Dickerson's Heirs & Administrator v. Morgan's
Dickerson's Heirs & Administrator v. Morgan's
070rehearing
Petition for a re-hearing.
April 29.
To the Judges:
R. Wickliffe, attorney for the heirs of Dickerson, asks the Court for a re-hearing of the case of his clients and J. Morgan, administrator &c.
He would first suggest that the opinion of the Court is founded in partial error, in supposing that the Judge of the inferior Court has done no injury to his clients. Had that decree been silent, it would have been erroneous, as the opinion of this Court had reversed the final decree of the District Court, making the injunction perpetual, simply saying the final decree of the Court for the eight hundred dollars was erroneous, and sending the cause back, to have the former decree carried into effect. It was the bounded duty of the Court to have ordered the decree of the District or Circuit Court, decreeing the judgment, to be rescinded, and the money to be repaid. But be this as it may — the decree, instead of leaving the party aggrieved to his remedy, expressly decrees that the judgment shall be credited with the eight hundred dollars, when, so far as the case is before the Court, not a dollar of it is due and unpaid by Dickerson. What was not paid was replevied, and -that bond paid the decree, and ought to have been presumed to have been paid. It is most iniquitous to dock the judgment, or the claim eight hundred dollars, when the papers showed a payment of part, to wit, ‡-and a replevin of the balance. This is admitted by this Court:
This $800 now amounts to £800 — not one cent of which has been paid, and every dollar of which is decreed to Morgan. Nor will it do to say that the decree confines the credit to the judgment; it is decreed as a credit, and the decree is conclusive, however erroneous, until set aside.
The bill shows that there were two original bills filed— one in the Quarter Session and one in the District Court. Dickerson, in his answer, makes this suit &c. a part of his answer. The Quarter Session suit was, it seems, afterwards dismissed; but the proceedings in the District Court are and were a part of the papers. Now, only perceive how this erroneous decree affects Dickerson. On the dissolution of the first injunction, his claim for the whole judgment was valid against Morgan’s security. But, by the decree complained of, this credit is confirmed, and both Morgan and his securities forever released. Nor can this Court presume payment. Morgan was not bound to pay until ordered to do so, and as the money was first taken from him, a mere reversal, however
But the cross bill was pending, and no disposition of that by the decree. But across bill'or motion was unnecessary: it was the duty of the Judge to rescind, as well as to make, all orders, according to equity. The order to repay was hasty, and improperly carried into execution, and should have been set’ aside, instead of a decree affirming the re-payment.
Without a reversal of the decree, which improperly decrees the credit, it is, as before stated, impossible for the heirs or administrator of Dickerson ever to have justice. Wherefore a re-hearing is prayed for.
B. Wickliffe.
The petition was overruled, without a response.
May 6.
Opinion of the Court
delivered the opinion of the Court.
We perceive no error in the decree of the Circuit Court. Th.e bill charges that eight hundred dollars had been paid, and credited on the judgment enjoined, before the injunction was obtained, and the answers do not controvert the fact. The injunction, in fact, only restrained the collection of the balance — which was twelve hundred dollars; nor did it seek to restrain more. If it had, it clearly appears from the bill and answers, that the amount of eight hundred dollars had been paid; and of course, for that amount, it should not have been dissolved.
But it appears that, in the progress of this case, at the June term, 1808, the Circuit Court decreed a perpetuation of the injunction, and that Dickerson should pay back to Morgan, the sum of eight hundred dollars, which had been paid on the judgment at law, with interest, and that by executions issued on the latter bi’anch of this decree, the sheriff made out of Dickerson, five hundred and fifty four dollars, paid April the 28th, 1809, and one hundred and twenty, paid the 16th day of Juné, 1809; also, his own commission thereon.
And upon a subsequent execution, which issued for the balance, the sheriff returned “stayed by supersedeas.” And afterwards, the decree of the Circuit Court was reversed, by this Court, and the cause remanded for further proceedings. Whether the sums so collected were ever repaid by Morgan, does not appear.
That he was bound to refund, upon the reversal of the decree, is clear, and may have done so, for ought that appears to this Court. But whether he has or has
The decree of the Circuit Court is therefore affirmed, with costs.
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.