Wicker v. Comstock

Lyon, J. The determination-of this appeal requires a- construction of the statute which exempts from seizure, on attachment or execution, “ the tools and implements, or stock in trade, of any mechanic, miner or other person, used'or kept for the purpose of carrying on his trade or business, not exceeding $200 in value.” R. S., 781, sec. 2082, subd. 8. The claim of the learned'counsel for the defendant is, that the term “ or other person ” should be interpreted to mean only a person ejusdem generis — that is, an artificer of some sort,— and not a merchant merely. This, it is argued, is the true application of the maxim noscitur a sociis, which it was said in Bevitt v. Crandall, 19 Wis., 581, is applicable to the statute. The argument of counsel was very able and ingenious, and his [317] position seems to have been sustained by the circuit court. But, in view of the liberal construction of exemption laws in favor of the debtor which obtains in this state, we think the construction contended for is too narrow, and that it may fairly be held that a tradesman or merchant who is not a mechanic is within the protection of the statute. In Bevitt v. Crandall, it was held that a farmer is not included in the term “or other person,” because he is specifically provided for in another part of the statute, but that the term is to be applied to mechanics and tradesmen, according to the maxim noscitur a sociis. Evidently shopkeepers or merchants, as distinguished from mechanics, are here referred to as tradesmen. We are very well satisfied with the construction there given. It goes upon the theory that the “ other person ” of the statute is one who, although not a mechanic, necessarily uses or keeps a stock in trade for the purpose of carrying on his business. Certainly the goods kept for sale by a merchant or shopkeeper is his stock in trade, and- it may be presumed that he needs the protection of exemption laws as well as the mechanic or miner. The mandate of the constitution is: “The privilege of the debtor to enjoy the necessary comforts of life shall be recognized by wholesome laws, exempting a reasonable amount of property from seizure or sale for the payment of any debt or liability hereafter contracted.” Article I, sec. 17. In the performance of the duty thus imposed upon it, the legislature has, from time to time, enacted exemption laws, and has industriously endeavored to so frame them that all persons engaged in lawful employments may enjoy their protection. Many of the statutory exemptions are in favor of all; yet debtors engaged in certain pursuits may reap greater benefits from these general exemptions than those engaged in other pursuits. Eor example, the exemption of horses, cattle, sheep and hogs, and food for them, of farming implements and the like, is chiefly valuable to farmers, as is the exemption of libraries to professional men; but because there might be [318] debtors engaged in otlier pursuits who would obtain but little benefit from such exemptions, other laws were enacted in favor of particular classes, such as printers and publishers, inventors, title-abstract men, mechanics and miners. The manifest requirement of the constitution is, that the exemption laws should be so framed that all classes of debtors should, as nearly as may be, participate equally in their benefits. We believe our exemption laws were framed and enacted in the spirit of that requirement. Looking through these statutes we find no adequate provision in favor of merchants or shopkeepers as a class, unless it is contained in the statute under consideration. Their little stocks in trade may be as indispensable to the support of their families as are the tools of the mechanic or miner, the press and types of the printer, or the library of the lawyer. Why should they not have the same protection as the others? And when we find language in a statute which may fairly be construed as giving them the same protection extended to other classes of debtors, why should not that construction be adopted ? The cases of Grimes v. Bryne, 2 Minn., 89, and Bequillard v. Bartlett, 19 Kan., 382, arose under statutes substantially alike, exempting “ the necessary tools and implements of any mechanic, miner or other person, used and kept for the purpose of carrying on his trade or business, and in addition thereto stock in trade not exceeding $400 in value.” It was held in those cases that a merchant merely was not within the provision, and could not claim an exemption of stock in trade. We do not controvert the accuracy of these judgments. The peculiar phraseology of the statutes on which they rest affords plausible ground, at least,- for holding that the exemption of stock in trade depends upon the exemption of a mechanic’s tools and implements, and that no stock in trade was intended except such as the debtor might have himself manufactured to sell. The Kansas case so holds. Our statute is different, [319] in form at least, and we must construe it as we find it. The above cases give us little aid; neither do cases cited from states in which a strict rule for the construction of exemption laws prevails against the debtor. The construction above indicated has been given or acquiesced in by this court in several cases, which, together, have almost the weight of authority. We should hesitate to overturn their implied construction, even though we had serious doubts of its soundness, which we have not. Walsch v. Call, 32 Wis., 159; Russell v. Lennon, 39 Wis., 570; Fowler v. Hunt, 48 Wis., 345; Fick v. Mulholland, id., 413; Zielke v. Morgan, 50 Wis., 560. We conclude that the maxim nosoitur a sooiis is satisfied by restricting the operation of the statute to those debtors who, although not artificers, must necessarily beep and use a stock in trade in carrying on their business, and who are not protected by other special provisions of the statute. This construction entitles the plaintiff to the exemption claimed. It is further maintained by counsel for the defendant, that the complaint fails to allege that the plaintiff made any selection of the portion of the stock which he claimed as exempt from seizure, or any specific demand therefor. On the authority of Zielke v. Morgan, supra, it is claimed that this omission is fatal to the complaint. In that case there was no selection or claim of exemption, and the omission was held a waiver of the light of exemption. The general rule is settled, therefore, that if an officer seize, on attachment or execution, the whole stock in trade of the debtor, exceeding in value $200, the debtor musf claim his exemption and select the specific articles which he would retain, or he will be held to have waived his right thereto. The rule must be reasonably applied, however, and hence, if upon claim of exemption the officer refuses to give the debtor an opportunity to make such selection, or denies his right to any exemption whatever, the actual selection is waived or excused, and the want of it will not be a waiver of the debtor’s right. The averment in the [320] complaint of a demand for the release of part of the stock is somewhat indefinite, but we think it sufficient to justify the admission of proof, either that the plaintiff made an actual selection, or that the officer so conducted that a selection was waived. By the Court. — The order sustaining the demurrer is reversed,. and the cause remanded, with directions that the demurrer be overruled.