Stanton v. Hodges

The opinion of the court was pronounced by Collamek, J. — This was an action of trespass for taking hay and grain, which the plaintiff, as deputy sheriff, attached on a writ against the defendant, and which the plaintiff did not remove, but left copies agreeably to the statute of 1818, which provides when hay or grain in the straw is attached, a copy is to be left in the town clerk’s office, which shall be as effectual to hold the property against subsequent sales or attachments, as actual removal and custody by the officer. It appears the defendant, after such attachment, took and used up the hay and grain ; and the attachment having been returned, went on to judgment and execution against the defendant; and the plaintiff now brings this suit. The first question made in the case is, was it error in the court to admit, in the plaintiff’s behalf, his return on the original attachment, to prove any fact therein stated ? The return of a public officer, of all he is bound by law to return, is conclusive against him, and 'prima facie good for him, in relation to all those rights and liabilities which result from that official act. — Hathaway vs. Goodrich, 5 Vt. Rep. 65. The return showed an attachment of all the hay and grain in the defendant’s barn. The defendant proved he had a new barn containing hay and grain, and an old barn containing hay only; and' insists that the plaintiff cannot recover, his return being void for uncertainty. The return contains no patent ambiguity, and was therefore not void. If any ambiguity was created by the proof, put in by the defendant, it was latent, and subject to explanation, by proof, and to be made a question to the jury. But the proof did not produce even a latent ambiguity. The attachment was of hay and grain in the same barn; and the proving the defendant had another barn containing hay only, no more created ambiguity than proving he had anoth [67] er barn containing neither hay or grain. The identity related to the hay and grain — not to the barns. It is insisted the action cannot be maintained by the attaching officer, as there was no actual possession taken by him; and the statute, in words, protects against subsequent sales and attachments only. This question was fully decided in Lowry vs. Walker, 4 Vt. Rep. 76; and we think rightly decided. The object of the statute is quite apparent, viz : to prevent waste in the removal; and it is idle to say the defendant, though he cannot sell the property, and though it cannot be attached, may consume or waste it with impunity. Nor is this inconsistent with general principles. The officer is responsible for the safekeeping the property. The statute provides, that nothing in the act shall be construed to prevent the officer from removing the property where he shall think proper The officer has thus a lien, or special property, with the right of immediate possession, and may therefore maintain the action. . This brings us to the main question in the case, which is, can this action be maintained by the plaintiff, or must the same be brought by the sheriff? Since the decision of Hutchinson vs. Parkhurst, it must be considered as settled, that the deputy sheriff is not so far an independent officer, known to our law, as to be subject to a suit in that official character; and by parity of reasoning, he cannot, e converso, maintain an action in that capacity. In this respect we differ from Massachusetts. This is however no way inconsistent with permitting such actions to be maintained, both for and against a deputy sheriff, as do not count on his official character, though the subject matter in evidence might have grown out of official acts; nor does the fact that in the same case an action might be had for or against the sheriff, alter the case. It is frequently, perhaps generally, the law that an action may be maintained either by the principal or agent, where both have a beneficial interest. On this principle is the case of Spencer vs. Williams decided. On this principle it is, an action of trespass may be sustained against a deputy for attaching the wrong man’s property; as it will not do to say this is so, because that was an un [68] authorized and unofficial act, for the sheriff is liable to action for the same act. Such is the principle in the case "of Johnson vs. Edson, and reconciles all with the case of Smith vs. Joiner, where the officer could have had no action but by counting on his official condition, . In all cases in which a deputy sheriff has legally done his duty, and the law visits on him a continued and ultimate liability, that same law must sustain him in an action necessary to his protection. Wretched indeed would otherwise be his situation. If a deputy sheriff attach property, and take it into his possession, and it is unlawfully taken from him, he must have an action in his own name, as he is ultimately answerable, and has no way to compel the sheriff to sue or suffer his name to be used. On the same principle is this case. ' The deputy has not released himself from responsibility as to this property by leaving his copies. If it were so, it would indeed be, as insisted by the defendant’s counsel, a mere official act of the officer; ending with his return, like an attachment of land. But in the attachment of hay and grain, when the officer, without direction of the creditor, leaves copies, he is still responsible for the safe-keeping, and has the power to take actual possession when he pleases. If, therefore, it becomes nécessary, as in this case, for the deputy to have' action to protect him in his liability, the law sustains him therein, in his own name. Judgment affirmed.