Lessee of Throckmorton v. Moon
Lessee of Throckmorton v. Moon
Opinion of the Court
The plaintiffs’ counsel have taken several exceptions to the proceedings under the attachment, and, among others, it is contended, the levy and the sheriff’s deed to Hunt are void, for the want of a pertinent and necessary description of the premises so levied on and sold.
The sheriff’s deed describes the land as 1,055 acres, being part of a tract of 1,731 acres, or thereabouts, situated on the east branch of the Little Miami river, being part of a tract located in the name of Richard Throckmorton by Joseph Lewis. Is this description of the land sufficient? In Sheldon v. Soper, 14 Johns. 352, in relation to levies, it is said to be a general and salutary principle, one necessary to guard against fraud and to preserve integrity and. fairness at public auctions, that no property should pass at a sheriff’s sale but what was, at the time, ascertained and declared. In Jackson v. Delaney, 13 Johns. 537, it is also said, that no person attending sheriff’s sales can know what 44] price to bid, or how to ^regulate his judgment, if there be no specific designation of the property. In Matthews v. Thompson, 3 Ohio. 272, a levy on 100 acres, section 4, township 7, range 4, was-held to be too uncertain. There can be no difference, in principle, as to the requisite certainty in the description, whether in the levy or the conveyance by the sheriff. Every conveyance of real property must contain such a convenient and definite description, that by its terms the land can be located, and if not, the conveyance is void. Jac. Law Dic., tit. Deed.
Try this sheriff’s levy or deed by these rules. The levy and deed are identical in description: “1,055 acres of land, part of a tract of 1,731 acres, or thereabouts, situated on the east branch of the Little Miami river, being part of a tract located in the name of Richard Throckmorton by Joseph Lewis.” The purchaser, we will suppose, sets out with his deed in his hand to take possession. The east branch of the Little Miami is readily found — it is notorious. In tracing up the branch, from its mouth, he inquires for the Throckmorton tract, located by Joseph Lewis, but can find only a Throckmorton tract, located by Goo. Lewis. The evidence shows such to be the fact! He may, however, suppose the name
^Reliance is, however, placed on the statute of limitations, [45 but the evidence is clear, that Richard Throckmorton was never in Ohio, nor out of the State of New Jersey, excepting once, on a voyage to London. He is, therefore, within the saving clause of the statute, and his right consequently not barred. The defendent's are, however, entitled to the benefit of the occupying claimant law.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- The Lessee of Throckmorton and Trimble v. William Moon and others
- Status
- Published