Gayle v. Bancroft's Administrator

PHELAN, J. If plaintiff in execution dies pending a trial of the right of property under the statute, can the pro • ceeding be revived in the name of his executor or administrator ? It would seem strange, that during the forty years this statute has been in force, and the great number of trials that have been had under it, this question has never before been presented for decision. The question must be resolved by bringing this proceeding to the test of general principles, and the application of our statute respecting the abatement and revival of suits. That statute is in these words: “ When any suit shall be depending in any court in this State, and either of the parties shall die before final judgment, the executor or administrator of such deceased, who was plaintiff, petitioner, or defendant, shall have full power, (in case the cause of action by law survive,) to prosecute or defend such action until final judgment.” 1. Is the statutory proceeding to try the right to property levied on by execution a suit, or action, within the meaning of this statute ? This question would seem to be settled affirmatively by several decisions. In P. & M. Bank of Mobile v. Borland, 5 Ala. 531, the plaintiffs were required to elect, under the rule of court, whether they would proceed with their bill in chancery, or trial of the right of property under the statute, in respect to a claim to certain slaves. It was objected, that the trial of the right of property was not “ a suit at law,” such as would compel the plaintiffs to make an election. The court say: “The proceeding on the part of the plaintiff’may be regarded as a statutory action, in which the leading process is the execution ; the levy being made, and affidavit and bond being filed by the claimant, the court shall require the parties con — 321 — cerned to make up an issue under such rules as tbej may adopt, so as to try tbe right of property before a jury at tbe same term,” &c. We then consider tbe proceeding in tbe court below as “ a suit at law, witbin tbe fair interpretation of tbe rule.” In Jacott et al. v. Hobson, 11 Ala. 434, tbe question arose upon tbe right to demand security for costs of a non-resident plaintiff in execution, under the statute which gives to defendants in “ every action at common law, or suit in chancery,” tbe right to require security for costs of non-resident plaintiffs. Tbe court cite with approbation tbe case in 5 Ala., swpra, and add: “ Tbe citation from 5 Ala. establishes, that it (trial of right of property) was not only a suit at law witbin tbe chancery rule, but tbe reasoning employed proves, that it is a suit witbin tbe general understanding of tbe term; and tbe plaintiff is tbe actor.” On principle, an action or suit is tbe right to prosecute to judgment a lawful claim or demand. 3 Ooke Litt. (Thomas) 348. Its ordinary incidents are: 1. Process; 2. Pleadings; 3. Issue; 4. Trial; 5. Judgment and its incidents; 6. Appeal or writ of error. A trial of tbe right of property under our statute has all these; and hence, upon reason and authority, we may decide, that it falls thus far witbin tbe statute respecting tbe revival of suits or actions. 2. Does tbe cause of action survive ? What is tbe cause of action in this statutory proceeding? I take it to be tbe right to have certain specific personal property condemned, by tbe judgment of a competent court, to tbe satisfaction of a certain judgment before rendered; a special right incident to tbe general right to levy upon and sell tbe property of a defendant to a judgment; and made special by tbe interposition of a claim under oath of a third person to specific chattels. Tbe right to this statutory proceeding being incident to tbe general right to levy, to ascertain if it survives, we must look to tbe nature of tbe general right. It is needless to argue, that tbe right to judgments with all their incidents survives to executors and administrators, and the judgments vest in them as assets. Judgments require to- be revived sometimes by scire facias; and sometimes, as when execution has been placed in tbe sheriff’s bands before tbe death of tbe plaintiff, — 322 — so as to create a lien, they vest in the executor or administrator immediately upon the grant of letters. No one will controvert this. If the general right to levy execution, either with or without scire, facias, survive to the executor, and he be impeded in the exercise of this right by a claim under oath, then the specific right to have that particular chattel which is claimed condemned to the satisfaction of the judgment, (if in fact it be liable,) results as matter of course. In other words, an executor may have execution in his own name levied on property of the defendant, and thus originate a trial of the right of property with himself, if it be claimed. This is every day practice, and