Case Name: N. & A. F. Tift, plaintiffs in error, vs. Elizabeth Newsom, defendant in error
Court: Supreme Court of Georgia
Jurisdiction: Georgia
Decision Date: 1872-01
Citations: 44 Ga. 600
Docket Number: 
Parties: N. & A. F. Tift, plaintiffs in error, vs. Elizabeth Newsom, defendant in error.
Judges: 
Reporter: Georgia Reports
Volume: 44
Pages: 600–601

Head Matter:
N. & A. F. Tift, plaintiffs in error, vs. Elizabeth Newsom, defendant in error.
(By two judges.) Where a factor makes advances to a planter, ana? takes a lien upon the growing crops, under Revised Code, section 1977, such advances are in the nature of purchase-money, and the lien is, therefore, superior to the wife’s title, where the crop was set apart to her as personalty under the homestead- laws, after it was made. 20t-b February, 1872.
Factor’s lien.- Homestead exemption. Before Judge Strozier. Dougherty Superior Court. June Term, 1871.
N. & A, F. Tift, factors, made advances to Newsom “ for the purpose of sustaining the plantation, ” ofNewson, “and his family, and in payment of the labor and other current expenses of said plantation,” and he gave them a written factor’s lien upon the growing crop, etc. They foreclosed this lien and had the_/L fa. levied upon part of said crop. Mrs. Newsom claimed the property levied upon, and to sustain her claim showed that the same had been set apart to her under the homestead and exemption laws after said lien was made. The Court charged that the property was not subject to the factor’s lien, and so the jury found. Said charge is assigned as error.
D, H. Pore ; Hines & Hobbs, by Clark & Goss, for plaintiffs in error.
No appearance for defendant.

Opinion:
Montgomery, Judge.
The record in this case presents but one question, to-wit: Is a factor's lien, under Revised Code, section 1977, upon the growing crops of a planter superior in dignity to the personalty- exemption of the wife, under the homestead laws, claimed by her and granted by the Ordinary, in the crop after it is gathered ? We think it is. A homestead of realty is certain Sy liable for "money borrowed apd expended in the improvement of the homestead/7 and " for labor done thereon,77 and material furnished therefor,77 and " for the purchase-money of the same.77 Upon what better foundation does the exemption of personalty rest ? None is perceived. If none exists, it follows, that it must be liable for " material furnished therefor.77 And, certainly, provisions furnished to make the crop may well be considered^ of this last mentioned class. The money expended in the purchase of such provisions not only vests the •title to the crop in the planter, but actually creates the crop. It may at least fee said to be in the nature of purchase-money.
The affidavit of plaintiff in JL fa., made for the purpose of foreclosure, states the debt to be for advances made and provisions furnished to enable the defendant in fi. fa. to make his crop. There is no question raised as to whether advances made in any other shape than as provisions or commercial manures furnished, can be secured by a lien capable of foreclosure, under section 1969 of the Code; and upon this point we express no opinion..
Let the judgment of the Court below be reversed.