Case ID: ga_19/html/0071-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "Starnes, J.", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

No. 12.
    John M. Gregory, plaintiff in error, vs. Thomas G. Waters, defendant in error.
    [1.] In answer to a rule against a Sheriff, for not having levied a fi. fa. upon the property of M, one of the parties defendant to said fi. fa. pursuant to instructions from the Counsel for the plaintiff, that officer returned that lie had failed to execute the fi. fa. upon the assurance of R J, agent for the original plaintiff in execution; that the same had been settled by M, but by mistake, this had not been entered, and that R J had taken thefi.fa._ and made an entry to this effect upon the execution: Held, that inasmuch as the record showed that the fi. ■fa. had been assigned to another person than the original plaintiff, for whom R J was agent, it was the duty of the Sheriff to know that R J had no authority to control the execution; that R J’S instructions were no protection to him, and that he was liable upon the rule.
    Motion, 'in Floyd Superior Court. Decision by Judge Trippe, June Term, 1855.
    John M. Gregory, as the assignee of a fi. fa. in favor of Robert H. Johnson vs. Samuel J. Stevens, principal, and Daniel R. Mitchell indorser, placed the same in the hands of Thomas G. Waters, Sheriff of Floyd County. To a rule to show cause why he should not pay over the money thereon, the Sheriff returned, among other things, that “ Mitchell told him that the fi. fa. was settled so far as he was concerned; that he went with Mitchell to Johnson, the plaintiff in jñ. fa. who confirmed this statement, and said that it was to be transferred without recourse on Mitchell, and was so understood at the time, and that he had neglected to insert it in the transfer.”
    The Court below held this return to be sufficient, and this decision is assigned as error.
    Printup, for plaintiff in error.
    T. W. Alexander, for defendant in error.
   By the Court.

Starnes, J.

delivering the opinion.

[1.] This Sheriff’s return is deficient, because it shows that he failed to execute the jfi. fa. upon the assurance of William-Johnson, (who had been agent for Bobert H. Johnson, the-plaintiff in.fi. fa. in controlling the execution;) that it had been settled, as to Daniel B. Mitchell, and upon the entry having been made to this effect by Mr. Johnson on the execution.. This was done after the fi. fa. had been assigned, and after the Attorney for the assignee had given the Sheriff notice to make the money out of Mr. Mitchell.

Such a return is not sufficient to relieve the Sheriff from liability. He had the fi. fa. in his hands, with the assignment on it. He had the opportunity of knowing that another than Mr. Johnson controlled it, and he had no right to act upon the information of Mr. Johnson, nor to permit the latter to-make any entry upon thefi.fa.

He took the responsibility of acting on the information which he received from Mr. Johnson, and he must stand to-the consequences.

It is said that if the return be not true, it might be traversed. There is nothing, however,' to traverse, except the Sheriff’s statement of what William Johnson said. And this is not sufficient to exonerate him from liability.

It may be true, that it was understood, at the time of the assignment between the parties, that Mr. Mitchell was to be-released, and that a settlement had been made with him; and the Sheriff, in his return, states that Mr. Johnson said it was. true, and that it was by his neglect that it was not so entered. But if this was the case, it should have been distinctly set forth, and the Sheriff should have rested his defence upon it.. As it is, he represents himself as acting entirely upon theipse dixit of Mr. Johnson, which was no authority to him.

The return may be amended, when the case goes back, iff the above fact be true, and the Sheriff can make his defence accordingly.

Judgment reversed.