Lature v. Little

PELHAM, J. In the trial of a claim suit in the court below involving certain chattels, it was insisted by the plaintiffs that the property was subject to an execution in their favor against one Gilbreath, the defendant, and the claimant denied this and set up title in himself under certain mortgages executed by Gilbreath to him, under which he had taken possession of the property on the mortgage debt. [280] The facts as set out in the bill of exceptions show that the plaintiffs had previously brought suit on certain promissory notes in the circuit court against John A. Gilbreath and recovered judgment, but that the judgment was entered up against John IT. Gilbreath, and the certificate of the judgment recorded by the plaintiffs Avas in the name of John H. Gilbreath. Execution Avas issued on this judgment against John H. Gilbreath and levied on the property claimed. The claimant’s mortgage antedated the plaintiff’s judgment, but Avas not recorded until after the judgment was rendered and certificate of judgment recorded. Subsequent to recording the certificate, and prior to the levy, Gil-breath turned the property in question over to the claimant and took credit for the same on the mortgage debt held by him. The plaintiffs proved on the trial in the claim suit that the complaint in the suit in AAdiich they had recovered judgment Avas against John A. Gilbreath; that he executed the notes sued upon; that he Avas served Avith process; that the execution Avas against him; and that John H. Gilbreath was not sued and had nothing to do Avith the suit in Avhich judgment Avas rendered in favor of the plaintiffs. It aauis also shoAvn by the evidence that there lived in the vicinity of Albertville, Marshall county, Ala., AAdiere the transaction Avas had, three John Gilbreaths, viz., John A. Gilbreath, the party really in question and the OAvner of the property, and against Avhom and through AAdiom both parties claim the property, a John IT. Gilbreath, Avho resided in DeKalb county, about eight miles- from Albertville, purchasing goods and marketing his farm products there, and one John Gilbreath, aaTio resided at Guntersville, in Marshall county. [281] Under tlie facts of this case the rule announced by the Supreme Court in the case of the First National Bank v. Hacoda Mercantile Co., 169 Ala. 476, 53 South. 802, 32 L. R. A. (N. S.) 243, Ann. Cas. 1912B, 599, that “the common-law rule of but one Christian name and one surname, and that a wrong middle initial or name is immaterial (if the rule applies to initials), will certainly not answer the modern requirements of business with reference to recorded conveyances being notice to tiie world of the conveyancer and the property conveyed,” is applicable and the primary court erred in admitting the certificate of judgment recorded against John H. Gilbreath, and in its other rulings that are in conflict with this rule of law as announced by the Supreme Court in the case cited. In support of this holding see, also, Dutton v. Simmons, 65 Me. 583, 20 Am. Rep. 729; Crouse v. Murphy, 140 Pa. 335, 21 Atl. 358; 12 L. R. A. 58, 23 Am. St. Rep. 232; Davis v. Steeps et al., 87 Wis 472, 58 N. W. 769, 23 L. R. A. 818, 41 Am. St. Rep. 51; Williams et al. v. Thomas et al., 18 Tex. Civ. App. 472, 44 S. W. 1073. Reversed and remanded.