Pitts v. Hendrix

By the Court. Lumpkin, J. delivering the opinion. [454] We have scrutinized closely the facts of this case, to find, if we could, some legal reason to sustain the decision of the Court below. The contest between these parties is an unequal one, and it is apparent from the record before us, that the defendant, Pitts, has got greatly the advantage of his female adversary. He has bought her entire interest for fifty dollars, when the Jury have found that the crop alone, which was growing on the land at the time of the sale, to be worth one hundred and fifty-six dollars. Our investigation has been unavailing, however, except to satisfy us that, in law, the defendant Is protected in his purchase. [1.] Was the interest of Mrs. Hendrix, the defendant in execution, such as could be seized and sold ? Every legal interest in real and personal property can be. The interest of a co-distributee in land which has not been divided, can be levied on and sold. A mere possession can be sold — it is the evidence of title — and the debtor and defendant will not be permitted to deny the title, or to set it up in any one else. Here, the defendant in execution was not only in possession of the land and cultivated it, but the evidence shows that she was the widow of the former occupant, who died on the premises, and that she has resided there ever since. She has, therefore, an interest in the land greater than the mere naked possession — either a right of dower or a child’s part. If an interest in remainder or reversion, or even a contingent interest can be sold, it is clear that this was such an interest as was subject to levy and sale. In the case of Jackson vs. Graham, (3 Caines’ Rep. 188,) the plaintiff’s title was deduced under a judgment, execution and Sheriff’s deed thereon to the lessor, the defendant in the ejectment being the person against whom the judgment was rendered and execution issued; and it was shown, that before the entry of the judgment, the defendanthad been, and then was, in possession. The defendant offered to prove that one Day was the real owner of the premises, and that the defendant had no interest in them. This evidence "was rejected, and the plaintiff recovered. An application was made to set aside the verdict, and one ground taken was, that Graham was a mere tenant at will, and had no transferrable interest, either by his own act or by operation of law. The Court denied the motion, and gave judgment for the plaintiff, saying that the defendant under an execution became quasi tenant to the purchaser; that the purchaser was entitled to all the right the [455] defendanthad in the premises, and to possession as part of his right, and that this would be of no prejudice to the real owner. The defendant had a chattel interest in the land liable to be sold. A Court of Law will not inquire what interest, what title, the defendant had under such circumstances. He is precluded from making the objection that he has no title. In a very recent case, Thomas vs. Simpson, (3 Barr’s Rep. 60,) this identical question is made and decided. There, as here, the widow was in the actual possession at the time of the death of her husband, retained the possession during the minority of her children, receiving and expending the rents, issues and profits of the premises. The Supreme Court of Pennsylvania held and declared, that it had been so repeatedly ruled in that State, that her interest was subject to execution and sale. And Rogers, Justice, in delivering the opinion of the Court, said, “ Granting that Elizabeth Simpson, the widow, may have been treated as a disseisor, or retaining the possession of the premises without authority, yet, as her possession has been recognized by those who alone have a right to complain, it is difficult to comprehend the position that she acquires no right or interest at law in the real estate.” [2.] Did the growing crop of corn pass with the land ? We think it did. Mrs. Hendrix’s interest was sold, and this constituted an item of that interest. It necessarily passed, therefore, by the very terms of the sale. By law, the growing crop could only he separately sold, after maturity. If it did not pass under and by virtue of the sale of the land, it could not be reached at all. Before maturity, the crop only constitutes an element of value, and is not itself a distinct chattel. A distinction is attempted to be drawn between a maturing and a matured crop — -between a crop laid by and one ripe and ready to be gathered. We do not believe that this distinction can be supported. If I buy a tract of land, the owner of the crop is entitled to enter and gather it; or if the crop be separately sold, the purchaser has this privilege; but neither has the right to have his immature crop nourished on another’s soil. It is inconsistent with the idea of exclusive and paramount title. If it were otherwise, small grain, such as wheat, rye, oats and barley, and even turnips and all other crops which do not require farther cultivation, might be claimed as not having been transferred with the land. It is desirable, perhaps, to have these specified in the ad [456] vertisement, with the view to attract bidders. The omission to do so by the Sheriff, cannot affect the title of the purchaser. The only other point made in the bill of exceptions, is the complaint against the charge of the Court to the Jury, that they ought to find the highest price of the corn which was proven. We have overruled that proposition in the case of Foster vs. Brooks, admr.&c. recently decided at Macon. The Jury may do it — they are not obliged to do it. It is a matter of discretion and not of duty. The judgment of the Circuit Court must, therefore, be reversed and a new trial granted.