Barremore's Syndic v. Bradford's Heirs

Bullard, J., delivered the opinion of the court. In this case the appellees move to dismiss the appeal, on the ground that service of citation was not made within a year after the judgment was rendered. It appears that the appeal was allowed, and the bond filed within the year, but the citation was served after it had elapsed, but in time for the term of the court to which the appeal was made returnable, and that a proper return day was fixed by the judge. We think this is sufficient, and that the Code does not forbid the service of citation after the year, if the appeal has been taken in time. The motion is overruled. The plaintiffs assuming to be the assignees and syndics of one Barremore, instituted the present suit to be recognized as owners of a tract of land in possession of the defendants, and of which the latter, it is alleged, claim to be proprietors, thereby slandering the title of the plaintiffs. The defendants excepted to the capacity in which the plaintiffs appear, alleging that Barremore is not a ceding debtor, and denying that the petitioners are his syndics and have any right to maintain this action. In support of their right to sue, the plaintiffs produced in evidence an instrument under private signature, which appears to have been registered in the office of a notary public in New-Orleans, purporting to be signed by Barremore [151] and numerous persons styling themselves his creditors, in which it is recited, that they having received and accepted of him an assignment of his property as therein described, Barremore sellas, assigns and transfers, in the manner of a dation en paiement, to Williams, Hawes, and Bolles, the plaintiffs, assignees nominated by said creditors, all his stock r ? 0 J in trade, notes, debts and accounts, together with such property, personal and real, as he possessed, &c., to be vested in said assignees for the benefit of the aforesaid creditors who ° shall sign the act: the assignees to sell the property under the direction of the creditors; the confidential debts to be first paid out of the proceeds. In consideration of the premises, the creditors agree to give Barremore a complete discharge. It is further agreed, that other creditors may, within four months, sign the agreement and avail themselves of its stipulations. They then appoint the plaintiffs . . , , . .. . assignees to manage the estate thus surrendered, as if they were syndics regularly appointed. An agreement made by a debt-his creditors1 en-teredmtobyno-tanal act, . in which he makes his^property1 to tortees" for the benefit of sign the agree-^nstitute^these persons syndics; nor does it eon-fer power on anTcüon forthe recovery of property alleged to belong to said míntíonedinSie ^ntof aasi=n" In a datum en payment, as well as m a sale, a fixed price is of ^ contact °f It is obvious that this agreement between Barremore and , . . a part of his creditors does not constitute the plaintiffs his syndics. The tract of land which forms the subject of this controversy is not described in any part of that document, nor is there any price stipulated; and in a dation en paiement, as well as sale, a fixed price is of the essence of the contract, * Juerlin’s Repverbo dation en paiement. We are therefore of opinion, that a title did not vest in the plaintiffs as assignees, so as to enable them to maintain the present action. They are, at most, agents of the persons who signed that agreement in relation to -the administration of the effects assigned by Barremore to them. The agreement contemplates a distribution of the property of an insolvent, first to what are called his confidential creditors, a distribution unknown to the laws of this state, and this court cannot lend its aid in giving effect to such ail agreement. The exception ought therefore in our opinion to have been sustained. It is, therefore, ordered, adjudged and decreed, that the judgment of the District Court be affirmed, with costs.