Sims v. Goettle Bros.

*271 Smith, 0. J., after stating the case. From the sworn statement of the justice read on the hearing in the superior court, and the facts which we must assume to have been accepted and acted on by His Honor in giving judgment, it appears that the first undertaking was. given in consequence of the decision of the justice that thfe was the only remedy for the bank, after a distinct explanation from Miller that his firm were acting only on behalf of the bank and for the protection of its interests, and had no authority from the defendants. The contract was thus entered into under, a misapprehension largely due to the erroneous ruling of the justice, and it was entirely competent for him to correct the error and relieve the applicant from a liability not intended to be incurred lior authorized by the debtor, if it could be done without any impairment -of any just rights of the creditor. The omission of the justice to provide for the return of the property or of its proceeds, if sold, is remedied by His Honor and every substantial right of the plaintiff protected. The judgment requires the return of the entire fund to the custody of the court, and security to be given for the costs incurred in trying the issue raised by the inter-plea, in addition to that for the conditional payment of the plaintiff’s debt, as well as allows the substitution of one undertaking in place of the other. These are parts of one and the same comprehensive order, all of which are to be carried into effect, and they afford ample .security to all the just rights of the plaintiff in the premises. The right of an outside claimant to intervene is questioned in the brief filed by the appellant’s counsel, but the practice is well settled by precedent, and.if not directly authorized by statute, subserves the géneral policy of the new system which aims to adjust in one action, when practicable, conflicting claims to the same property. O. 0. P., §§ 65 and 186. It is expressly authorized by the Revised Code, ch. 7, § 10, and PeaksoN, C. J., says: "The code of civil procedure *272 does not repeal or suspend the Revised Code in respect to practice and proceeding, except when the provisions are inconsistent.” Insurance Co. v. Davis, 74 N. C., 78; Clerk’s office v. Huffsteller, 67 N. C., 449. It has been moreover recognized in several cases in this court. In Toms v. Warson, 66 N. C., 417, in reference to an application of alleged owners to interplead and assert their title to land which had been attached in the action, Rod-maN, J., says: Crawford and Murray (the claimants) might have appeared before the clerk and moved then to be allowed to be made parties when they could have set up their title to the property,” or after the issues arising out of the attachment were sent up to the judge of the superior court for trial, they “might well apply to him to become parties to that collateral issue, Jor the purpose of asserting their respective claims to the property.” In Bruff v. Stern, 81 N. C., 183, no question was made of the right to intervene and set up a claim to the attached property. See also McKesson v. Mendenhall, 64 N. C., 286; Clemmons v. Hampton, 70 N. C., 534. The insufficiency of the last undertaking as a substantive security for the property withdrawn, affords no just ground of exception to the ruling of the court, since the order contemplates the return of the moneys arising from the sale of the property to the custody and control of the court, as concurrent with the surrender of the undertaking. The leave is granted to R. M. Miller & Co. to withdraw and cancel their contract on condition that they restore what they have received upon the sale. The order is consummated when both acts are done, and the benefit is withheld until the duty is performed. This being the effect of the judgment, how can the plaintiff sustain damages from its enforcement? If the defendants have no title to the bacon, and it belongs to the bank, why should the plaintiff be permitted to appropriate another’s property to the payment of his debt ? *273 and if it belongs to the debtors and. the fund is in the office-to meet his demand, how is he injured ? The case then is simple. The justice led R. M. Miller Co., the agents of the bank, into error and took from them with full knowledge of the facts, an. undertaking on behalf, of the defendants, which they had no authority to give, and. by. which no liability was imposed on the defendants. This-wrong the justice proceeds to correct but fails to provide for-the plaintiff’s security by return of the property or of its. value. The omission is remedied in the superior court and, the plaintiff fully protected by the execution of the amendment of the order and the issue directed, by which the conflicting claims will be determined. We see no error in the record and the plaintiff has no-cause of complaint in the ruling of the court, and the judgment is affirmed. This will be certified for further proceedings in the court below, and it is so ordered. No error. Affirmed..