McConnaughy v. Baxter

BRICKELL, C. J. — This was an action in the nature of an ejectment, commenced by the appellee, for the recovery of ■ a lot in the city of Birmingham. The appellee recovered judgment against the appellant, before a justice of tbe peace, on which an execution issued, and, for tbe want of personal property, was levied on tbe lot, as the property of appellant. The execution, with its levy, was sent to the Circuit Court, and an order of sale granted, the appellant’s claim of exemption to the lot having been overruled by tbe court. An order of sale was issued, by authority of which tbe sheriff made sale of the lot; and the appellee became tbe purchaser, receiving a conveyance. Possession having been demanded of the- appellant, and he refusing to surrender, this action was [381] brought. The only improvement on tbe lot was a blacksmith shop, in which work was occasionally done by appellant, his agents, or employes. It had never been used or occupied as a dwelling-place by appellant or any one else.. It was the only real estate owned by the appellant; but it is not shown that its occupancy as a homestead was contemplated. The appellee offered in evidence the judgment of the Circuit Court, ordering a sale of the lot; to the admission of which the appellant objected, because the court had no authority to render the judgment, and because the description of the land contained in the judgment entry was insufficient, and because the lot was exempt from levy and sale. The objection was overruled, and the record of the judgment received as evidence. The court charged the jury that, under the facts, the lot was not exempt from levy and sale, and the appellee was entitled to recover. An exception was reserved to these rulings, and they are now assigned as error. The constitution, and the statute approved April 23, 1873, to carry it into effect (Pamph. Acts, 1872-3, p. 84), exempt from levy and sale for the payment of debts the homestead of residents of the State. The words of the constitution are clear: “ Every homestead,” etc., “ owned and occupied by any resident of this State.” The same words are employed in the statute, as descriptive of the real estate which cannot be subjected to sale for the payment of debts. It is not real estate, nor an interest in real estate, as such, without regard to its use, or its capacity of use, for a specific purpose, that is freed from liability to debts. Unless devoted to use and occupancy as a home, a dwelling-place, protection is not extended to it. It is because of its use and occupancy as a home — to secure and preserve it as such — that exemption from sale under judicial process is granted. Land not impressed with the character of a dwelling-place — a home — is not within the letter or spirit of the constitution, or the statute. The policy in which the exemption has its foundation — the protection of the roof which shelters the citizen— does not embrace it. Personal property, without regard to its kind, or character, or the uses to which it is appropriated, of the value of one thousand dollars, if the subject of seizure under judicial process, is exempt. From all that he owns, the debtor may select that which he will retain. Land of a particular value is not exempt, and the right of selection from all the lands the debtor may own is not secured. It is the homestead, owned and occupied, not exceeding in value two thousand dollars, nor in quantity one hundred and sixty acres, with the dwelling and appurtenances, or a lot owned and [382] occupied, with the dwelling and appurtenances, in a town, city, or village, not exceeding in value two thousand dollars, which is relieved from liability to levy and sale. The change in the phraseology of the exemption of personal property, and of the exemption of the homestead, is expressive of the difference in the purpose and character of the exemptions. If the intent of the law-maker had been to exempt real estate as such, of a particular value or quantity, without regard to its uses, it would have been expressed as in the exemption of personal property. Words describing the character of the real estate, limiting the right to real estate devoted to a specific use, would not have been introduced. Actual occupancy — possession of the premises as a home — is the fact which draws them within the exemption. It is this fact which circumscribes the owner’s power of alienation, if he is a married man, and renders the voluntary assent and signature of his wife necessary to the validity of any conveyance he may make. It is said by Mr. Washburn, in his chapter on Homesteads, that while the laws of the different States vary as to the value, and the extent, and nature of the ownership required, “ it will be found that, in some respects, the laws of all the States substantially agree, especially in requiring the premises to be occupied for family purposes as a home, by one who is a resident thereon, and makes it the dwelling-place of his family.” — 1 Wash. Real Prop. 329. The Code exempted real estate, including the homestead, not exceeding in value five hundred dollars, or in quantity three hundred and twenty acres. — Revised Code, §§ 2880-82. In Kaster v. McWilliams, 41 Ala. 302, it was held, a house and lot not in the actual possession and use of the debtor or his family, but rented out, could not be claimed as a homestead, and was not exempt from levy and sale. Use by the family was clearly contemplated by the statute. We regard this decision as the correct exposition of the statute then in force, though it was departed from in Melton v. Andrews, 45 Ala. 454. It is equally a correct exposition of the present constitution and statute. The whole theory and policy of the constitution, and of the statute, must be departed from, the words violated, and other words introduced, unless the exemption is limited to the homestead, which is actually occupied as such. Temporary absence, the intent to return and occupy existing, might not work an abandonment of the right, as it would not of domicile. The actual occupancy having existed, its cessation being temporary, the animus re-vertendi would, in legal contemplation, continue it as to the home, the dwelling-place. Premises, the immediate occu [383] pation of which as a homestead is contemplated, but which is deferred from necessity or convenience only for a reasonable time, would probably be entitled to protection during the intei'val of delay in actual occupancy. But a lot never occupied as a dwelling-place, and incapable of such occupancy, is not a homestead, within the constitution or the stat-rite. The lot in controversy, not being the homestead of the appellant-never having been used or occupied as such-waa subject to levy and sale. The charge of the court was, of consequence, correct, as was its ruling on the first and third grounds of objection to the admission of the record of the order of sale. The case of Melton e. Ancirews, supra, is in conflict with these -views, ai~d with the views expressed in Miller v. Marx and in McGuire v. Van Pelt, at present term, and is therefore overruled. - - - 2. The order of sale refers to the motion, in which the lot is described by its number, and the street in the city on which it is located. This was a sufficient designation of the premises.- Weir v. Clayton, 19 Ala. 132. We find no erro~ ir~ the record, and the judgment must be affirmed.