Jackson ex dem. Sleight v. Hasbrouck

Thompson, Ch. J., delivered the opinion of the. court. The ■title upon which the lessors of the plaintiff placed their right to yecover, is made under a sheriff's sale, on executions against William W. Sackett; and the only question made upon the argument of this case, was, whether it was necessary to produce upon the trial the judgments against Sackett, or whether it was sufficient to produce the executions only. I do not find any case in which .this question has been directly decided. But .from the analogy it bears to principles well settled, and as a . safe and proper rule of practice, I think the judgments, as well as the executions, ought to have been proved. The defendant was not a party to these judgments, and although it appears, that he held under Sackett, it may well be questioned whether he is to be chargeable with knowledge of the judgments, in the same manner as Sackett himself would be. As against strangers, there are many cases, in. which the execution is not sufficient, even to justify the officer in seizing property. It is a well-settled rule, that in trespass by a stranger against a sheriff, for taking goods under a fi. fa. the sheriff, in order to justify himself, must show the judgment as well as the execution. But if the suit be by the defendant in the execution) the judgment need not be shown, as the party is pre [215] sumed to be conusant of it. (2 Johns. Rep. 46.) As against strangers, the execution, without the judgment, does not show a right to intermeddle with property. And if so with respect to personal property, there can be no good reason why the same rule should not be applied to real property. The occupant cannot bring trespass against the sheriff for levying upon, and selling, the land in his possession, and has no opportunity,therefore, of calling for the authority under which the sale is made, until an ejectment is brought against him to recover the possession. And, according, to the rule laid down in trespass, the execution does- not, of itself, show this authority. But admitting the defendant to stand in the same situation as Sackett himself would, I should still think it necessary to prove1 the judgments. A tenant by elegít, in order to recover possession of the land extended, must prove the judgment, as well as the elegit. (Buller, 104. 2 Peak. Ev. 315.) And in the case' of Carter v. Simpson, (7. Johns. Rep. 535.) this court decided) that proof of a purchase of property at a constable’s sale, did not show such an interest in the purchaser as would enable him. to maintain trespass for an injury done to the property* without showing the authority under which the constable acted.- ft is not expressly said, that it was necessary to show the judgment. Though this is fairly to be intended, as the objection upon this* trial was, that'the execution and judgment ought to have been' produced. And if the judgment be necessary for the purpose of showing an interest in the" purchaser under an execution, to personal property, this necessity is- certainly equally strong with respect to real property. It is, I believe, the general practice,, in cases like the present, to require the production- of the judgment as well as the-execution; and this* is- clearly the safest and best rule. We are accordingly of opinion that a new trial must be awarded, with costs to abide the event of the suit. New trial granted.