Governor v. Bancroft

COLLIER, C. J. 1. The third plea merely states the amount produced by the sale of the goods alleged to have been seized under the attachment against the estate of Maxam, and how it had been disposed of; if the disposition of this money by the sheriff was legal, the plea is not objectionable for duplicity, or any other ground upon which its validity has been assailed. 2. In respect to the claim of Beraujohn for the rent of the premises on which the goods were seized, it is well settled that the act of 1807 “ concerning executions, &c.” which inhibits the removal of goods and chattels levied on by execution from any messuage, lands &c., leased &c., until the the payment of the money due for the rent of the premises, gives to the lessor a lien for the rent due at the time of the levy of a ft,, fa. or attachment on such goods and chattels. — Clay’s Digest, 210, § 45; Whidden v. Toulmin, 6 Ala. Rep. 104. And in Denham & Warford v. Harris, at the last term, it was held that the lien might be summarily enforced, by the court to — 610 — which the process was returnable directing the sheriff to discharge it from the proceeds of the sale of the goods, in preference to the demand of the creditor at whose instance they were seized. In that case the lessor proceeded by petition and notice to the sheriff and creditor, but we can perceive of no objection to either the sheriff or the lessor moving the court for such an order as may be proper, and the parties interested may be brought in by notice and their respective interests adjusted. This is the usual mode of proceeding where money collected by an officer of the court under legal process is claimed by several persons. It is a convenient practice, and one in which the rights of all parties can be quite as well protected'as if a suit was brought by action; for the party supposing himself aggrieved may prosecute a writ of error and have the matter reviewed. Besides, this remedy commends itself by its cheapness, simplicity and expeditiousness; and having been applied to enforce a statute in favor of a party whose claim was not ascertained by judgment, we feel no inclination to hold a different doctrine. See also Wheeler & McCurdy v. Kennedy, 1 Ala. Rep. 292; Henderson v. Richardson, 5 Ala. 349. If the sheriff had paid to Beraujohn the amount for which he had a lien on the goods attached, for rent, he might pro tanto have defeated a recovery against him by the plaintiffs, and shall he occupy a less favorable position where he acted under the sanction of the court — the more especially as the plea alleges the existence of the lien to the extent of the sum paid, at the time the attachment was levied ? 3. There can be no doubt the motion by Beraujohn as stated on the motion docket, with the memorandum of the judge as written across it, directing the payment of one hundred and five dollars in satisfaction of his lien, was admissible evidence to show that the sheriff had legally disposed of so much of what he had collected in favor of the beneficial plaintiff. It was certainly competent for the court mero motu, or at the instance of either party, to have had a perfect entry made nunc pro tunc from the motion docket. The proceeding then was quad a record, and admissible to prove the facts imported by it, though perhaps not conclusive until perfected. This view may serve to ^tow that the third plea is not objectionable for any cause that has been pointed out by the plaintiff’s counsel. — 611 — and that the evidence adduced to show that the sheriff" had the warrant of the County Court for the payment of the landlord’s rent was at least competent. 4. In respect to the pleas which were interposed after the plaintiff’s demurrer was sustained, they are professedly pleaded “ in short by consent,” and the plaintiff demurs in- the same form. Where this mode of pleading is resorted to by mutual consent, as the record authorises us in the present ease to infer, it is not allowable for the plaintiff to object that a plea does not 'particularize and inform him with precision of the evidence by -which the defendant intends to make out his defence. The pleas rve are considering allege in general terms that the defendants performed the duties 'in respect .of which they are charged with having committed a breach of their bond; and without pretending to determine whether in such case a general plea of performance is demurrable, we think as the plea was received “ in short,” the plaintiff must be held to have waived greater particularity. The demurrers to these pleas were then properly overruled. The deputy sheriff Austin, who levied the attachment, having been released by his principal from all liability growing out of his acts, we can conceive of no objection to his competency as a witness, — none has been started here, although the question is made upon the record, 5. We are now to inquire whether it was competent for the defendants to show a mistake in endorsing the levy of the attachment, by the deputy who levied it. It is certainly a general rule that the return of a sheriff cannot be contradicted. But this rule, it is said, is not universal, and that there are many cases to be found in the books where it has been held not to apply. “Upon an attentive examination of all the cases,” says Richardson, C. J., “ it will be found that the rule, that there can be no averment against the sheriff’s return, has only been applied in cases where the attempt was to invalidate his proceedings by showing the fallacy of his return.