Case Name: Atchafalaya Bank v. Hozey, Sheriff
Court: Louisiana Supreme Court
Jurisdiction: Louisiana
Decision Date: 1841-01
Citations: 17 La. 509
Docket Number: 
Parties: Atchafalaya Bank v. Hozey, Sheriff.
Judges: 
Reporter: Louisiana Reports
Volume: 17
Pages: 308–309

Head Matter:
Atchafalaya Bank v. Hozey, Sheriff.
"Writs of capias ad satisfaciendum in the hands of the sheriff, when the act abolishing im prisonment for debt was promulgated, because absolute nullities; an attempt to execute them would make the sheriff a trespasser.; and a return of non-est-inventus would not enable the party to proceed against the bail.
Appeal from the court of the first district.
This is a proceeding against the sheriff of the parish and city of New Orleans, to make him liable for the amount of the plaintiff’s debt against one H. S. Dawson, for not returning a capias, which had issued against said defendant, on or before the return day.
A rule was taken on the sheriff to this effect. To which he replied, that the bail in this case had surrendered the defendant into his custody; that before the return day of the writ, an act of the legislature passed, abolishing imprisonment for debt; and also abolished the writ of ca. sa.; that he was unable to hold the defendant by any process, and took'a bond from him for his appearance. That he had done all that could be legally required of him.
There was some evidence taken to show that the capias was not actually returned, as it purported to be on the return day. From all the circumstances and evidence of the case, the district judge concluded that the writ was not returned in time; and that the act abolishing imprisonment for debt did not affect cases already in existence, and process which had issued before it went into effect. There was judgment against the defendant, and he appealed.
Hoffman for the plaintiff.
Loclcett & Micou contra.

Opinion:
Maeíin, J.
delivered the opinion of the court.
[510] The defendant is appellant from a judgment making absolute a rule taken on him as sheriff of the parish of Orleans, to show cause why judgment should not be entered against him in favor of the plaintiffs, for the amount of a judgment which they had obtained against one ITenry S. Dawson, with interest and costs; because of his failure, as sheriff, to make a timely return of a capias ad satisfaciendum, placed in his hands against said Dawson.
This rule was taken on the 21st April, 1840, under the 17th section of the Act of 1826, which makes it the duty of sheriffs to return the writs directed to them into the clerk's office, on or before the return day; and in default thereof, renders them liable to the parties entitled to the benefit of said writs, for the full amount specified therein.
The record shows that the capias ad satisfaciendum in this case, issued on the 12st February, 1840, returnable on the third Monday of April following, which was the 20th day of the month. Op the 16th April, four days before the return day of the writ, the act of the legislature abolishing the capias ad satisfaciendum, was promulgated; and we have held in the cas,e of Oooper against Hodge who was the hail of Hunt, just decided, Ante, 476, that writs of capias ad satisfaciendum in the hands of the sheriff not executed, at the time the act in question was promulgated, became absolute nullities. The attempt to execute them would make the sheriff a trespasser. The return of such a writ non est inventus, would not enable the plaintiff to proceed against the bail. And the plaintiff in this case being without any interest in having the writ of ca. sa. returned, cannot complain of any laches of the sheriff on the ground that it was not returned in time. Indeed on an examination of the evidence, it by no means appears clearly that the writ was not timely returned.
It is therefore ordered, adjudged and decreed, that the judgment of the district court be annulled, avoided and reversed, and that there be [511] judgment for the defendant with costs in both courts.