it proves, that when plaintiff in execution dies pending a trial of the right of property, the cause of action survives to his executor. But in every case of trial of the right of property on an execution levied in the lifetime of the original plaintiff, there is a lien, which enures to the benefit of the executor if plaintiff dies, immediately upon grant of letters, and without scire fa-cias. If upon an execution so levied the money be made, the executor is entitled to demand and receive it, without any revival of the judgment. Toller on Ex. 441; Collingsworth v. Horn, 4 S. & P.; Boyd v. Dennis, 6 Ala. If the'executor succeeds presently, and without scire facias, to the right to receive the money in such a case, would it not seem that he succeeds, in like manner, to the right to proceed with an action already begun, the object of which is to make the money by execution ? We have carefully considered the argument of plaintiff in error, that this is a statutory remedy unknown to the common law, and therefore not to be extended beyond the express letter of the statute, and the cases cited from 3 Ala., 5 Ala. and elsewhere. It would protract the opinion unnecessarily to state our reasons, but we do not consider that any of those cases, or the principles on which they rest, reach the case at bar. It is to be observed, also, that it has been decided, that there are statutory proceedings which can be revived, when the statute does not expressly authorize it. Sankey’s Ex’rs v. Sankey’s Heirs, 6 Ala., was a citation in the Orphans’ Court by husband and wife, to the executor of her former husband, — 323 — to make final settlement; a strictly statutory proceeding. Tbe wife died, and tbe proceeding was revived in tbe name of tbe husband, as administrator, wbicb was assigned for error. Judge Ormond says: ‘‘It cannot be doubted, that tbe intention of tbe legislature was, that no action or súit should abate where tbe cause of action survived. That it was intended that tbe act should extend beyond suits commenced in tbe ordinary way, appears from tbe employment of tbe words, plaintiff, petitioner or defendant.” Olay’s Dig. 313. I happen casually to have noticed tbe fact, that in Hadden’s Ex’r v. Powell, 17 Ala. 318, which was a trial of tbe right of property growing out of tbe levy of an attachment, tbe action was revived in tbe name’of tbe executor of tbe original'plaintiff without objection. That case has been here tbe second time, and tbe point has never been made, that such an action could not be revived. I refer to this, in connection with tbe fact that this question has never been raised before, as some indication of tbe view taken by tbe profession upon tbe right to revive under our statute in the case of a claim suit. It is proper, in a question of this importance, to consider for a moment tbe consequences likely to result from bolding that this proceeding cannot be revived. Tbe levy gives a lien. This lien is not discharged even when tbe claimant gives bond; Mills v. Williams, 2 S. & P. 390; and tbe property is said to be in tbe custody of tbe law, so that another execution cannot be levied on it. 8 Ala. 357. Now, if tbe death of plaintiff in execution abates tbe suit, and it cannot be revived, what becomes of tbe property ? Is it still in the custody of tbe law ? If so, tbe custody of tbe law, wbicb ought ever to be secure and certain, is likely to prove to tbe plaintiff a barren custody. Tbe property was delivered to claimant when he gave bond. That bond was conditioned to return tbe property, if found subject to plaintiff’s execution. But plaintiff has died; this proceeding does not survive, but finally abates; tbe property has died, or been consumed, or removed beyond the jurisdiction, and tbe obligors on tbe bond can never be made liable, because no breach of its condition is possible without a trial. Such are tbe consequences that must follow a decision, that this is a suit wbicb does not — 324 — survive. They tend, so far as such an argument is allowable, to repel tbe construction wbicb would lead to them. The danger to the plaintiff from permitting the claimant to gain possession of the property, by giving bond, was seen, and was intended to be guarded against, in some respects, by the provision which declares, that the claimant shall not dismiss or otherwise discontinue his claim without the consent of the plaintiff. IJpon the whole, we are satisfied, both upon reason and authority, that a trial of the right of property is a suit or action which can be revived. "We pass on to the other questions, briefly premising the facts on which they rest. The affidavit in this case is made by Andrew J. Gayle, who describes himself as agent and attorney for Bichard W. Gayle. In this character, he “ on oath saith, that the negroes, Jenny and Bose, and her child, Daphne, who have been levied on bjr the sheriff