly directs that the schedule, received and subscribed before the justices, “ shall be lodged with the clerk of the court, for the information of the creditors of such prisoner.” In this direction, after the words “ clerk of the court,” the words " from whence the execution issued,” which occurs in other parts of the act, is omitted. But still, the definite article “ the clerk of the court” is used. Of course, a clerk, or any clerk or court, where the release takes place, cannot be intended. If any clerk would answer, the words would be as well satisfied with the clerk of a county, as one of a circuit court ; and at the day when the act was passed, either a district, quarter session, or county court deck, would have answered. It is evident the legislature intended some particular clerk ; and we conceive, that no person can read the previous part of the statute, and discover the words “ the clerk” and “ the court,” so frequently occurring, and the words “ where the judgment is rendered,” and “ whence the execution issued,” sometimes inserted and sometimes omitted, and doubt, that the clerk who had issued the execution, and who had the custody of the whole record, was designed. With this construction, the practice of the country has conformed, as far as it has fallen under the observation of this court. We, of course, decide, that this ground cannot be sustained, and that the schedule was returned to, and the summons issued from, the proper office.
3. Another ground sustained by the court below, was, that this proceeding by summons, was carried on
5. The next question presented by the decision of the court below, is, whether the demand could be made subject to the debts of Buckner, or rather, whether it was such as was vested in the sheriff by the proceedings under execution. The item in the schedule of Buckner, to subject which, this summons issued, is thus expressed:
“ Five notes given by Wm. H. Richardson, to William Hubble, John Price and myself, as commissioners, appointed by a law of 1817, to sell a part of the real estate of the heirs of Richard M. Gano, deceased of*130 whom my wife is one. The said estate was sold, under said law, to said Richardson, for the sum of 10,000 dollars. The balance remaining unpaid, is five notes of $1428 57 cents each, to said heirs, of whom there are six in number. The securities on said notes are John M’Kinley and John C. Richardson, Sen. and the notes are deposited with the clerk of the Scott county court. I disclaim all interest in said notes, as I consider the same to belong to my wife, her real estate being sold therefor; and the commissioners are bound to lay the money out, when collected, in such manner as she may direct. I leave this point to be decided by the proper tribunal.”
“On or before the first day of February, 1822, we promise to pay to William Hubble, John Price and John C. Buckner, for the use of the heirs of Richard M. Gano, deceased, fourteen hundred and twenty eight dollars and fifty seven cents, value received. Witness our hands and seals, this 27th day of May, 1817.
(Signed,) Wm. H. RICHARDSON, (Seal)
J. M’KINLEY, (Seal.)
JOHN C. RICHARDSON, (Seal.)
The garnishee further stated, that besides these four notes, he owed Buckner nothing, and that these were not yet due.
6. The objection that these notes were not due, cannot be available against the execution. Sums not due, or chattels held as a bailment, we conceive, by the terms of the act, are vested in the sheriff, for the benefit of the creditor, as well as those which are due, or ought to be returned in future. If the creditor could not proceed, till the time the demand became
7. Neither do we suppose that the circumstance of these notes being made legally payable to the commissioners, for the use of the heirs, can screen them from the execution. The statute requires the debtor to make a schedule of “ his whole estate,” and does not except that part to which he holds a bare equity, or that held in trust for him. So far from it, that in the oath prescribed, the debtor is required to depose, that the schedule contains “ a full, just, true and perfect account and discovery, of all the estate, goods and effects, unto him in anywise belonging, and such debts as are due or owing unto him, or to any person in trust for him, and of all securities and contracts, whereby any money may hereafter become payable, or any benefit or advantage accrue to him or to his use, or any person in trust for him.” These expressions in the oath, shew what the schedule must contain, and all its contents are subjected by the act, to the debt due the plaintiff in the execution, so that even equitable titles and estates held, or debts due in trust, are included. The question then arises, was this money due for the real estate of the wife sold, subject to the demand ? The statute under which the sale took place, directs a sale of the estate on account of its indivisibility, and no where attempts to alter the rights of the femes covert. The money due for their interest, was to pass and be held as it would have been, had the husband and wife joined in the sale. Nor do we conceive it necessary, to enquire into the validity of the act, directing the sale. If it be invalid, it is competent for the parties to abide by it, and no one in this case is making a question of the validity of the sale. We must then decide the question, whether the demand is subject, without regard to any of the peculiarities that attend the sale? Before we do this we will first take notice of the expressions of Buckner in his schedule, which have been relied upon in the court below, as denying his
The judgment of the court below must, therefore, be reversed, and the cause be remanded, with directions to that court to enter the judgment for Buckner’s proportion, being one sixth of each of these notes, till the whole demand of the appellant is discharged, if so much there be, still directing a stay of execution on the proportion of such instalments as may not be yet due.
As to the question of costs in this court, it was, on the objection and at the instance of Buckner, that the summons was unsuccessful in the court below, and of course, he must be subjected to the costs here. The garnishee appears to have made no resistance either there or here, and is censurable with no impropriety. As in total reversals we have a discretion over the costs by law, we conceive this is a proper case for its exercise, and therefore, no costs are given against the garnishee, Richardson, in this court.
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