Warner v. Harding

1 N.C. 102

This text of 1 N.C. 102 (Warner v. Harding) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering U.S. Circuit Court for the District of North Carolina primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Warner v. Harding, 1 N.C. 102 (circtnc 1793).

Opinion

Doderidge, J.

As to the exception to the value of 12d. nothing appears, non refert. As to the matter of record. The Queen may seize lands, without any record. If return be made into the Exchequer that a man, is beyond the sea, and will not return, being commanded so to do, the Crown may seize his lands. And although the son cannot be heir during the life of his father; *the father may have an action de filio et hœrede.

Noy. The record ought to certify that the father is dead; otherwise the son is not in the covenant.

[On another day in T. T. the case was argued by Sir George [106]*106Crooke. pro. Quær. and Sir Thomas Crew, pro defendente. H. 1. Car. Noy pro Quær. and Serj. Hitcham pro defendente. P. 2 Car. Davenport pro Quær. and Crew, pro quærante, and]

Now it was argued by the court, viz. Whitlock. J. and Jones, J. pro defendente and Doderidge, J. and—p ro quærente.

As to the exception taken by Noy, that the ring may be of less value than 12d. and his case of the lessee for life, remainder for life, without impeachment of waste, it goes to both the estates. T. 3 Jac. rot. 1619. Brackenbury and Brack. One covenanted to make a conveyance in fee within two years, and that he should be bound in an obligation of £. 200 rationable premonition inde habita: it refers to both the clauses. Dyer 347. pl. 10. 5 E. 4. 127. There if there be to be given a horse and an ox of the value of 40s. it refers to both. But this objection was in a manner overruled by the court.

There is a difference in the cases; for a horse or an ox hath no fixed value. But it cannot be intended that a ring should be of so small value as 12d. for it has a value in itself.

And the rest of the court assented.

As to the other exception taken by Noy: that Sir John Foscue returned that he gave a ring to Sir A. H. filio et hæred. apparenti, one of the feoffees, &c. it is bad, for he may be heir apparent, but not heir as appears by Littleton. P. 35. El. rot. 242. Audley brought debt against R. Newdigate, son and heir apparent to R. Newdigate, and counted on an obligation that the said R. Newdigate, bound himself and his heirs: The defendant pleaded rien per discent, and it was found against him: The plaintiff had judgment in the Common Bench which was reversed in this court. Although he comes in the pleadings and the special verdict, and at the time. of the tender he was heir, it matters not, for this verdict does not amend the certificate: It ought to be certain and supply the wants of an inquest of office, and in traverse cannot be taken upon it.

If any record finds the title, the Crown is in, and it is well for the Crown.

Jones, J.

But it cannot, in this case, make the lease good.

Crew, C. J.

Certainly not. For to make the lease good, there ought to be a title in the Crown before the lease.

Damport, Serj. The proviso is dare deliberare vel offerre. The Queen made a patent to Sir John Foscue deliberare, but it is not said dare et deliberare: and a thing may be delivered without being given. For the delivery of a *thing does not alter the property; it may be countermanded: one may have detinue after it.

Sed non allocatur. For a delivery in this case, is a gift.

In respect to the exception taken by Noy, that it is a personal act as homage, or attornment, and cannot be made by attorney, because there is a personal act to be done. 32 H. 6. 22 H. 7. 27. 39 E. 3. 20. 50 Ed. 3. 6, 21 E. 3. 9. 43 E. 3. 30. In case of a person recluse by necessity, an attorney is to be admitted; likewise in the case of a woman pregnant. 4 and 3 P. M. But there in was ad placit. mater. pred. which was mentioned in the writ. But if a man makes a letter of attorney to a man to attorn for him, it is an attornment.

Whitlock, J.

The question is not so much about the tender, as whether the condition be forfeited? the ipso declarante is no more than the law implies; for a tender without a declaration does not operate. The tender is actus corporis et mutus actus; the declaration is the foul, the life of this corporal act. Verba sunt indices, animi. Et expressio eorum quæ naturaliter insunt vacua et inutil. In the case of a distress annexed to rent service, lease for years rendering rent at Michaelmass, and if be in arrear twenty days after, and lawfully demanded or personally, the lessor may distrain: yet the lessor may distrain before the 20 days are out. To this purpose the counsel for the defendant have cited the case of Cladon and Arrowsmith. Lessee for life, (provided that he should not lease, except determinably on his death) made a lease for 21 years, without expressing that it should determine on his death: it is a good lease. 45 E. 3. proviso, that if rent be arrear, the King’s' bailiff shall distrain: it is void for he shall distrain as my servant. Dyer 331. 4 Rep. 72. 8 Rep. Damport’s case. 1 Rep. Shelley’s case limitted to heirs male, and the heirs male of such heir male. There is this difference; when a thing is vested with an interest, it may be done by attorney; but not when it is a nude interest. Come's case 9 Rep. 33. E. 3. F. Trespass 333.

2. It is a rule that when a corporal act has two effects: the one proper (direct) and natural, the other improper (indirect) and legal; the act will not enure to the improper effect, without a declaration. Bract. lib. 2. Cap. 17. In [107]*107speaking of corporal acts and their effects: they have three parts: actus corporis, which is here the tender of the ring, actus animi the declaration and intention of avoiding the uses, adminiculum juris, the revocation of the uses, by the operation of the law on the tender. *Therefore riding on the land in hawking or hunting, is not a possession of it. Naturalis possessio est pedis possessio, but it is not civilis possessio, for it lacks actus animi. 43 E. 3. A delivery of the deed of feoffment on the land, without saying any things has no operation, but if he had said that it is to such a purpose, &c. or proviso, &c. it would have been well. Thoroughgood’s case. And it is so here, especially as the rent rises without entry, to the Queen and her heirs. [Nota that a springing use may be to a man attainted, and the attainder does not countermand a springing use; which was unanimously agreed to.]

3. This case turns on the general ground of the notice. For if here no declaration is made on the tender, the feoffee cannot know why it is made: perhaps the money is due to him. An estate shall not be defeated without notice. Dyer 354. Provided that if the feoffor tenders to the feoffees during his life, &c. tender without notice is not good. The bargainee of the reversion shall not enter on lessee without notice. 3 Rep.

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1 N.C. 102, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/warner-v-harding-circtnc-1793.