Hawkins v. Alexander

.LüRTON, J. This is an action of unlawful de-tainer begun before a justice. There was judgments in ‘favor of the plaintiff, from which the defendants appealed to the Circuit Court. Pending the appeal, defendants were suffered to remain in possession, the plaintiff not choosing to avail himself of his right to sue out a writ of possession, which he might have done, notwithstanding the appeal, upon giving the bonds required by the statute. Code (M. & V.), § 4092. Defendants had executed a bond, upon obtaining this appeal, in the sum of $250, conditioned, upon failure to prosecute successfully, to pay all costs and damages, and to abide by and perform the judgment of the Court. [361] At the April Term of the Circuit Court the defendants, under order of the Court, executed another bond to secure rents pending appeal. At the succeeding term they dismissed their appeal, whereupon the court entered up judgment upon this latter bond for the value of the rents pending the appeal. ■ Erom this judgment for rents they have appealed. Under § 8360, Code of 1858, the defendant, upon appealing from a judgment against him in an action of this kind, was required to give a bond, “ as in the case of a certiorari,” in double the value of one year’s rent, conditioned to pay all costs and damages. Under that provision an appeal in forma pauperis did not lie. Norton v. Whitesides, 5 Hum., 381. The bond was intended to secure rents pending the appeal, and was the only protection the plaintiff had against a frivolous appeal. But by the subsequent Acts of 1869-’70, Ch. 64, and 1871, Ch. 75, carried into the compilation of Milliken and Vertrees at §§4090 and 4092, the ■ successful plaintiff was given the right to sue out and have executed a writ of possession, upon giving bond in double the value of one year’s rent, conditioned to pay all costs and damages accruing from the wrongful ■ suing out of the writ. The effect of these Acts has been to allow the defendant to appeal in such cases, upon giving- ordinary cost-bond or upon the pauper’s oath. This was expressly so ruled in Lynn v. Tellico Manufacturing Company, 8 Lea, 29; and approved in McGhee v. Grady, 12 Lea, 92. [362] There was therefore no authority for the requirement of the bond to secure rents. If the plaintiff suffered the defendant to remain in possession after the judgment of the Justice, he did so at the risk of the loss of his rent, for he can look only to his personal action for rents after recovery of possession. The defendant in such a judgment by a Justice can only secure his possession pending further litigation by suing out writs of certiorari and supersedeas, and entering into bond to secure costs and rents. Code (M. & V.), §§ 4093, 4094. Or if the judgment of the Circuit Court be adverse to him, he can remain in possession by executing bond to secure rents pending appeal to this Court, as required by the Act of 1879, Ch. 85, and Code (M. & V.), § 4099. Notwithstanding defendants gave bond to secure rents pending appeal to the Circuit Court, there was no jurisdiction to render judgment for such rents. A similar ruling was made by this Court before the Act of 1879, Ch.- 85, in regard to a like bond made in the Circuit Court to feecure rents pending appeal to this Court. Ladd v. Riggle, 6 Heis., 620; Sherrill v. Mady, 6 Lea, 231. The result is, that the judgment for rents pending appeal was erroneous and must be reversed. There will be judgment here against Alexander & Brazelton for the costs of -the Justice and of the Circuit Court, and judgment against Hawkins for the costs of this Court.