Arnold v. Gotshall

Beck, J. It is conceded that this action was tried in the district court as an equitable action; and, as all the evidence is before us, it will be so tried in this court. There is no material dispute as to the facts. The defendants.are husband and wife, and as such are entitled, under the statute, to a homestead; and the single question to be determined is whether the premises in question are of that character. The premises in question are situate in the town of Gladbrook, and consist of a lot about twenty-four feet wide, by 120 feet long, on which is situate a one-story building, which is of about the same width as the lot, and about sixty feet long. The front or north forty feet, at’the time the petition was filed, and when the unlawful acts charged were done, was used as a saloon. The defendants occupied the balance of the building as a kitchen, sitting and bed-room, between which and the saloon there was a partition, in which was a door which opened into the saloon. There was a walk of some kind, probably plank, from the front to the rear, on both sides of the building. There was a cellar under the saloon, in which was kept beer; but the evidence fails to show that there was anything else. The only way of going into the cellar was through or from the saloon. The wife of the defendant, the keeper of the saloon, who is a defendant also, owned the property, which was conveyed to her by the husband before the suit was commenced. We are authorized to infer from [574] the evidence that she knew the saloon was kept by her husband, and consented thereto. The plaintiff claims upon these facts that the part of the premises used for the purpose of the saloon does not constitute a part of the homestead. A part of the premises and building upon and in which a family reside, which is not used for the purposes of a homestead, is not exempt from a judgment against the owner; that is, a building and the lot on which it is situated may be partly a homestead, and partly subject to execution, depending upon the purposes for which the respective parts are used. Rhodes v. McCormack, 4 Iowa, 368 ; Wright v. Ditzlier, 54 Iowa, 620 ; Mayfield v. Maasden, 59 Iowa, 517. A part of a building, or an independent building upon a homestead, used as a shop wherein the owner prosecutes his ordinary business, is exempt, as a part of the homestead. Code, § 1997. Unless the north or front forty feet of the house and lot in. question be exempt as a shop or a place of business, it is clearly liable for plaintiff’s judgment, under the decision cited. Is it exempt on the ground that it was used by defendant in the prosecution of the business of keeping a saloon? We think not. Code, § 1938, declares that,,“where there is no special declaration of the statute to the contrary, the homestead of every family, whether owned by the husband or wife, is exempt from judicial sale.” In our opinion, Code, § 1558, is a “special declaration of the statute” to the effect that a homestead, or a part of a homestead, used as a saloon, is subject to judgments obtained for violation of the laws against the sale of intoxicating liquors. It is in the following language: “For all costs assessed or judgments rendered of any kind, for any violation of the provisions of this chapter, the personal and real property, except the homestead, as now provided by law, of such person, as well as the premises and property, personal and real, occupied and used for that purpose with the consent and knowledge of the owner thereof, or his agent, by the person manufacturing or selling [575] intoxicating liquors, contrary to the provisions of this chapter, shall be liable . * * This section provides that the homestead, when not used for the purpose of the violation of the law, shall be exempt from judgments therefor; but, when-occupied or used for the purpose of the violation of the law, with the consent of the owner, shall be subject to such judgments. The language will admit of no other construction. The condition upon which the homestead is made liable is that it was used for the violation of the law, with the knowledge and consent of the owner. Surely, if defendant had leased the part of the homestead in question for the express purpose of its use as a saloon, it would be liable. If they use it themselves, it surely would not be exempt. It would be absurd to say that the law will deal more tenderly with defendants when they violate the law themselves, than it would if they simply consent to or have knowledge of its violation by others. The interpretation we put upon the section doubtless expresses the legislative intention, and is in accord with the policy of all legislation for the suppression of crimes. The law will recognize no business which it forbids and declares to be criminal, as entitling the criminal, and those who aid and abet him, to rights and protection based upon such business. It will not recognize the keeping of a saloon, or a house of ill fame, or the manufacture of counterfeiters’ supplies and implements, or other like employment carried on in violation of the criminal laws of the state, as a business upon which the criminal can have a claim for protection or exemption. The courts will not hear a violator of law base a claim of right upon his crimes. In our opinion, the north or front forty feet of the premises in question are subject to plaintiff’s lien. The j udgment of the court below is reversed, and the cause is remanded for a decree in harmony with this opinion; or, at plaintiff’s option, such a decree may be rendered here. Bevebsed.