of Mobile county, to satisfy an execution in favor of Charles Bancroft, are the property of Bichard W. Gayle, as appears by a deed duly executed by Daniel M. Biggs,” &o. This affidavit was sworn to and subscribed 6th of May, 1843. The execution levied on the property is an execution in favor of George Bancroft against Billups Gayle and William Bower, late sco-partners, and Duke Goodman, their security to writ of emir bond, for $792TyT damages, $79 the ten per cent, damages awarded by the Supreme Court for delay, and the sum of costs. This was issued the 6th of May, 1843, by the clerk of the County Court of Mobile, and contained at bottom a memorandum signed by him saying,' “ Compute interest from 9th March, 1839.” By endorsement of the sheriff of Mobile county, G. Huggins, it appears this execution was received by him the 6th of May, 1843, and the same day was levied on “one negro woman named ■ Jenny, and one called Bose, and her child called Daphne;” and on the same day, “Andrew J. Gayle made oath and claimed said negroes as the property of Eich-ard W. Gajde, and gave bond for the trial of the right of property in said negroes, which bond is herewith returned.” &c. The bond contains in the body, as the obligors, the names of Andrew J. Gayle, John Gayle and Daniel M. Biggs, with — 325 — out designating any one as principal, or any one as surety, and is signed by them in tbe same manner, bearing date the 6th of May, 1843. Neither does Andrew J. Gayle describe or sign himself as the agent of Richard W. Gayle. The condition of the bond sets out an execution in favor of George Bancroft against Billups Gayle and William Bower, late co-partners, and Duke Goodman, their surety, &c., for |792//„ damages, (omitting any mention of the $79/0\ for damages in Supreme Court,) with interest from 9th of March, 1839, and $35TyF costs, which was issued by the clerk of the County Court of Mobile the 6th of May, 1843, and was delivered same day to the sheriff, and by him levied same day on Jenny and Rose, and her child, Daphne, as the property of Billups Gayle, “ which is now claimed” (these are the words of the instrument, with the blanks,) “ as the property by the above bounden-as-property, under the oath of --■. Now, therefore, the condition of the beforegoing obligation is such, that if the said-shall return the said specific property, levied on as aforesaid, if the same shall be found liable to the said execution of the said George Bancroft, and shall pay, &c., then, &c., to be void.” 1. The plaintiff in error, Richard W. Gayle, objected to joining in an issue below to try the right to the property levied on under the execution in favor of George Bancroft, contending that the affidavit did not show that he had made claim to any such. The court decided, that it could not compel him to- join in an issue, but, that if he declined to do so, it would allow the plaintiff in execution to proceed as in case of default. 2. He also tendered an issue, that he did not claim the property levied on, nor authorize any one else to do so for him. This the court refused to receive. 3. Before tendering this issue, he moved to quash the bond; which motion the court declined to hear at that time. 4. After these proceedings, and reserving his objections to the rulings of the court, he joined in an issue tendered in these words: “ Charles Bancroft, Adm’r of George Bancroft, v. Gayle & Bower and Duke Goodman, defendants, and Richard W. Gayle, claimant. — 326 — “ The plaintiff avers, that the negro slaves levied on by the sheriff of Mobile county, to satisfy the execution in this case, are liable to said execution; the said negroes named Jenny and Bose, and her child, Daphne.” 1. Upon looking at the.affidavit, the execution, the endorsement on the execution, and the bond for the trial of the right of property, there cannot be a reasonable doubt that the name “ Charles” was inserted in the affidavit erroneously. That such an error, whether made from oversight or design, when it is manifest from the face of the proceedings, should be allowed to overturn all the rights which appertain to the plaintiff in execution dependent on it, and secure to the claimant without merit all the advantages he gains by making claim to property, would not be consistent with reason or justice. The execution, it appears, was in fact in favor of George Bancroft; by virtue of this the sheriff took the slaves into his possession; by force of the affidavit which was made, and the bond which was given, these slaves were delivered up. But the affidavit, looking to that alone, says, the slaves were levied upon by an execution in favor of Charles Bancroft, and for this reason the claimant asks that he may not be compelled to join in an issue which depends on an execution in favor of George Bancroft. .This the court refuses, and properly. The error is manifest, whether we look to the execution, the endorsement to the execution, or the bondt which for this purpose may be regarded as parts of one transaction; and the court properly decided to require the party to make up an issue or suffer the consquences of a default. 