Smither v. Keys

30 Miss. 179

• Court: Mississippi Supreme Court
• Decided: December 15, 1855
• Status: Published

Opinion

Fisher, J.,

delivered tbe opinion of tbe court.

Lucas recovered a judgment in tbe Circuit Court of Lafayette county, upon a note made by one Keys to Stockard. An execution having issued on this judgment against Stockard, was levied upon certain property conveyed by bim in trust to Smither and John P. Stockard, who enjoined proceedings under the execution, on the ground that the note was given for a gambling consideration.

The court below sustained a demurrer to the bill, from which judgment the cause comes into this court by writ of error.

It is contended that, admitting the judgment to be void, Stock-ard alone could take advantage of the objection, as the court could not, on the application of third parties, vacate the judgment. This last position is correct, but it is not necessary t^> vacate the judgment, to render it ineffectual. The parties claiming the property only insist that, as the judgment is void, it ought not to be enforced against their property, or property which they hold in trust. To this extent the court can, and ought to grant relief. The judgment is clearly void under the provisions of the statute. Hutch. Code, 940.

Decree reversed, demurrer overruled, injunction reinstated, and cause remanded.