Coker v. Smith

Jackson, Justice. Coker foreclosed a mortgage upon certain real estate belonging to Worrill, and trouble and difficulties arising to-enforce the judgment at law, he filed a bill in equity and had a receiver appointed to take charge and possession of the land. The receiver failed to p'ossess himself of all of the land, but a part of it was held by Smith, not under the-receiver but by purchase from Worrill, before the bill was-filed, though after the foreclosure at law. A decree was had on the bill and a sale of the land under the decree, and Coker bought it. The fact that Smith was in possession of part of it seems to have been unnoticed when the decree was had. Smith was not made a party to the bill and had nothing to do with the decree, which seems to have been a consent decree agreed upon between Coker and Worrill. After the sale under the decree Coker filed a petition to-have Smith removed, returnable to the first term of the court, to be then tried and determined. The court, on demurrer to the proceeding, refused to entertain it, and dismissed it, whereupon Coker excepted. Under the English practice a supplemental bill was necessary to enforce the decree and sale against Smith. This-course might be followed with us or the original bill might be amended so as to serve Smith regularly and let him have his full day in court; but upon mere motion or petition, we do not think he can be made summarily to respond and be removed. Story’s Eq. Pleadings; Code, §fl81. From this section of the Code it would seem that Smith should have been made a party to the bill by amendment, and then he could open the whole merits and show any reason in equity why the decree would not be just to him, and not be called on merely to show why he should not be ousted of possession under a decree to which he was no paity and under which he held nothing. At sheriff’s sale nobody can be affected who holds adversely. The purchaser must sue before he can oust such [519] tenant. An assignee since thg judgment may be summarily dispossessed, but not one before judgment. Code, §3651. So it would seem under a sale by a decree, one who buys before the decree ought not to be turned out, much less if he buys before the bill was filed. See 56 Ga., 666, when a branch of this case was here before ; and 60 Ga., 680, where those holding under the receiver were put out of possession. In this case at - bar there is no pretense that Smith held under the receiver. See also 23 Ga., 319, and Code, §§2624, 3638. Judgment affirmed.