Brian v. Strait
Brian v. Strait
Opinion of the Court
To enable a sheriff to maintain trover for goods taken in execution, be must have made an actual and effectual levy; for by this only can be acquire the special property and the right of possession necessary to give him a right of action. Although a levy generally implies actual seizure, yet manual caption is not always essential: for a seizure of part of the goods in a house in the name of the whole, is a good seizure of all; in such case 'an inventory would furnish evidence of the goods levied on. And in Moss vs. Moore & Adams, decided last term, where the sheriff levied on all the goods of the debtor, making an inventory and endorsing it on the execution, with the knowledge and consent of the defendant, it was held a good levy on a yoke of oxen, then in his view and in bis power, although be made no actual seizure of them, and permitted
In this case the subject of the supposed levy was in the possession of the defendant, who resisted the levy, and retained the possession. The officer never acquired possession, nor had it in his power — there was, therefore, no effectual levy to vest title in the sheriff. The decree for the defendant must be sustained, and the motion is refused.
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.