Case Name: Daniel McClain vs. William Edward Hayne, Sheriff of York District
Court: Constitutional Court of South Carolina
Jurisdiction: South Carolina
Decision Date: 1812-11
Citations: 1 Tread 212
Docket Number: 
Parties: Daniel McClain vs. William Edward Hayne, Sheriff of York District.
Judges: 
Reporter: South Carolina Law Reports
Volume: 6
Pages: 212–230

Head Matter:
Columbia, November Term, 1812.
Daniel McClain vs. William Edward Hayne, Sheriff of York District.
Gist, for the Motion,
Blanding, Contra.
A sheriff is not bound by the common law to maintain his prisoner confined on civi' process; but he is liable to plaintiff if ^prisoner to go at IkrffC bs* cause he tutefand refused to pay for his maintain-anee.
Special action for an escape.
The plaintiff brought this action against the defendant, for the voluntary escape of J. M. Gallagher, who was in goal, by the surrender of special bail, at the suit of the plaintiff. The plaintiff proved that the sheriff turned the debtor out of goal, because the plaintiff did not give security for the cos-s °f feeding him when in goal. The plaintiff a]s0 shewed, that he had obtained a decree of the court, for his debt against the debtor, and that the sheriff discharged the debtor, before any execution ^ssue¿ on the said decree. The plaintiff also pro-yed, that he offered security for the expences of maintenance of the debtor, in a few days after he was set at liberty. It was proved that the plaintiff had paid the sheriff all the expences of keeping the debtor. The jury under the direction of the court, found for the defendant. The plaintiff gave notice that he would move the Constitutional Court, at Columbia, for a new trial, on the following grounds viz.
1st, Because the Judge misdirected the jury in stating to them, that the sheriff had a right to turn the debtor out of goal, if the plaintiff did not pay or give security, for his xnáintenance in goal, to the sheriff.
2nd, Because the verdict was contrary to law .evidence.

Opinion:
Colcock, J.
In this case it is clear, that that clause under which the sheriff acted, is not now in force. The county court act being repealed, of course the clause relating to county sheriffs is also repealed; and that by discharging the prisoner, he made himself liable for the debt. It is not necessary to decide in this case, the question so much discussed, about the costs. Had the prisoner been discharged by the operation of law, it would then have been a question, who should pay the costs. I am, therefore, for the motion.
Brevard, 3.
This is a motion on the part of the plaintiff, for a new trial. The action was trespass on the case, against the defendant as sheriff of the district of York, for the voluntary escape of J. Gallagher, who was in his custody, by virtue of a surrender of his special bail, on mesne process, at the suit of the plaintiff. The trial was in the court of common pleas for York district, before' Judge Waties, who charged the jury in the defendants fa-vour, for whom the verdict was found. The evidence was, that the prisoner was discharged from his confinement, being in the sheriff's custody as already stated, on the ground that he was unable to Pay íor his sustenance in prison, and that the plaintiff had refused to pay for the same, or give security t0 <j0 so" The sheriff, it appeared had been induced to discharge the prisoner, from a belief that a clause in the county court act of 1785, which relates to this subject, (see P. L. 380.) was in force, from seeing it inserted in a late republication, as still in force. I am of opinion, there ought to be a new trial on - the ground of misdirection. The clause of the county court act relied upon, is not in force. It never was in force as a general law j and the abolition of the county court system has totally repealed it. It is only necessary to enquire what the law was, on the point in question, prior to the American revolution; and whether it has undergone any change, in consequence of our change of government, or has been altered by statute law. What the law was in England prior to our revolution, is laid down in Plow dens Commentaries, 60, 66. and Co. Litt. 47. in terms to be sure, so harsh as to sa-vour of inhumanity j yet it is believed, not many instances have occurred of debtors being starved to death by their creditors.
