Lambeth v. Turnbull
Lambeth v. Turnbull
Opinion of the Court
The plaintiffs having a judgment against the defendant for a large amount, issued an execution, by virtue of which the Sheriff seized on the 17th of January, 1843, one hun
The plaintiffs, for answer to this opposition, deny generally all the allegations, and further aver, that if the acceptances mentioned were given, it was for the purpose of covering the cotton, and protecting it from seizure by Turnbull’s creditors. They allege, that no consideration was given for the drafts, nor have they ever been put in circulation. That the opponent has never paid them, nor is he bound for the same.
The evidence shows, that the opponent, in the year 1842, furnished the defendant a considerable quantity of cotton bagging, bale-rope, and other supplies for his plantation. About the last of December, 1842, or the commencement of-January, 1843, the opponent accepted for Turnbull four drafts, or bills of exchange, one of which was drawn in favor of Andrew Turnbull, for $2650, payable at thirty days, and is now held by Bogart, who presented it for payment after maturity, and had it protested. A second was in favor of McKee, for $500; — a third for $600, in favor of Dahlgren ; and a fourth for $650, delivered to Jackson. The last mentioned draft being accepted, was delivered to Jackson, about the 16th January, 1843, in payment of his wages as an overseer on Turnbull’s plantation ; the draft of $500 was delivered to McKee, about the same time, in payment of his wages as an overseer on another plantation. The draft of $2650, it is shown, was given to Andrew Turnbull, as a loan, he having given
The Judge of the Commercial Court decreed, that Skipwith should be allowed the sum of $2164 77, with five per cent interest until paid ; but as to the draft of $2650, he refused to allow it, because he says, there is no evidence of a consideration having passed from Andrew Turnbull to Robert, the defendant, for it ;* that Andrew and Robert are brothers ; and the draft was not presented by Bogart, or any other person for payment, for nearly two months after it was due. From this judgment both parties have appealed ; the opponent alleging, that the acceptance of $2650, should be allowed to him, and the plaintiffs, that none of the drafts should be allowed as the opponent had not paid them. In the case of Turpin v. Reynolds, (14 La. 473,) we held, that where a factor or merchant accepts a bill on the faith of produce consigned to him, it is to be considered as an advance on it, and he has, for the amount, the same privilege as though the money had been paid, and that other creditors, who have no privilege, cannot take the property from him, without paying his advances. In the case of Powell v. Aiken & Gwinn, 18 La. 328, in which the present plaintiffs were intervenors, we held, that where cotton is shipped to consignees who are entitled to a privilege, so that the consignor or owner could not take it out of their hands with.
We are of opinion, that the court below did not err in saying, that the opponent was entitled to hold in his hands the amount of the drafts delivered to Jackson, McKee, andDahlgren. In relation to the supplies there is no contest. But as to the draft for $2650, we think, it did err. We do not see sufficient evidence of fraud as between Andrew and Robert Turnbull, and none at all on the part of the opponent. The judgment, besides being erroneous in this respect, is also erroneous in another. It decrees, that the opponent recover of the defendant the sum of $2164 77, with five per cent interest from date, to be paid by preference out of the property seized. Neither party asks for such a judgment, and Turnbull was not before the court. The opponent prays, that the cotton may be restored to him, to be disposed of by him, and we think he is entitled to it, or to the proceeds, if by consent of parties it has been sold.
We have not noticed the bills of exception taken to the admis
The judgment of the Commercial Court is, therefore, annulled and reversed, and it is ordered and decreed, that the one hundred and forty-five bales of cotton mentioned in the opposition, and seized by the Sheriff, be restored to the possession of the opponent, Payton H. Skipwith ; or, in case of its having been sold, that the proceeds thereof be paid to him, to be applied to the payment of the advances and acceptances made by him for Robert J. Turn-bull, as mentioned in the opposition of said Skipwith ; and, after paying the same, if any balance remain, it shall be paid to the plaintiffs ; they paying the costs in both courts.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- William M. Lambeth and another v. Robert G. Turnbull
- Status
- Published