Joor v. Sullivan
Joor v. Sullivan
Opinion of the Court
The judgment .of the court was pronounced by
This suit is brought by the curator of the estate of Samuel Dalton against the defendants, on two promissory notes. The claim was admitted, and judgment rendered, subject to a deduction of $150 plead in compensation, and a further sum of $359 36 allowed as a credit on the judgment.
The defendants have appealed, and claim that a further sum of one thousand dollars should be allowed in compensation, being the amount of the principal and interest of a promissory note drawn by George W. Callette, and endorsed by John G. Carney and Daniel Sullivan which note was the property of Daniel Sullivan, one of the defendants, was sued upon for the use and benefit of Samuel Dalton, and the amount of the same was to be credited on the notes for which the plaintiff brings suit. They allege that the note was good at the time against John G. Carney, the endorser, for the full amount and interest.
It is neither alleged nor proved that the proceeds of this note ever came into the hands of Samuel Dalton or his curator. It belonged to Daniel Sullivan, as is proved by the record of a suit of Lewis Sturges, against him and G. W. Callette. He paid it under executions in that suit, and instituted suit
Dalton received the note of Mrs. Brister from Sullivan, to satisfy claims of Joseph Lovell, John C. Morris and others against him. He might well sue in Sullivan’s name, for their use, as he did, without thereby making or treating the note due by Mrs. Brister as his own. The record shows that'he used due diligence as an attorney, in obtaining judgment and issuing execution. It appears, by the testimony of Lurty, the deputy sheriff, that Sullivan knew that the execution was in his hands, and took an active part in having it executed; lived in the neighbourhood of defendant; knew the parties, and acted as if the claim was his own. Lartigue, another deputy of the sheriff, proves that Mrs. Brister was the sister of Sullivan, and at his house when the slaves were seized.
The plaintiff's attorney ordered the writ to be returned; but we have no evidence that he released the seizure if made. He was of the opinion, as appears by the testimony of Lurty, that he could not seize the negroes, but only .the right, title, and interest of Mrs. Brister in them. They were inventoried as the-property of the estate of George Brister, and were in the possession of his son-in-law. We have no means of ascertaining that the plaintiff’s attorney gave an erroneous opinion or direction to the sheriff; but we are certain that his opinion and direction, right or wrong, ought not to prejudice the estate of Samuel Dalton; and therefore cannot allow this claim in compensation.
The plaintiff and appellant has asked an amendment of the judgment of the district court, by disallowing a credit of $359 36 allowed by the district court on his notes and mortgage. Whether this credit was properly or improperly allowed, the plaintiff assented to it by asking and obtaining a modification of the judgment based upon this credit, by reviving a judgment included in his notes and mortgage.
The judgment of the district court is affirmed, with costs in both courts.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- Joseph Joor, Curator v. D. and J. Sullivan
- Status
- Published