Blalock v. Jackson

An execution in favor of Mrs. H. F. Blalock executrix, and S. N. "Woodward executor, of A. J. Blalock, was levied, March 5,1891, upon land as the property of Cary Jackson, who filed an affidavit of illegality. This [470] was sustained by the vei’dict of the jury, and plaintiffs’ motion for a new trial was overruled. It appears that Jackson held the land under bond for title from Stafford, Blalock & Co., of which firnr A. J. Blalock was a member, they holding his note for the purchase money. The firm- was dissolved by the death of Blalock, and in a division of its assets his estate became owner of the note of defendant. On March 31, 1887, defendant made a new note to the plaintiff's, reciting that it was for the purchase money of land for which he held their bond for titles. This bond was of the same date, was from “Mrs. II. F. Blalock and S. N. Woodward, executors of the estate of A. J. Blalock,” and was signed, “ Mrs. II. F. Blalock, executrix; S. N. Woodward, executor.” It hound them to convey the land levied on, upon payment of $805, the amount of the principal of the note, which was due on October 1st, after date. Plaintiff's brought suit, on the note on December 27, 1887, and the judgment from which the execution was issued was rendered on July 20, '1888, for $795.78 principal, $47.82 interest, $84.36 attorney’s fees, and $10.75 costs. The execution bears credits for amounts paid in October and December, 1889, aggregating $350. On the day before the levy plaintiff's filed and had recorded a deed from themselves individually, conveying the land to defendant with warranty. (This deed, when offered in evidence, was rejected by the court.) The grounds of illegality were, in brief: (1) That no good and sufficient legal title to the land has been made to defendant, and filed, in accordance with his bond for title from Stafford, Blalock & Co., who made no .deed to him though they agreed to do so. (2) That plaintiff's have not complied with the terms of their bond for title, in that they have made and filed no deed to defendant in accordance with said bond. (3) That the execution is proceeding for about $150 more than is due on it, by reason of the following facts: The [471] debt due by defendant to Stafford, Blalock & Co. was usurious, and when plaintiffs brought suit on the note, he employed counsel to plead usury; whereupon S. N. Woodward, plaintiffs’ attorney, agreed with him, if he would not make said defence and would allow the judgment to he taken for the amount shown on its face, he should have the benefit of the defence in time to pay the judgment, and that he might pay in annual instalments of such amounts as he could pay until the whole debt was paid. Upon that consideration defendant did not defend the suit. When he made the first payment on October 5, 1889, Woodward agreed with him that, if he would pay all at once Woodward would settle the ji. fa. for $800 including the $50 that day paid, and that Stafford, Blalock & Co. would make him a deed to the land, and Stafford of that firm agreed that they would do so. Defendant accepted the proposition, paid the amount which is credited on the fi. fa., and negotiated a loan for the balance ($450) which he tendered plaintiffs upon Stafford, Blalock & Co. making him a deed. This they declined to do, and the loan association refused to loan the money on a deed made by plaintiff's, as they, being executors, could not legally buy or sell the laud from Stafford, Blalock & Co. Defendant tendered then, and now tenders, the $450 in full payment of the balance due on the fi. fa., whenever he receives a warranty deed in accordance with his bond for title from Stafford, Blalock & Co. S. N. Woodward, for plaintiffs. J. Y. Allen and M. H. Sandwich, for defendant.