— This circumstance shows at once the object and reason of the rule. The object of the rule was to protect the proceedings of the sheriffj and the reason of it was the extreme inconvenience that must result from suffering the proceedings of the sheriff to be invalidated by calling in question the truth of hits — 612 — return. If the sheriff’s return might be thus invalidated, much mischief to parties would result from it, and much uncertainty in judicial proceedings would be the consequence.” — 6 Mass. Rep. 327. The limits then, within which the rule is applicable, are distinctly marked by the reason and object of it, and the rule is “ that for the purpose of invalidating the sheriff’s proceedings, or defeating any right acquired by means of them, the truth of his return cannot be called in question.— There is not in the books even a dictum, that the rule was ever carried to a greater extent than this.” The learned judge adds, there is another limitation to the application of the rule that the sheriff’s return cannot be traversed. The return of any eollaterel fact not necessary to be returned in order to render his proceedings valid, may be traversed.” — Lewis v. Blair, 1 N. Hamp. Rep. 68, and cases there cited. In that case, the action was against a deputy sheriff, and the plaintiff relied upon his return on mesne process, yet the defendant was permitted to show that by mistake or other cause consistent with good faith on his part, it did not state the facts truly.— See also Kittredge v. Bellows, 4 New Hamp. Rep. 424; Brown v. Davis, 9 ib. 76; Boynton v. Bladgett, ib. 224; Parker v. Guillow, 10 ib. 103. In Watson v. Watson, 6 Conn. Rep. 334, it is admitted to be a general rule of the common law, that the return of a sheriff on an execution, except in relation to himself, when sued, is absolutely conclusive; and the reason is said to be, that he is a sworn officer to whom the law gives credit. The return of mesne process falls within the same reason and is governed by the rule. Yet the court refuse to recognise the English common law in this respect, as applicable in Connecticut. As a general rule, the return of a sheriff upon returnable process i's only prima fade evidence against strangers. — 3 Phil. Ev. C. & H. notes 1085. Between parties to the process or their privies, it is usually conclusive, has already been conceded. — Id. 1087. And such is its effect, in general against the officer making it — Id. 1083: but the case of Lewis v. Blair, ut supra, shows that the rul.e- is not universal. Another exception exists where an action is brought against an officer for not selling property levied on by him under an attachment and returned as the property of the debtor; for notwithstand — 613 — ing such return he may show that the property was not the defendant’s. Whiting v. Bradley, 2 N. Hamp. Rep. 498; Learned v. Bryant, 13 Mass. Rep. 224; The Governor use, &c. v. Gibson, et al. at this term. Nor is an officer’s return conclusive against him as to statements which are mere matters of opinion. Williams v. Cheeseborough, 4 Conn. Rep. 356; Kittredge v. Bellows, 4 N. Hamp. Rep. 424; Denton v. Livingston, 9 Johns. Rep. 96. In Boynton v. Willard, 10 Pick. Rep. 166, it is strongly intimated, that a return by an officer, that he attached certain property, is not conclusive evidence against him in trespass that he took it, so as to render him liable therefor, and preclude him as against the defendant in the writ from proving the contrary. And other cases are stated by the court in which it is supposed that his return is inconclusive against him. See Figh & Blue v. Mead, 4 Ala. Rep. 279; Clarke v. Gary, 11 Ala. Rep. 98. In Evans v. Davis, 3 B. Monroe’s Rep. 344, 1he general rule was admitted that a sheriff is estopped from controverting facts embraced in his return, and which were within the sphere and connected with the discharge of his duty; but it was held that a sheriff when sued as trespasser for the seizure of property under an execution, may prove facts dehors his return and not inconsistent therewith. In Lawson v. Main, 4 Ark. Rep. 184, it was said, the return of a sheriff is an official, ministerial act, and forms a part of the record of the court, which can neither be impeached or questioned aliunde by him. He will be allowed upon application to the court to amend it; but this privilege is given upon the principle that the truth of the facts ought to appear of record, and the sheriff having been mistaken in regard to them, ought to be permitted to amend his return. But he cannot be permitted to discharge himself from a liability which his unaltered return would fix upon him. So it has been said, that “ nothing is better settled than that an officer making a return of his doings upon a writ is not allowed to gainsay the truth'it was therefore held, that where a deputy of the defendant, who was sheriff, returned on a w,rit that he had u attached one hundred and seventy-five yards of broad-cloth, the property of the within named defendant, it was not competent for him, in an action for not pro — 614 — ducing the property to be taken on execution, to show tltat but thirty yards were in fact attached by him. — Haynes