Heath & Co. v. Vaught

16 La. 515
CourtSupreme Court of Louisiana
DecidedDecember 15, 1840
StatusPublished
Cited by7 cases

This text of 16 La. 515 (Heath & Co. v. Vaught) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Supreme Court of Louisiana primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Heath & Co. v. Vaught, 16 La. 515 (La. 1840).

Opinion

Garland, J.,

delivered the opinion of the court.

On the 8th of July, 1S39, S. Heath & Co. instituted their suit against W. C. & D. Vaught & Co., in the commercial court, as endorsees of a promissory note for six hundred and thirty-six dollars and thirty-five cents, with interest and costs of protest, alleging that said Vaught & Co. were a commercial firm doing business in New-Orleans ; that W. C. Vaught was a resident of Mississippi, but had properLy in this state, which they pray may be attached and sold to satisfy their demand. The attachment was placed in the hands of the sheriff, at fifteen minutes before three o’clock, and levied on the steam-boat Walker, her machinery and furniture. On the same day a citation was served in person on W. C. Vaught, but that directed to D. Vaught was never served, as the sheriff says he could 'not find him.

To this petition an answer was filed, on the 31st of October, 1839, by counsel appointed to represent the defendants, denying, generally, the plaintiffs’ demand.

On the same day that Heath & Go. commenced their suit in the Commercial Court, Amos St. Clair instituted a suit in the District Court, alleging “that the steam-boat Walker, Captain W. C.' Vaught and owners, whose names are unknown, were indebted to him two thousand three hundred and twenty-six dollars and fifty cents. This sum is made up by a note for three hundred and sixty-one dollars and fifty cents, made payable to St. Clair, signed “W. C. Vaught, master of S. B. Walker,” also a draft drawn by Vaught on Ricker, Hadley, Davis & Co., for one thousand nine hundred dollars, which he directs to be charged “to account S. Bt. Walker and owners,” acceptance of which was refused and protest made, and a receipt for sixty-five dollars given to St. Clair, by James Melmoth, “ for services on steam-boat Walker.” It is further alleged, that the note, draft and receipt were “on account of necessary supplies and moneys advanced for the use and benefit of said steam-boat Walker.” The petition concludes, by praying that said Vaught, in his own behalf, and the said unknown owners of said steam-boat, by process to be served [519]*519upon said W. C. Vaught, captain of said boat, be cited to appear,” and that judgment be rendered in his favor, which shall operate as “ a privilege on said boat attached.” Affidavit was made that Vaught and the owners of the boat were indebted the amount claimed, and that he and the owners reside out of the state ; upon which an attachment issued that was placed in the hands of the sheriff on the same day at. three o’clock, whichpwas levied on the aforesaid steam-boat^ which the sheriff says he had previously seized, at the suit of Heath & Co. Personal service of the petition and citation was made on Vaught, on the 10th of the same month. On the 1st of August, a citation was issued, directed to “ the owners of the steam-boat Walker,” which the sheriff returns as served, on the 6th, by leaving the same on board the boat, with L. N. Gavin, the sheriff’s beeper. On the 9th of August, W. F. Walker and-Roberts file their answer, staling they ■are the joint and part owners of the steam-boat, and are not liable for the amount of the draft, note or receipt, as they were not given for supplies furnished or advances made for the use and benefit of the boat, but were for the individual debts of Vaught, the master. They, therefore, pray the demand be rejected.

On the 27th of July, 1839, J. S. Dougherty & Co. present their petition to the Commercial Court,alleging that the steam boat Walker, and William Vaught, master and part owner thereof, and the other part owners, whose residence is unknown, are indebted to them in the sum of nine hundred and eight dollars and seventy-four cents, for provisions, stores and groceries, sold and delivered for the use of said boat, and money advanced to pay seamen and hands on board, for which they claim a lien or privilege. When the petition was filed, an acceptance of service and confession of judgment was written on it, signed by W. C. Vaught, in conformity with which, a judgment was forthwith rendered by the court for the sum claimed, and the privilege recognized. Two days after an execution issued on it, the steam-boat was sold for four thousand one hundred and fifty dollars, cash, and the [520]*520money held by the sheriff, subject to the different claimants upon it.

During the pendency of these different suits, numerous interventions were filed in them, in the Commercial and District Courts, by the pilots, engineers, firemen, deck-hands, stewards, clerks and many others, claiming various sums for services and supplies, and claiming privileges; finally, by consent of all parties, the record in the case of St. Clair, against the steam-boat, with the interventions filed in it, was removed from the District into the Commercial Court, and all parties proceeded as in a concurso, to establish their claims and privileges upon the common fund, and to contest the rights of each other. Upon a full examination, the judge made a tableau, setting forth the amount of the claims allowed, those having privileges of the first, second and third classes, and the sums allowed as ordinary debts. He further decreed, that there be a judgment of non-suit against St. Clair, for the sum of sixteen hundred dollars, part of his claim, allowing the remainder as a debt against the boat. He also gave judgment of non-suit against Walton & Co., who had intervened, and against Heath & Co., who first sued.

From this judgment Heath & Co. appealed, and St. Clair, after appearing and asking that the judgment be amended in his favor, has also appealed.

The first question to consider here is, a motion to dismiss the appeal of Heath & Co., (upon which all the others stand,) made by the counsel for Dougherty & Cor

The first ground is, no legal bond has been given. The appeal is a suspensive one, and the bond is for two hundred dollars, with the usual condition, that they prosecute their appeal with effect, and satisfy whatever judgment may be rendered against them. The fund out of which all the claims were to be paid was in court, it is, therefore, only necessary to inquire what judgment the court can render, to determine the sufficiency of the bond. If the appeal shall be successful, then Heath & Co. are not liable for any thing, if they are [521]*521unsuccessful, (hey aré only liable for costs. The bond is very ample to cover them. _ ■

The plaintiff who is non-suited, may take a suspensive appeal on giving security to cover all costs, and Ins right to appeal from such a judg meat is too plain to be questioned whatever may be its affect upon third parlies. Where counsel alleges the appellee Is nota resident of the slate, he will not be allowed to contradict his allegation, and object to service of citalion, made on him as his attorney.

The second ground for dismissal is, that they have no right to appeal. Heath & Co. have had a judgment of non-suit rendered against them, in a suit which they had a right to commence, and we hold their right to appeal from the decision, too plain to be questioned ; its effects upon third parties, in a trial upon the merits, may be a different question.

Tlie third cause for dismissal is, the appellants have not caused all the parties to the judgment to be cited. Dougherty & Co. do not complain that (hey are not cited, but that W. C. Vaught has not been notified.

Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI

Related

Williams v. De Soto Bank & Trust Co.
171 So. 66 (Supreme Court of Louisiana, 1936)
State Ex Rel. Messina v. Cage
152 So. 399 (Louisiana Court of Appeal, 1934)
J. P. Hudson & Sons v. Uncle Sam Planting & Manufacturing Co.
12 Teiss. 97 (Louisiana Court of Appeal, 1914)
Succession of Landry
40 So. 696 (Supreme Court of Louisiana, 1906)
Metropolitan Bank v. Blaise
33 So. 95 (Supreme Court of Louisiana, 1902)
State ex rel. Algiers Brewing Co. v. King
46 La. Ann. 490 (Supreme Court of Louisiana, 1894)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
16 La. 515, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/heath-co-v-vaught-la-1840.