Case ID: tenn_17/html/0428-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "Geeen, J.", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

Conrad vs. M’Gee.
    A sale of land under and by virtue 9f a judgment upon an attachment which is void, passes no title to the land.
    The attachment recited “that oath having been made, that the said A. 13. hath air* sconded or so conceals himself from said county, that the ordinary process of the Ja\v cannot be served upon him,” &c : Held, that this was insufficient to authorize the issuing of the attachment, and that having issued, all proceedingsunder it were void.
    By the act of 1794, c. 1, § 19, there are several causes which will authorise attachments to issue. Fitst; Where a party “hath removed out of the county privately.” Se-jcoi\d; Where the party “is removing out of the county privately,” and third, where he “so absconds” or “conceals himself” that the ordinary process of law cannot be served upon him.
    Where a party either “so absconds” or “so conceals himself ” that the ordinary process of law cannot be served upon him, it is sufficient cause for suing out an attachment.
    This is ap action .of ejectment prosecuted by Chester M’Gee against Conrad and Manlove, for a tract of land in th.e county of Robertson. M’Gee claims title by virtue of an ex? ecution sale and sheriff’s deed to him, founded on a judgment .which he obtained against Henry DainWood, in a suit which was commenced by attachment. On the trial below the defenr dant objected to the record of said suit being read as evidence, alleging that the attachment was .void, and that the sale and sheriff’s deed communicated no title. The court overruled the objection, and there was a verdict and judgment for the Jessor of the plaintiff. The attachment upon which the judgment was founded, recited, that “oath having been made, that; the said Henry Dainwood bath absconded or so conceals himself from said county that the ordinary process of law cannot-be served upon him,” .&c. A
    
      W. Thompson, for plaintiff in error.
    
      Clayton and Kemble, for defendant.
   Geeen, J.

delivered the opinion of the court.

The act of 1794, c. 1, § 19, authorises an attachment to issue upon oath being made “that any person hath removed, or is removing him or herself out of the county privately, or so. absconds or conceals him or herself, that the ordinary process of law cannot be served,” &c. Here several causes which will authorise the suing out of an attachment are stated. First; where a party “hath removed” out of the county privately; for the word privately, has reference to the first named cause “hath removed,” as well as to the subsequent one, “is removing.” Second; where the party “is removing” out of the county privately: and third: where he “so absconds” or “conceals himself that the ordinary process of law cannot be served upon him.” It is contended that “absconds” constitutes one cause, and “conceals” another. We do not think so. For although the two words are connected by “or” in stead of “and”, yet the sense of the sentence shows that or is used copulatively, constituting both “absconds” and “conceals,” or either of .them, a sufficient cause for suing out the attachment. 'In the nature of things, a plaintiff cannot tell whether a party absconds or conceals himself. He may suppose he absconds, when he only conceals himself, and vice versa. To compel him to swear that the party is doing the one only, would involve a plaintiff in endless difficulty. Besides the question of conscience that must always exist with the party about to take the oath, he would be constantly in danger of having his attachment abated on the plea of the defendant, who though he might not have absconded, was nevertheless concealed, or if not concealing himself, may have been absconding. We think therefore thatjhe words “so absconds or conceals himself” constitute but one cause.

attachment, however, does not contain the statement of -either causes specified in the act of assembly. It says, “hath absconded or conceals himself from said county. ” If it were admitted that the words “hath absconded” were equivalent to the first cause stated in the act, “hath removed out of the county privately,” the statement of that fact would be of itself a distinct cause, and the addition of another cause would be fatal. But the latter expression “or conceals himself from” said county, contains the allegation of a fact, not stated in the act, and upon the existence of which the attachment is not authorised. It alleges he conceals himself from the county. This may be true, and yet he may be living very publicly in another county. In a proceeding of this sort, we cannot reject this statement as surplusage, and by retaining so much as the act authorised to be stated, make the attachment good. It is a proceeding in derogation of the common law, and must be pursued strictly or it is void.

The court erred in permitting the record of the judgment in favor of M’Gee vs. Daimwood to be read in evidence. The judgment will be reversed and the cause remanded for another trial.

Judgment reversed.