Farquhar v. Hibben
Farquhar v. Hibben
Opinion of the Court
On March 11, 1890, defendant in error filed his petition, claiming of plaintiffs in error damages in the sum of $350, and for his cause of action alleges that the plaintiff in error Farquhar was, at the time the defendant in error claimed to-have been damaged, a constable in and for Douglas county,. Nebraska, and that his co-plaintiffs in error were his bondsmen; that on the 24th day of February, 1890, an execution was issued on a judgment obtained in the county court of Douglas county, in favor of Riley & Dillon and against defendant in error, for the sum of $300.92, and was placed in the hands of Constable Farquhar, who on said day levied the same upon three barrels of whiskey belonging to the defendant in error; that on the 7th of March, and before the time of sale of said property under said execution, the defendant in error made out and placed in the
In answering, the defendants Thomas and Brennan adopt the answer of the defendant Earquhar. The defendant Earquhar first denies each and every allegation contained in the petition, except such as is specifically admitted in the answer. It is admitted that Earquhar was a constable, as alleged, and that his co-plaintiffs in error were his bondsmen. It is also admitted that an affidavit was filed with the officer by the defendant in error on the 7th day of March, 1890, but denied that the same gave a list of all the personal property of which the defendant in error was at that time possessed, and that he demanded said three barrels of whiskey as exempt. The answer also contains the following: “ Defendant states that on the 4th day of March, 1890, after levy was made as aforesaid, and prior to the sale of said property under said execution, * * * said plaintiff was the owner of seven barrels of whiskey, five thousand cigars (and other personal property described in the answer), * * * which property, except the three barrels of whiskey levied upon by this defendant-, was clear and free from all incumbrance and liens, and exceeded in value the sum of one thousand dollars;
The reply is a general denial of the new matter.
On the trial of the cause a verdict was rendered in favor of the defendant in error for the sum of $272.90, after which a motion for a new trial was overruled and judgment rendered on the verdict.
The testimony shows that after the levy the debtor filed-an inventory of his property with the officer as follows:
“In County Court of Douglas County.
“ Riley & Dillon 1 v' C L. O. Hibben. J
“Inventory of the whole of the personal property owned*559 by L. O. Hibben, of Omaha, Douglas county, Nebraska.
3 bbls. of liquor...................................... $270 00
Necessary wearing apparel. '
Saloon and fixtures, and cigars, and stock, consisting of bar, liquors, glassware, and mirror, at No. 220 South 13th street, Omaha.......... 2,000 00
“There is a mortgage upon the entire saloon for $2,-442.80, which covers the entire value thereof, given to Isaac Brown.
“State of Nebraska, \ Douglas County. J ‘
“L. O. Hibben, being first duly sworn, deposes and says that he is a resident of the state of Nebraska, and the head of a family, and that I have neither houses, lands, nor town lots subject to exemption as a homestead under the laws-of this state, and that the above inventory contains a true and correct list of all the personal property owned by me.
“(Signed) L. O. Hibben.
“Subscribed in my presence and sworn to before me, this. 7th day of March, 1890.
“ (Signed) Wm. Simeral,
“[seal.] Notary Public.
“Filed March 7, 1889. D. P. Farquhar,
“Constable.”
Thereupon an appraisement was made as follows:
“An inventory and appraisement of the personal property of L. O. Hibben, made this 8th day of March, 1890, by E. M. Patterson, J. E. Yan Gilder, and W. C. Yan Gilder, three disinterested freeholders, residents of Douglas-county, Nebraska, being duly sworn by D. P. Farquhar, constable of said county.
“Assessed value of the property as follows, to-wit:
1 mirror and cupboard......................................$150
Glassware and silverware ................*................... 60
3 bbls. liquor.................................................. 270
*560 25 bottles liquor................................ $25
7 pictures...................................................... 18
2 small mirrors............................................... 16
1 ice box and contents................ 18
6 demijohns and contents................................... 20
6 bottles of wine....................1........................ 10
1,200 cigars................................................... 30
Front bar and working board and attachments........ 65
Hot water urn................................................ 5
1 stove......................................................... 12
6 cuspidors ................................................... 3
4 chairs........................................................ 2
1 lunch counter and fixtures .............................. 15
1 gasoline stove, etc.......................................... 5
1 ice box and contents...................................... 10
Bottles, barrels, etc.......................................... 5
Total valuation......................................$739
“(Signed) R. M. Patterson,
“ J. E. Yan Gilder,
“W. O. Yan Gilder,
“Appraisers
“ State of Nebraska, \ Douglas County. J '
“ I, D. P. Farquhar, constable of said county, do hereby certify that R. M. Patterson, J. E. Yan Gilder, and W. C. Yan Gilder, three freehold residents of said county were called by me to assess the value of said property, and appraise the same as above.
“Given under my hand this 8th day of March, 1890.
a__
“ Constable.”
The testimony tends to show that there was a mortgage upon the saloon .fixtures, and contents for a large amount, and that this mortgage was. executed and filed before the levy of the execution, and, in our view, the jury would be
Technical objections are made to the form of the inventory. It is not a model by any means, but the officer seems to have found and appraised the property, and we must consider the substance more than the form. Taking all the testimony, it is very clear that the property sold by the officer was exempt and that 'he is liable therefor. There is no material error in the record and the judgment is
Affirmed.
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