The charity of society is found to be an unfailing-resource against individual cruelty and oppression. I speak in general tenns; it must be confessed that it is not always so; but it is not within the reach of human wisdom, aud human policy, to provide effectually for every possible case. The same law which was established in the mother country, was adopted in the colonies. In this country, the common law. of England was expressly made of force, by an act of Assembly, passed in 1712. The exceptions, specified in that statute, do not in any wise affect the law upon the point in question. (P. L. 99.)
There is nothing in the local position of this country, which necessarily requires a different law. There is nothing in the change which has taken place in the form of our government, and political relations, which seems to have operated a necessary change in the law. We may regret that the law is so; but it is not for the judiciary to usurp legislative powers, and alter and amend the law, as may be thought proper or necessary. If this court had the power to remedy the grievance complained of in this case, I should doubt of the policy and propriety of adopting' any other law, than that which appears to me settled, in relation to the subject under consideration. It would be difficult, I conceive, to form any system which would eschew the evils now complained of, without exposing society to others equally mischievous, and perhaps involving greater practical distress.
As to the sheriff, I have such an opinion of the charity and liberality of those who , compose the mass of society in this country, and of their means of affording succour and relief to the distressed ; that I am persuaded he can never be a great sufferer, either in his property or his feelings, from being reduced to the necessity of supporting all insolvent prisoners, or seeing them starve to death. If the rea^ situation'of a prisoner, reduced to such an extremity should he made known, it would not be long, ere the necessary relief would be afforded by the charity of the community. My opinion is, that the defendant, as sheriff, was bound to keep his prisoner in safe custody within his goal; and that he was not bound to supply him with food, unless he Was paid for it. That the discharge of the prisoner, under the pretence that he was unable to pay for his. sustenance, or otherwise procure it; and because the creditor had refused to pay for the food necessary to his existence in prison, or to give security to do so, was illegal, and rendered the sheriff liable to the action for a voluntary escape. It may be a hard case as relates to the sheriff, but not more so, than if an irresistáble mob, had broken the prison, and set the prisoner at liberty; or he had escaped from the insufficiency of the goal: yet in these cases the sheriff would be liable. See 2 Wils. 294. 4 Term Rep. 789. 4 Co. 84. Bull. N. P. 66.
Bay, J.
By the common law, the plaintiff in an action, is not bound to maintain a defendant impris oned at his suit for debt: he is obliged to maintain and support himself, or his friends may do it if they think proper; .and if he is unable to do so, or if he has no friends who will make the necessary advances for him, then he must have recourse to the common charity of mankind; and if they are so unfeeling as to refuse to assist him, he is left to perish in confinement. But whatever his situation may be, or how ever deploi'able his condition, the sheriff has no au,thority to set him at liberty : and if he does, he makes himself responsible for the debt.
This doctrine of the common law, may (at the first blush) appear hard and unreasonable; yet if a con-srary principle was once established, there would be no effectual check to knavery and imposition, where men are obstinate and stubborn, and prefer confinement to a surrender of their property to their creditors ; and sad experience has taught us that there are many of this description in all countries, who would (if the law would permit it) prefer living on the bounty of their creditors, in indolence, to their coming out of goal, upon giving.up their property in payment and satisfaction of just demands against them. So far with regard to the common law on this subject. Let us now see whether any, and what alterations have been made, by any, and which of our statutes.
The 39th clause of the county court act, did make a provision of this kind, for debtors imprisoned by process out of those courts. It expressly declares, that if any person should be taken on execution, or other process, and should not be able to give bail, pay the money, or have any land, goods or chattels, whereby his maintenance in goal, could be defrayed, the plaintiff in the action, or person at whose suit such defendant should be imprisoned, should pay and satisfy the same; and if such person, or his attorney, should refuse on notice, to pay the same, or give security to pay the same on demand, then such prisoner should be freed and discharged from his confinement. This clause however, in the county court act, related only to suits in those courts, and to prisoners confined in gaol on executions, or other legal process issuing from them, and not from any of the other courts in this state. Admitting, however, that it might have been doubtful, whether it extended to the other courts of justice or not; yet as the act is now repealed, this provision ceased with it.
