Lindsay v. King

3 Port. 406

Opinion

Collier, J.

The defendant in error obtained several judgments against Thomas'Carlton, in‘the Circuit Court of Bibb county. Executions were issued and levied on several slaves, which Isaac Sr and .Robert W. Carlton claimed as their properly : the right being tried and found against them, they prosecuted an appeal; and a bond was executed by Isaac S., and Lucy Carlton as his surety — conditioned to pay damages, and re-deli ver the property, if the right should be found against the claimants in the Circuit Court. The claimants being again unsuccessful, and failing to return the slaves, pursuant to the condition of the bond, a suit was brought for the breách, against Lu cy Carlton, in the Circuit Court of Bibb. Judgment being obtained, she sued out a writ of error to this Court, with Robert ,W. Carlton as her surety; which judgment being here affirmed, execution' issued from the Circuit Court to the sheriff of Talladega against the estate of Lucy and Robert V/. Carlton, and was-levied on one of the slaves (and her child) which had been levied on to satisfy the execution against Tho,mas Carlton. The property was claimed by the plaintiff in error, and atrial had in the Circuit court of.Talladega, and a verdict and judgment against him ; from which he prosecutes his-writ of error to this Court.

The first question naturally suggested, is - this — =• can the slaves in controversy, because of the condemnation of the mother, to satisfy the execution-against Thomas Carlton, be made subject to an execution against Robert W. and Lucy Carlton, whose right has been negatived by a verdict and judgment?

There is no pretence that Thomas Carlton, byanjr 'act of his, has transferred the slaves in question, to the defendants in execution ; nor is it insisted that they have acquired a title to them from any other source. But the law, operating silently, yet efficiently — has vested, as it is argued, in Isaac S. and Robert W. Carlton, (and ,of consequence, in Lucy Carlton, who comes in as surety of Isaac S.) from the very moment of time there was an adverse determination of their claim, an interest in the slaves,

which rendered them liable to be sold as their property, to satisfy the execution of the defendant in error. This argument is founded upon the supposition, that as judgment has been rendered against them on their claim of property, they should have the property tó enable them to satisfy that judgment. "Without, intending to deny that the property is primarily liable to satisfy the judgment against Thomas Carlton, and that, even in favor of these claimants — ■ we are sure that tho doctrine of transfer, by operation of law, has been pushed, in argument, qui'o beyond tLie authority of any principle or decision, of which we are aware.

The fieri facias directs the. sheriff, 1 hat. of the “goods and chattels, lands and tenements, he cause to be made,” &c. If by the judgment, subjecting the property to die satisfaction of the execution of of the defendant in error, these claimants acquired an interest in 1 lie slaves, which would ant humo them to be levied on as their “goods and chattels,” — would they not be subject 1o seizure, to satisfy judgments obtained by their geueial creditors. Wre are inclined to think that such would be, the result, (at least at law) from tho recognition ofthc principle, which is essential to tho success of the defendant in error. It is sufficient to stale such a consequence, to persuade us the principle is not maintainable.

If it were possible, for Robert W. and Lucy Carlton, to acquire such an interest in these slaves as to make them subject- to satisfy their debts, surely that, interest could only be created by tho satisfaction of the judgment against TJiomas Carlton. Until this has been done, there is no act of theirs which could pass 1o them a tangible right.

In the case of Mills, et al. vs. Williams,a the doctrine of equitable lien was extended quite as far as we feel authorised to carry it. Iu that caso there was a claim of properly, and (lie claimants were unsuccessful : they satisfy the judgment — the property is then levied on and sold to satisfy the execution against defendant in execution, and several other executions against him: a rule is entered against the sheriff', when the question as to the appropriation of the proceeds among the judgment creditors, is brought up. The Court say — “the execution was suspended in its operation, on the property levied on, but it lost not the lieu acquired. It was not superseded, and might, at the same or any other time, have been levied on other property for satisfaction.” Further- — “ the execution could have run from the County Court against all tire property of the defendant, until it was satisfied: There is no question, but when it was levied first on the slave Melinda, it acquired a claim 1o satisfaction as far as the proceeds of the sale of her would have went. This was prior to the Hen .of any other of the executions. A majority of the Court believe, that, the lien there acquired, was not lost by the ,trial of the right of property.” The Court there determined, that the claimants having satisfied the judgment against them, are subrogated to the righls of the plaintiff in execution, and seem to consider them as occupying an altitude similar, to sureties; and that an unsuccessful claimant of property who has satisfied the judgment against him may avail himself of an execution against the defendant for his own indemnity, and subject the property, the 1 itie to which has been controverted, in preference to other judgment creditors — unless the lien of. that f. fa. has been lost. But in that opinion, there is not the most remote intimation that the property could be reached in a 9ase situated as the present. And whether we consider 1 he question now presented, upon, principle, or wiih reference to authority, we are convinced that the slaves in question, can not be reached by an execution against Robert W. and Lucy Carlton, and that if defendant in error would litigate the right to them, he should sue out a fieri fiadas against the estate of Thomas Carlton.

. The view which we have taken, being' decisive of the right of the defendant in error, to subject the slaves to sale in this proceeding. We decline examining the exceptions to the instructions given to jul7‘ _ ’ ■

_ The judgment is reyersed.

Footnotes

a

an. Term 133.