Hitchcock v. Miller

Graves, C. J. Plaintiffs sued Miller on the common .counts before a justice of the peace, and Miller set up in defence that he had been garnished by the Detroit Savings Bank on account of the same debt, while it belonged to plaintiffs’ assignor, one John Eentsekler, and had paid the ■demand to the bank in the course of that proceeding'. The justice of the peace decided against the validity of this ■defence and gave judgment in favor of the plaintiffs, and the circuit court affirmed the judgment. The justice was .correct in holding as he did. It appeared conclusively that Miller arranged with the attorney for the bank to procure Bentschler to make him a suit of clothes and to have delivery take place so as to enable said attorney to intercept the pay by garnishee summons, and that in pursuance of this ■scheme the garnishee case ivas begun and carried on as far .as it was ever prosecuted. But that in fact the summons was taken out and put into the hands of the person deputed •to serve it before the clothing was delivered by Bentschler- .-and before any debt had accrued on account of the bargain. Hence the proceeding had no force to affect the demand. But this is not all. The proceeding was never carried to judgment, but was dropped on disclosure. Miller was privy to all the facts and acted in his own wrong in paying. The ■questions in regard to evidence are of no importance. They ¿lad no bearing to change the result. The judgment is affirmed with costs. The other Justices concurred.