The next regulation in our statues, upon the subject, is the 12th clause of the insolvent debtors act, which authorises the court from whence the process issues at the request of the creditors, to commit the person applying for the benefit of that act, for twelve months, in cases of rendering in a false schedule, or concealing his estate, or effects from such creditors; provided that the creditors requesting such commitment, shall during the said term, pay the provost-marshall or goaler, six shillings and three pence per diem, for the subsistence of such prisoner : and in case the creditor or creditors shall neglect to pay the same, for the space of one week, then the provost marshall shall immediately discharge such person or persons from custody.
This latter regulation most evidently applies to persons praying for the benefit of the insolvent act: and those only who have been imprisoned on suspicion of fraud, or concealment of their effects, or rendering in a false schedule on oath; and can have no bearing or application to prisoners committed on mesne process. These, I believe, are the only clans-es in any of our acts of assembly, which in any degree relate to the point now under consideration, one of which is now repealed, and the other is confined to the particular case specially mentioned in the act; but which will by no means justify the sheriff in discharging the defendant out of his custody, under the existing circumstances of the case.
In order to remove every ground of hardship in this, or similar cases, I have only to observe, that in no part of the world, is the law more favorable to unfortunate debtors, than in South-Carolina. The prison bounds act gives an easy and convenient relief from confinement within the four walls of a prison ; and the insolvent debtors act, affords an equally easy and effectual discharge from the debt entirely, to honest and unfortunate debtors, on giving up their estate and effects to their creditors. So that obstinate men have themselves to blame, if they are retained in confinement, beyond that reasonable time, allowed by law for them to apply to the courts of justice for a legal discharge. It is, therefore, my opinion that the sheriff has clearly made himself liable by this discharge, and that there should be a new trial.
Nott, J.
In this case two questions are submitted to the consideration of the court: 1st, Whether a person putting a man in gaol on mense process, or ca' sa" *s t>oun{i t0 maintain him there ? 2nd, If he is, and fail to do so, whether the sheriff is liable for an escape, if he discharge him?
In the first place, I shall endeavor to shew that according- to the principles of the common law, a person is bound to maintain his prisoner in gaol: and, secondly, if the common law is held to be otherwise in England, it never has been, and never ought to be the law of this state : and, thirdly, if it ever was recognized in this state, it has since been altered by several acts of the Legislature.
With regard to the first point, I would premise, that I disclaim any right in this court to legislature, or to alter, or disregard any established principle of law. And I' have as high a veneration, for the true and genuine principles of the common law, as any member of the bench ; but I believe it is as much the privilege and the duty of this court, as of the court of King's Bench, or Common Pleas, to decide what the common law is. It is true, that many times the sources of the common law are dark and hidden, and therefore, our judgments must be guided by the best lights we can obtain. And when we find any principle, agreed upon by the English elementary writers, and recognized by a series of uniform decisions, we usually do, and perhaps always ought to adopt their decisions, as the highest evidence of what the common law is, on the subjects to which they relate. But we are not bound to pay that respect to the antiquated opinions of any one judge, nor the loose extrajudicial opinions of several, however re-speciable they may be. Secondly, Where the principles of law, on which the judges in England have founded any opinion, are equally visible to us, I think we are authorised to draw our own conclusions from those principles, and are not bound by their decisions.
Let us now examine the authorities relied on, to prove that a person is not bound to maintain a man whom he has put in gaol. The only case produced is Dive vs. Manningham, 1 Plowden, 68. where chief Justice Montague says, iS a jaoler is not bound to find a prisoner meat, but he must live of his own, and if he has no goods of his own, he shall live by the charity of others, and if others will give him nothing, let him die in the name of God." Now, admitting the law to have been at that time, as laid down by C. J. Montague, the harsh, unfeeling manner in which it is pronounced, shews the barbarous state of the times in which he lived 5 and would at least raise a doubt, whether it ought to be adopted in a more civilized state of society. Chief Justice Pratt, in the case of Wilks, says, that in the case of the seven Bishops, 4 State-Trials, 302. there was but one honest man, out of the four, who then composed the court of the King's Bench : and that the opinion ought not to be regarded, on account of the " dark, insensible state of justice in those days." And if such was the state of things at that time, I presume they could not have been more enlightened in the time of chief justice Montague. But whatever might have been the state of justice, his own words afford abundant proof of the dark, insensible state of his mind. And if that was a good reason, why the judges in England should not be governed by a decision of their own court, it is surely a good one, why this court should not be. And it is farther to be observed, that this was a mere diction of Judge Montague, in an answer to the arguments of counsel, and not a deliberate opinion, on a point involved in the case then before the court.
