Case ID: ala_38/html/0315-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "R. W. WALKER, J.", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

ANDREWS vs. KEEP.
    [MOTION AGAINST SHERIEF FOR FAILURE TO MAKE MONEY ON FI. FA.]
    1. Where motion may he made. — A failure to make the money on afi. fa., when by due diligence ib might be made, is a “ failure to execute process,” (Code, § 26Ü0,) for which the sheriff may bo ruled, either in the circuit court of his counts', or in the court-to which the process was return able.
    2. Waiver of jury trial. — Jf the-defendant makes default, it is the duty of the court to render judgment on the evidence, (Code, § 2599,j without the intervention of a jury.
    Appeal from the Circuit Court of Talladega.
    Tried before the Hon. Robert Dougherty.
    This was a motion against a sheriff, for failing to make tlie money oü an execution. The notice was issued arid executed on the 12th April, 1S-58, and -was as follows: “To Warren B. Andrews, sheriff of the county-of Dallas— You will take notice, that whereas, on the 22d November, 1856, James M. Keep obtained a judgment in the circuit court of Talladega county, against one Joseph M. N.B. Nix, for the sum of $437 damages, besides $12 80 costs; and whereas, also, an execution issued upon the same, on the 5th day of January, 1857, and soon afterwards, to-wit, before the 28th January, 1857, came into your hands as sheriff of the county of Dallas, (yon being at that time the regularly qualified and acting sheriff of said county of Dallas,) whereby you were commanded, of the goods and chattels, lands and tenements of the said Nix, to make the said damages and costs, and also to make due return thereof to the next term of said circuit court, to be by you as such sheriff duly executed; and whereas, also, you failed to make the ■ money on said execution, or any part thereof, when by the use of due diligence, you might have made the same: You are therefore hereby notified, that on Saturday, the sixth day of the term of the circuit court of Talladega county, to be held on the first Monday in May next, or so soon thereafter as the court will entertain the same, the said James M. Keep will move said court for a judgment against you, for the amount of said execution, interest, and ten per cent, damages thereon.”
    On the 22d May, 1860, the following judgment was rendered in the cause: “ Came the plaintiff,, by his attorney; and the defendant, Warren B. Andrews, being called, came not, but wholly made default. Thereupon, the plaintiff produced and read to the court the following notice, made on the motion docket of this court at the May term, 1858; against the said Andrews, sheriff of Dallas county aforesaid ; and showed that the same was made in open court, and had been regularly continued to the present term, and that notice had been served on said Andrews personally, by tbe coroner of Dallas county, on the 12th day of April, 1858; which said notice, and the return thereof, are as follows,” &c, “Thereupon, on motion of the plaintiff’s attorney, the court proceeded to hear and determine the motion, and render judgment upon the evidence; and the plaintiff offered evidence, to the satisfaction of the court, showing the truth of the facts in the notice above set forth. It is therefore considered by the court, that the plaintiff, James M. Keep, recover of Warren B. Andrews the sum of $616 66, tbe same being the amount of said execution, and interest, and ten per cent, damages, together with the cost of this motion, to be taxed by the clerk of this court; for which let execution issue.”
    The assignments of error ai*e; 1st, that the court had no jurisdiction of the motion; 2d, that the court had no power to render judgment without the intervention of a jury; and, 3d, that the court erred in rendering judgment on the notice and evidence, as shown in the record.
    Byrd & Morgan, and Geo. W. Gayle, for appellant.
    L. E. Parsons, contra.
    
   R. W. WALKER, J.

To'“-execute process” is to perform its mandate. The mandate of a.,fieri facias is, that of the property of the defendant the sherifi cause to be made a specified sum of money ; and if the sheriff has failed to do this, he has failed to execute the fi. fa. -Hence, we conclude, that a failureito makethe money on an execution,is ¿failure to execute process,” within the meaning of section 2600 of the Code; <and, consequently, that the motion for this default may Re made, either in the circuit court of the county in which the sheriff was acting officially at the time of the default, or in the court to which the process 'was returnable. We adopt this construction of the statute the more readily, as we are satisfied that the practice of the bar of the State has been in conformity with it.

The court committed no error in rendering judgment without the intervention of a jury. In reference to this class of motions, the Code provides, that “ the court must hear and determine the motion, and render judgment upon the evidence, without a jury, unless an issue is tendered, and a jury trial demanded.” — Code, § 2§99. Here, the defendant did not tender an issue, and demand a jury trial; and it was the duty of the court, on proof .of the requisite facts, to render judgment for the plaintiff,» — See Irwin v. Scruggs, 32 Ala. 516.

The motion alleges all the facts necessary to render the defendant liable; and the minute-entry, after setting out the notice, recites that the plaintiff offered evidence to the satisfaction of the court showing the truth of the facts therein set forth. This sufficiently shows that the evidence authorized the judgment.

Judgment affirmed.