Leonard v. Brockman
Leonard v. Brockman
Opinion of the Court
The opinion of the court was delivered by
This was an action by the plaintiff for claim and delivery of seven bales of cotton. The defendants, in their answer, alleged that said property was part of the cotton raised by E. N. Rogers, who executed, with defendant S. V. Brockman, an agricultural lien over the same on the 6th day of March, 1893, for supplies or advances to be made to raise said crop, and the sum of $42 was advanced on said lien. The said lien was duly indexed in the office of register of mesne conveyance of Spartanburg County, in which county the said parties reside, on the 15th day of March, 1893. That on proceedings before J. J. Gentry, trial justice, a lien warrant was issued, in favor of defendant, S. V. Brockman, against the said E. N. Rogers, and said crop was seized by virtue, of the same by Marion Thomas, one of the defendants herein, special constable appointed for the purpose. That on the 2d day of December, 1893, the said E. N. Rogers further executed a chattel mortgage over said cotton to defendant, S. V. Brockman, for the sum of $71, which was past due and unpaid at the time of said seizure.
The case contains the following statement: The cause came to trial at October term of court, 1894, before his honor, Judge Fraser, and a jury. At the trial there was evidence for the plaintiff tending to show that he was the owner of the property in dispute, having bought it from one F. N. Rogers, who, at the time of such purchase, was largely indebted to plaintiff. Plaintiff claimed that this purchase was an absolute one, and that Rogers only required him to pay Brockman’s lien from the proceeds of the sale of cotton, and that such purchase was made before the execution of Brockman’s mortgage. There was testimony tending to show this. The defendant claimed that the sale was conditional, and was no sale unless it met the approval of Brockman. There was testimony tending to show 'this. The defendants undertook to justify their possession by evidence, which tended to prove the allegations set up in their answer, namely, that the defendant, S. V. Brockman, held a chattel mortgage over the property, which was past due at the time of the seizure, and also an agricultural lien executed by the defendant, Marion Thomas, for the enforcemetit of which a lien warrant had been issued. The evidence further tended to show that the cotton was seized at the town of Greers, where it had been hauled by the plaintiff for the purpose of shipment. The jury returned a verdict in favor of the defendant.
Thereupon the plaintiff made a motion for a new trial on the minutes of the court, on the ground, among others, that the evidence before the jury, * * * such evidence appearing in the mortgage executed by Rogers to Brock-man on December 2, 1893. showed that at least a part of the cotton in dispute belonged to plaintiff as rent. The motion for a new trial was refused. Thereafter judgment
The third exception is as follows: “In not holding and charging the jury that if they believed, from the evidence, that B. N. Rogers was not disposing of his property to defeat Brockman’s lien, then the warrant was no protection to the defendants, and that plaintiff had the right to raise that question in this action.” No request seems to have been made to this effect. The principle, however, for which the appellants contend, is in conflict with Sharpe v. Palmer, supra.
The fourth exception is as follows: “In instructing the jury that even if plaintiff had the property sold to him before this action was begun, before the property was sold by the constable, the defendant would be entitled to a verdict.” It nowhere appears in the “Case” that the presiding judge so instructed the jury.
The eighth exception is as follows: 8. “In refusing to charge the jury that the lien warrant gave the defendant, Thomas, no right to levy on or sell "more of the cotton than was necessary to pay off the lien and costs.” This seems to have been taken under a misapprehension. Furthermore, if the plaintiff had requested the presiding judge to charge as to how much of the property the constable had a right to sell, such request would present only an abstract question.
The ninth exception is as follows: 9. “In refusing to grant a new trial, when the evidence showed clearly that there was at least a part of the cotton in dispute, namely, so much thereof as was due to the plaintiff as rent, which the plaintiff had the unquestioned right to hold, and which defendant had no right to take from him.” To show that this exception cannot be sustained, it is sufficient only to say that no such ground was relied upon by the plaintiff in the trial of the case.
The tenth exception is as follows: 10. “In instructing the jury in effect to bring in a verdict for the defendants.” The presiding judge did not so instruct the jury, except in so far as the facts, when applied to the law as charged by his honor, showed the defendant was entitled to a verdict.
It is the judgment óf this court, that the judgment of the Circuit Court be affirmed.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- LEONARD v. BROCKMAN
- Cited By
- 1 case
- Status
- Published
- Syllabus
- 1. Claim and Delivery — Attachment—Evidence.—In an action of claim and delivery for the possession of seven bales of cotton, held under a warrant of attachment issued on an agricultural lien, the question of the cotton being disposed of to defeat the lien could not arise — following Sharp v. Palmer, 31 S. 0., 449. 2. Agricultoral Lien — Anuidavit.—An affidavit which states that the lienor “is disposing of his said crops, and to defeat said agricultural lien,’’ is sufficient to base a warrant of attachment upon. 3. Ibid. — Claim and Delivery.' — A warrant of attachmentissued on an agricultural lien relates back to the filing of the lien for record, and any right of possession of the crops covered by such lien acquired after such record, is subject to the rights of possession of the lienee.