2. A claimant is not allowed by the statute to dismiss or otherwise discontinue his claim without the consent of the plaintiff. The reason for this is obvious; he has gained important advantages by making claim, and he will not be permitted to turn this to the prejudice of the other party, by impairing the right of such party to put things in train to hoover on the bond. But cannot a man whose name has been used against his consent, disclaim all connection with the proceeding ? What would be the rights of aparty in this regard, who should take the necessary steps to enter such a disclaimer in proper time, we — 327 — do not feel called upon to decide. The record in this case shows, that this proceeding has been pending in the court below against Richard W. Gayle, as claimant, for several years. There was once a judgment rendered in it against this party, as claimant, and others, which was brought to this court and reversed. 17 Ala. 351. In the entry of judgment, the case is stated as “ George Bancroft, plaintiff in execution vs. Gayle and Bower, defendants in execution; Richard W. Gayle, claimant;” and the record recites that the “parties came by their attorneys.” After all this the claimant will not be allowed to disclaim. He is estopped by the record from doing so. From that it appears, that he has been conducting an active defence for years, and it is too late now for him to say that he is not a party. The court must trust to its own officers. If an attorney has appeared for him without authority, and he has been ignorant of the proceeding up to the time that he offers to disclaim, even if the remedy is to be found in an application to the court to enter a disclaimer, the court would not be bound to notice such disclaimer, unless the party offering to make it would aver his ignorance of the previous pendency of the suit, and want of authority in the attorney who had appeared in his name. 3. The motion to quash the bond at this stage of the proceedings would have been entirely addressed to the discretion of the court, even if Richard W. Gayle had been a party to that bond, which, on its face, he is not. 4. It fell, in like manner, within the discretion of the court, to allow the title of the case affixed to the issue which was tendered, to be changed, by adding the name of Duke Goodman to the defendants in execution, so as to make it correspond with the execution, and this even after issue joined. The execution, affidavit, and claim bond were read, it is said, “in evidence to the jury,” and objections were made to them severally by the claimant, and overruled. As to the execution, it was competent evidence, and was therefore properly admitted. As to the affidavit of the claimant’s agent to the property, it was not competent evidence, it is true; but we cannot see how the claimant could be injured by the admission of an affidavit made by another person, that certain — 328 — property belonged to him, in the trial of an issue in wbicb that was tbe very point be sought to establish. So the claim bond was incompetent evidence. But the existence of the bond as a fact, or the recitals it contains, if they can have any bearing upon this issue, evidently make rather for the claimant than against him. When it clearly appears, that the party objecting could not have been injured by the incompetent or irrelevant testimony, this court will not reverse ■on account of its admission, as we have repeatedly held. Easley v. Dye, 14 Ala. 158; Parsons v. Boyd, 20 Ala. 112; Frierson v. Frierson, 21 Ala. 549. The counsel for plaintiff asked Huggins, the sheriff, who levied on the property in the possession of B. Gayle, what Billups G-ayle said respecting said negroes at the time of the levy? To this question the counsel for claimant excepted, but the court allowed the question to be put and answered, as the bill reads, “for the purpose of showing Billups Gayle’s possession of the property, but for no other purpose.” To which decision of the court, allowing the question to be put and answered, the counsel for claimant excepted. What the answer was is not given. Billups Gayle’s possession was already proved. If the answer had gone to show the nature or character of that possession, the proof would have been competent and proper. 8 Ala. 650; 10 Ala. 229. In the absence of what the answer was, we cannot see that any injury was done to the claimant by allowing such a question to be put and answered. Non constat, but that the answer was in his favor if illegal, or it may have been entirely competent evidence. There is no error in the record, and the judgment below is affirmed.