The cases cited by Plowden, in support of this opinion, as far as I have been able to look into them, not embrace the question. Most of them relate to the impounding of cattle, in which case it is said the owner is bound to feed them, and not the person by whom they are impounded. But I presume it will not be pretended at this day, that there is such an analogy between the impounding of an ox, and the imprisonment of a man, that if one may be permitted to starve in a pound, the other may in a gaol; and much less to conclude, that because the owner is bound to feed the one, nobody is bound to feed the other. But even in the case of impounded cattle, if they are put in a close pound, the impounded is bound to feed them.
It js also to be observed, that at common law, a creditor was not allowed a ca. sa. against the body of his debtor, (3 Coke, 11, 12. 2 Bacon, 351. c. Dalton's Shff. 138. 144,) and the arrest of a person on mesne process, is by statute. And I believe that none of those statutes make any provision for the , . . , payment of costs. The opinion, then, that neither the plaintiif, nor sheriif are bound to feed a prisoner while in gaol, is only an inference drawn from the silence of the statutes on the subject. It, therefore, becomes the duty of this Court, to form its own opinion, and not to adopt implicitly the opinions of the English judges. The question then is, whether such an opinion is supported by the general principles of the common law, or can be collected from analogous cases? I think not. From those sources I should draw conclusions directly the reverse. It is a general rule, that the party creating costs shall pay them. The plaintiif is, in the first instance, always liable for the costs of suit. If he levy a ji. fa. on negroes, and put them in gaol for safe keeping, he must pay for their support, until they are sold. If he take cattle, he must do the same. Why then if he take the body of the defendant, should not the same liability attach ? surely it cannot be merely because chief justice Montague once said he was not bound to do so. I admit there are other cases that favour this opinion. But as no other has been relied on by the counsel for the plaintiif, I shall not notice any other, further than to observe that as far as they have come within my observation, they are all loose extrajudicial opinions, thrown out by way of argument, and all appear bottomed on this solitary dictum, in the case of Dive vs. Manningham. I find no case, where the doctrine has been directly decided, and loose opinions thrown out in this manner, however respectable the authors from whom they came? are not entitled to the force of law. On the other hand, Lord Coke says, a gaoler cannot refuse a prisoner victuals, and ought not to suffer him to die for want of sustenance. Co. Lit. 295, a. 9 Coke's Rep. 87. This opinion of Lord Coke, is given deliberately as a settled rule of law, and not hastily thrown out arguendo. And although it relates to criminals, and not to persons confined on civil process, yet it is equally opposed to the opinion of judge Montague, who extends the rule to all descriptions of prisoners ; and if it is a correct rule of the common law, that the state should maintain its prisoners, it would seem that the same rule ought to apply to individuals. In Butler's notes, Co. Litt. 289. a ease is reported where a man, confined on a civil process, was released from goal by order of the court, on account of old age and infirmity. It would be an extraordinary display of humanity, to discharge a person from gaol to save his life, who was brought to the brink of the grave by old age, and let one in full youth and vigor, imprisoned for the same of-fence, lie and starve. And if it was the duty of the judges in one case, to release the prisoner to save his life, it is difficult to discover upon what principle it would be their duty to refuse it in the other. It is laid down by Dalton, 122, (< that if a man be in ex- " ecution, on a statute merchant, he must be found <e in prison, out of the rents and revenues of his land ci which are in execution, viz. the creditor out of i( the rents and revenues of his land, is to find him il bread and water, the which costs notwithstanding, <e the debtor must recompense the creditor again S( with his debt, before the debtor be let out of gaol." This case, it appears to. me, places the subject on its true ground. The creditor is bound to pay the gaoler his debtor's expenses while in confinement, but he has a claim upon him for repayment, and may keep him in gaol until he is satisfied. I will mention one other case, which I do not think of