Phillips v. Wesson

By the Court. Lumpkin, J. delivering the opinion. In the opinion of this Court, Counsel for the. plaintiff in error misapprehended the nature of complainant’s bill. They assume that it is filed to set aside the judgment of discharge, in favor of Stephens, under the Insolvent Lavra, and the proceedings in garnishment, against Phillips. And consequently, they 'treat the bill as though it were filed, to set aside judgments at Law; and it is demurred to in that respect. Such is not its object. . . - [1.] What was the effect of the discharge, under the Honest Debtor's Act ? Nothing-more than to exempt the person of Stephens from future arrest. [3.] It is not disputed ¡but that the property which he owned at the time, or might subsequently acquire, would be liable to seizure and sale, under the complainant’s judgments, which were then of force against him. The Mayor and Council of Rome vs. Dickerson, (13 Ga. R. 302.) Indeed, such is the express provision of the Act of 1801, which was passed to carry into effect the 7th section of the 4th article of the Constitution of 1798. While it exempts the body [139] -of the debtor from arrest, it declares that nothing therein contained, shall prevent any creditor to have execution, at any future time, against the property, both real and .personal, of ■the insolvent debtor. (Cobb’s Dig. 381.) This discharge, then, is not at all in the way of these creditors. There is no attempt, by them, to interfere with the lib-, •erty of the debtor. ' They are foreclosed from doing that. What, then, is the object of this bill? It is to subject assets which cannot be reached at Law, owing to the peculiar •circumstances of the case. The creditors want both discovery and relief. And I repeat, the judgment of discharge does not. ■stand in their way: nor is this an.attempt to vacate it. [3.] As to the garnishment which was sued out against Phil-1 lips, that occupies a different footing. He. deposed. that he owed Stephens nothing, and that hq had nothing of his, in his hands. This affidavit was not traversed, and there the proceeding stopped. There was no judgment entered up, discharging the garnishee, nor for any other purpose. Here again, then, there is no insuperable obstacle to be surmounted. [4.] But it may be asked, if this proceeding be still open and pending, instead of filing this bill against Phillips, why not prosecute the garnishment ? The answer is two-fold. In the first place, it is too late to traverso the deposition of Phillips, and to take issue with him, upon the facts therein affirmed. And a satisfactory reason is rendered in the bill, why it was not done at the proper time, namely: that the creditors, notwithstanding their vigilance, in ferreting out fhese effects, were not prepared, with proof, to controvert the return successfully. They had watched for these goods, and had a suspicion, that when Smith delivered them up, that they went into the custody of Phillips. Hence the garnishment which they caused to be served upon him. Having positively denied the fact, they abandoned further pursuit. They have recently learned, however, that they were on the right track. But the time has elapsed for taking issue upon this return. But there is a technical difficulty which cannot well be overcome, as to this remedy by garnishment. Admitting all the [140] facts charged in the bill to be true, Phillips, perhaps, could safely swear, that ho owed Stephens nothing, and that he had nothing of his in his hands. Eor this being a fraudulent arrangement between them, to defeat the creditors, Phillips is not liable to account to Stephens, although he may be to the ■creditors. And notwithstanding the transfer, by Stephens, may be a nullity, as to his creditors ; still, it will be perceived that the process of garnishment does not make and meet the issue fairly. At any rate, this legal remedy is not complete. Phillips might swear, in answer to the garnishment, that he ■owed Stephens nothing ; yet, if he admitted the facts charged in the bill, he would subject himself, undoubtedly, not to a prosecution for perjury, on his former oath, but to a decree in favor of the creditors of Stephens, to account for these goods, or their value. Tho remedy at Law, is not so full, in another respect. This is a creditor’s bill, and should a recovery be had, a Court of Equity will be the most appropriate forum, for distributing this fund amongst the claimants. Having ascertained that is not a bill to set aside proceedings at Law, none of the rules applicable to that class of cases, apply to it — such as diligence, the annexation of the affidavit of Stephens, &c. In other words, this is not a bill of review, to obtain a new trial or stay proceedings at Law: but an original bill, founded on its own peculiar equity; and which, if the charges in it be true, and the demurrer admits them, is by no means deficient in equity. Let a single fact suffice to prove this: Phillips, the defendant, has got into his possession 2|S,000 worth of property, belonging to Stephens, to be disposed of for his benefit, with adequate compensation, of course, for his services. And this bill appeals to his conscience to establish the fact, and to a Court of Chancery, to compel him, by its decree, to disgorge these effects. Would a Court of Equity be deserving of the name, which confessed itself inadequate to grant the relief sought ? [5.] So much for the general demurrer. There was also a special demurrer,, because Stephens was not a party. [141] This objection does not lie in the mouth of the defendant. What is it to him, if Stephens be not joined in this ’ proceeding ? But to protect the rights of Mr. Stephens, who is interested in showing that these judgment debts are paid, in whole or in part, or for some other reason, that they are not valid and operative, as well as to bind him, by the decree which may be rendered, an opportunity should be afforded him, of voluntarily being made a party. We shall sustain, then, the judgment of the Superior Court; and require Mr. Stephens to be notified of the pendency of the suit, with the privilege of coming in and being made a party defendant, if he see fit.