Hammett v. Smith

Supreme Court of Alabama

Hammett v. Smith

5 Ala. 156

CourtSupreme Court of Alabama

DecidedJanuary 15, 1843

StatusPublished

Cited by2 cases

This text of 5 Ala. 156 (Hammett v. Smith) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Supreme Court of Alabama primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook

Hammett v. Smith, 5 Ala. 156 (Ala. 1843).

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Opinion

ORMOND, J.

The first objection taken to the declaration is, that in describing the writ of fieri facias which issued on the judgment, it is called an “execution.” We think tins averment [157]*157sufficient, as the declaration states that it was directed to the sheriff, to be levied on the goods and chattels, lands, &c., of the defendant; it is evident that it was a writ offieri facias.

Neither is the objection to the return of the sheriff well taken. It is true that the statute makes the return of “no property found” conclusive evidence of the insolvency of the maker of the note ; but we think the averment in this case, that the sheriff returned that “ there was no goods or chattels, lands or tenements of the defendant, to be found in his county,” is precisely equivalent, and is that statement of facts, out of which, the language employed by the statute is concluded.

It is also objected that the declaration states, that the execution was issued from the “proper office” and returned to the “proper office,” without stating what office. We think these words sur-plussage, and that the declaration would have been sufficient if it had stated merely that an execution had issued on this judgment directed, &c., and was returned by the sheriff, endorsed, &c., and the insertion of these words, certainly cannot prejudice.

The remaining question, whether the assignor is liable in an action against him by the assignee, for the costs of the action against the maker, has not been before raised in this court. The Statute makes it the duty of the assignee to prosecute a suit against the maker of the assigned instrument, and this he must do, although the maker is notoriously insolvent, or he cannot recover of the assignor; it appears, therefore, proper, that he should reimburse the assignee, 'the costs which he must pay in the prosecution of an ineffectual suit, which is really for his benefit. This disposes of the objection that the judgment is for too large a sum, and it must therefore be affirmed,

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ORMOND, J.

The first objection taken to the declaration is, that in describing the writ of fieri facias which issued on the judgment, it is called an “execution.” We think tins averment [157]*157sufficient, as the declaration states that it was directed to the sheriff, to be levied on the goods and chattels, lands, &c., of the defendant; it is evident that it was a writ offieri facias.

Neither is the objection to the return of the sheriff well taken. It is true that the statute makes the return of “no property found” conclusive evidence of the insolvency of the maker of the note ; but we think the averment in this case, that the sheriff returned that “ there was no goods or chattels, lands or tenements of the defendant, to be found in his county,” is precisely equivalent, and is that statement of facts, out of which, the language employed by the statute is concluded.

It is also objected that the declaration states, that the execution was issued from the “proper office” and returned to the “proper office,” without stating what office. We think these words sur-plussage, and that the declaration would have been sufficient if it had stated merely that an execution had issued on this judgment directed, &c., and was returned by the sheriff, endorsed, &c., and the insertion of these words, certainly cannot prejudice.

The remaining question, whether the assignor is liable in an action against him by the assignee, for the costs of the action against the maker, has not been before raised in this court. The Statute makes it the duty of the assignee to prosecute a suit against the maker of the assigned instrument, and this he must do, although the maker is notoriously insolvent, or he cannot recover of the assignor; it appears, therefore, proper, that he should reimburse the assignee, 'the costs which he must pay in the prosecution of an ineffectual suit, which is really for his benefit. This disposes of the objection that the judgment is for too large a sum, and it must therefore be affirmed,

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Bluebook (online)

5 Ala. 156, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/hammett-v-smith-ala-1843.

Opinion

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