v. Small, 22 Maine Rep. 14. See Price, et al. v. Cloud, 6 Ala. Rep. 254. In Baker v. McDuffie, 23 Wend. Rep. 289, it was decided that a sheriff is generally concluded by his return upon process from gainsaying its truth collaterally ; if the return be incorrect, it must be reformed by a direct proceeding, so that a ■full explanation may be given. But it was said that the return was only conclusive when set up by a party who may claim something under it; if others rely upon it as the sheriff’s admission, it is but prima fade evidence, and may be explained. See Kendall v. White, 1 Shep. Rep. 245; Sawyer v. Curtis, 2 Ashm. Rep. 127; Mentz v. Hamman, 5 Whar. Rep. 150; also, 1 Lord Raymond’s Rep. 184; Dalton’s Sh'ff, 189; Wats. Sh’ff 72; Bridges v. Walford, 6 M. & S. Rep. 42. The courts of the States have been very liberal in permitting officers to amend their returns, not only at their own instance but even after their death, on' motion of their representatives; amendments have also been allowed upon the application of a purchaser or the parties. — Fowble v. Raybergh, 4 Ham. Rep. 45; Clarke v. Belmear, 1 Gill, & Johns. Rep. 443, Williams v. Rodgers, 5 Johns. Rep. 162. See 3 Phil. Ev. C. & H’s notes 1095, et seq. In the exercise of this salutary power an officer has been permitted to- amend his return of a writ, though several years had elapsed, Thatcher v. Miller, 11 Mass. Rep. 413; Rucker v. Harrison, 6 Munf. Rep. 181. See also Irvine v. Scobee, 5 Litt. Rep. 70; Boyce v. Watson 3 J. J. Marsh. Rep. 500; Woodward v. Harbin 4 Ala. Rep. 534; Gilman v. Stetson 4 Shep. Rep. 124; Planters’ Bank v. Walker, 3 S. & Marsh. Rep. 409; Johnson v. Day, 17 Pick. Rep. 106; Brandon v. Snow & Cunningham, 2 Stewart’s Rep. 255. It is not a conclusive objection to the exercise of this salutary po-wer of amendment, that a suit has been instituted against the officer, seeking to charge him upon the ground that his return subjects him to liability. Under such circumstances, it was adjudged competent to allow the return to be amended. — Hodges, et al. v. Leaird, 10 Ala. Rep, 678. It was however conpeded that in such case, the court might impose .terms upon the officer, and we will add that it should certain — 615 — ly do so, where justice required it, and as the officer was at fault in not having discharged his duty with more exactness, he should indemnify the plaintiff for all costs accrued up to the time of the amendment, if the action was induced by the incorrect return. But it has been often held, that a sheriff should not be permitted to amend his return to the prejudice of third persons; and if an amendment is allowed, it shall not affect rights which they have acquired without notice. Nor will the return of mesne process be amended after the term to which it is made, and after a judgment by default has been rendered upon the supposition that it was correct, if the effect will be to avoid the judgment. — Davidson v. Cowan, 1 Dev. Rep. 304; Means v. Osgood, 7 Greenl. Rep. 146; Bowman v. Stark, 6 N. Hamp. Rep. 459; Emerson v. Upton, 9 Pick. Rep. 167; Fairfield v. Paine, 10 Shp. Rep. 498; Hughes v. Lapice, 5 Smedes & M. Rep. 451; Berry v. Spear, 1 Shep. Rep. 187; Watkins, et al. v. Gayle, 4 Ala. Rep. 153; McGehee v. McGehee, 8 ib. 86. •If the principles we have stated and the authorities by which they are supported are well founded, it is clearly inferrable that it is within the competency of the court, to which the attachment was returned, to permit the levy endorsed to be amended, so as correctly to indicate the property levied on. And this we have seen is permissible, notwithstanding an action has been instituted upon the hypothesis that the return states the truth; but the court may as we have seen impose terms upon the sheriff, or rather so exercise its power, as not to subject the plaintiff to costs, if taking the record as it stands he would be entitled to recover. We have taken this view of the matter, that it may be seen that a sheriff whq by mistake makes a false return is not remediless, and what course he should pursue to correct it and prevent injury to himself. It must be admitted that the rule which inhibils the sheriff from falsifying his return is not definitely settled. It rests upon the arbitrary principle that it is matter of record, and so long as it remains unaltered, it cannot be gainsayed by proof. In point of moral justice it would seem to be unimportant whether the return should be first amended by permission of the court, and then adduced as evidence of the fact it imports, or whether proof should be offered to the jury to show its falsi — 616 — ty and the truth of the matter. But the decisions are too numerous and uniform to allow the incorrectness of the return to be shewn in an indirect proceeding by a party, instituted upon the hypothesis that it is true; they strongly tend to establish that in such a proceeding the return concludes the sheriff until the amendment is regularly made. The case at bar comes directly within the influence of these adjudications, and consequently the County Court erred in admitting the evidence of the deputy sheriff, who levied the attachment, to prove that the return endorsed did not correctly state the quantity of goods levied on. We have indicated the proper course of procedure, and have but to add that the judgment is reversed, and the cause remanded.