Case ID: miss_21/html/0682-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "Mr. Chief Justice Sharkey", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

Augustus Bonaffee et al. vs. Alvarez Fisk.
    It is the duty of the sheriff, when he has raised money by execution sale, to examine the docket of judgments enrolled under the act of Febrnary 24, A. D. 1844 ; and to appropriate the money made, to the oldest lien, even though he had no execution on the judgment having this prior lien, in his hands at the time of sale; and this is the case whether such judgment having the prior lien be rendered in the circuit court of the United States, or any of the courts of the state.
    Whether if the decision of the supreme court of the United States, in Massingill v. Downs, 7 How. (S. C.) Rep. 760, were regarded as authority in this state, holding that the registry law of 1841 of this state did not apply to judgments rendered in the United States courts, a different construction of the act of 24th of February, 1844, would not be given' so as to exclude judgments in the United States court from a right to appropriation of money made on executions from the state courts. Query ?
    On appeal from the circuit court of Hinds county; Hon. George Coalter, judge.
    Daniel Thomas, the sheriff of Hinds county, entered a motion for an order directing the application of money, made on execution in his hands, in behalf of Alvarez Fisk against Charles S. Spauu, as between the several judgment creditors.
    The following tabular statement exhibits the various judgments against Spaun, the dates of their recovery and enrolment respectively, and the plaintiffs’ names:
    Rendered. Enrolled.
    Commercial and R. R. Bank, Vicksburg, 17 April, 1840, 5 April, 1844.
    
    Planters’ Bank,..... 4 Dee. 1839, 4 June, 1844.
    Mississippi and Alabama Railroad Co. 21 June, 1843, 25 June, 1844.
    House, McRaven & Co. 17 Oct’r, 1840, 29 June, 1844.
    Bonaffee & Co. ..... 7 Dec’r, 1844, 25 June, 1844.
    Same....... 9 May, 1845, 26 June, 1845.
    Same....... 9 May, 1845, 26 June, 1845.
    Same....... 9 M.ay; 1845, 26 June, 1845.
    Same....... •9 May, 1845, 26 June, 1845.
    
      The judgment of Fisk was recovered on the 1st of December, 1846. The money was made by virtue of an execution on this judgment, returnable to the May term, 1848, of Hinds circuit court.
    There was no other execution in his hands, either at the time of the levy or of the motion.'
    All the judgments of Bonaffee & Co. were recovered in the circuit court of the United States, for the southern district of Mississippi.
    The circuit court directed the application of the money to the judgment of Fisk, and Bonaffee & Co. appealed.
    Potter, for appellant,
    Cited and relied on the act of February 24, 1844; insisted it was in effect a mere registry law, and embraced judgments in the federal court.
    
      E. W. F. Sloan, for appellee, contended,
    1. That each party must look alone to the process of the respective courts for satisfaction of their judgments. He cited Hagan v. Lucas, 10 Pet. 402.
    2. That in no case could a sheriff apply funds in his hands to the satisfaction- of a judgment, except by virtue of the process on it. Planters' Lank v. Scott, 5 How. 246; McFarland v. Wilson, 2 S. & M. 269;' Wood v. Robinson, 3 lb. 271.
    3. Mr. Sloan argued that the act of February, 1844, did not change these rules; the necessity of consulting the judgment roll must be confined to cases, where process on the different judgments came to his hands; when he, as to them, was to determine priority by the enrolment.
   Mr. Chief Justice Sharkey

delivered the opinion of the court.

The contest in this case grows out of a motion made by the sheriff, for directions in appropriating money collected by sale under execution. The sale was made under the execution of the appellee, that being the only one the sheriff had in his hands. But the appellants claimed the money under an older judgment, rendered in the United States court, which was also first enrolled. There were several other judgments enrolled, older than either of these, but they had ceased to be liens, under the act of 1844, which limits the liens of judgments, rendered prior to the passage of the act, to two years.

The question is, whether the sheriff is bound to appropriate money to an older judgment rendered in the United States court, which has been properly enrolled. We have heretofore decided, that the liens of judgments in the United States court and the state court stand upon the same footing.. Tarpley v. Hamer, 9 S. & M. 310. The supreme court of the United States has decided otherwise in Massingill v. Downs, 7 How. 760. For the present we shall make no comments on that decision, but adhere to our own. The 9th section of the act of 1844, makes it the duty of the sheriff, after he has sold property under execution, to examine the judgment roll, and pay the money on the oldest lien, and so return on the execution under which he sold. He must make this appropriation, notwithstanding he may have no execution in his hands on the older judgment. The law has provided the means of ascertaining the priority of liens, and makes the appropriation according to priority. It may seem to be an awkward matter to require the sheriff to appropriate money in satisfaction of an execution in the hands of the marshal, but we cannot limit an act which seems to have but one plain meaning. A sale of the property vests a title in the purchaser, and cuts out prior liens, and this is the mode taken to protect them. Were we to follow the decision in the case of Massingill v. Downs, perhaps we might come to a different conclusion.

Judgment reversed.

A re-argument was applied for, but not granted.