Ridge v. Wilson

1 Blackf. 409, 1825 Ind. LEXIS 45

• Court: Indiana Supreme Court
• Decided: November 24, 1825
• Status: Published

Opinion

Blackford, J.

Trespass. The declaration states that Wilson being a deputy sheriff, and having a distress warrant in favour of Kimball against Ridge, levied, by order of Kimball, upon certain goods of Ridge for arrears of rent; that the plaintiff applied to Wilson to replevy the goods, and gave a lawful bond, which Wilson accepted and thereupon-left the goods with the plaintiff; that afterwards Wilson, hy order of Kimball, broke-the plaintiff’s close and carried away the said goods. The defendants pleaded not guilty. At the trial it was proved that the replevin-bond was made payable to the sheriff, and was executed only hy the surety, whose circumstances were doubtful; that some time after the bond was given and received, and more'than five days after the warrant was levied, Wilson informed the plaintiff that the bond was not good, and although forbidden hy the plaintiff, he seized the goods previously distrained and took them away; that Kimball did nothing more than consult counsel respecting his claim for rent, and make the necessary affidavit for procuring the distress warrant. This is in substance the testimony in the cause. The jury were instructed to find for the defendants; and the verdict and judgment wer© accordingly in their favour.

The replevin-bond in this case is said to be defective, not being executed by the principal. In Thom v, Savage, Nov. term, 1818

(1), an appeal-bpnd thus executed was adjudged good; and the statutes as to these bonds are substantially the same. Another objection to this replevin-bond is, that it is made payable to the sheriff, instead of to bis deputy who served the warrant. The statute we conceive does not authorize this objection. • With respect to the insufficiency of the replevin-surety* if that was so, Wilson should not have received the bond, and kept it without objection until the time limited by law for replevying the goods had expired (2). He had no right afterwards to seize the goods by virtue of the warrant. As to Kimball, the other defendant, supposing as the counsel contend, that the evidence does not support the action against him, that circumstance, if true, does not justify the instruction of the Court, that the verdict should be in favour of both the defendants. Although in trespass against two, the jury cannot sever the damages, they have always the right to find one guilty and acquit the other, when the testimony justifies them in doing so.

JVelson, for the plaintiff. .,Farnham, for the defendants.

Per Curiam.

The judgment is reversed, and the verdict set aside, with costs. Cause remanded, &c.

Ante, p. 51. Stat. 1823, p. 160.

With respect to the time within which goods may he replevied, the statute of William & Mary is the same with ours. Brad, on Distress, 221. The decision under the English statute is, that the tenant is not obliged to replevy the goods within the five days therein named, but that he has a right to do so at any time.previously to the sale. Jacob v. King, 5 Taunt. 451.

The sheriff is liable to an action on the case if he do not take such sureties as the law contemplates. It is held, however, under the statute of Geo. 2, Which is similar to ours, that the sheriff does not warrant the sufficiency of the sureties. If they were apparently good when taken, and’ the sheriff acted faithfully and with a reasonable degree of caution, he is excusable. Hindle v. Blades, 5 Taunt. 225. — Scott v. Waithman, 3 Stark. R. 168.