light authority. Doctor Johnson, in his fife of Savage, says, " he took care to enter his name according to the form of the court, that the creditor might be obliged to make him sonte allowance if he was continued a prisoner." He says farther, that Savage after-wards, informed him that on account of the resentment of the city, some of the merchants intended to pay the allowance which the law required, and detain him á prisoner at their owii expense. Whether it was by the common law, or by any particular statute that he had this claim for his expenses does not appear; but it at least affords an argument in favour of the correctness of the principle. An insolvent debtor in England, is entitled to a certain weekly allowance for his support, and that must be paid by the plaintiff. In the case of Savage, it does not appear that he applied for the benefit of the statute; neither was he to be supported by the plaintiff, but by strangers to the action. From whence it may be inferred, that' he did not rely on the statutes, for the relief of insolvent debtors; and if there is another statute making such provision, I have not found it. I conclude, therefore, that it is a common law right, regulated by rule of court.
2nd. But let us admit that by the ancient' common law, a plaintiff was not bound to maintain his prisoner in gaol, I feel authorised to say it is part of the common law, which never has, and never ought to become a part of the law of this state. It is said we are bound by the common law, and that to deviate from it would be to make law, and not expound it. Blit although we are bound by the common law, we are not bound by every decision of the English courts •, and the act making the common law of force in this state, excepts such parts of it, as are inconsistent with the particular constitutions, customs, and laws of the state. Act of 1712. (P. L. 99.) The eminent Judge (Walies) who tried this case, and who was a distinguished member of this court for more than twenty years, decided that if such was the common law of England, it had never been acted upon in this state, and that it was contrary to the humane principles of our constitution, and I concur with him most heartily. And although we are not authorised to break down, or disregard the great land marks of property, and personal liberty, which have been established by wisdom, and consecrated by the experience of ages, yet the act makes it our duty to exercise a liberal discretion in mould-ing the ancient rules of the common law to the principles of justice, and the enlightened principles of our free government. And if this rule of the common law has never yet been acted upon, I am not disposed now to make a precedent. Mr. Cooper says, (l consider all law of whatever kind, as deduced either from extensive and long adopted usage furnishing presumptive evidence of general experience, or from reasoning founded on the nature of human society, and pointing out the conclusions best adapted to general experience." (Cooper's Justinian, 405.) Every country must have a common law of its own, and in the pursuit of the principles of natural justice, when we have no constitutional provisions on the subject, we have a right to explore every source. Many of the principles of our decisions are drawn from the civil law, and are confessedly contrary to the decisions of the English courts. And on the question now under consideration, we find that by a law of the twelve tables, although creditors had a right to cut their insolvent debtors in pieces, yet while they kept them in confinement, they were bound to feed them ; and even cutting them in pieces is more humane than suifering them to starve.
I believe it will not be denied, that from the first establishment of the government, it has been usual for the state, to maintain criminals in gaol; and if this indulgence has been given to the vilest criminals, surely less kindness ought not to be shewn to unfortunate debtors, and others who have only committed civil injuries. This practice of the state, grew out of a state of society and government which rendered such a barbarous principle, if it ever did prevail in England, inapplicable here, and it is satisfactory to my mind, that the Legislature has always considered it contrary to the principles of our constitution, customs and laws.
3rd. But if any doubts still remain, they ought to be removed by a reference to the several acts of the A-Ssembly relating to the subject. By the act of 1759? commonly called the insolvent debtor's act, it is enacted, sec. 20, that the creditor or creditors, at whose suit any person shall be arrested, and imprisoned, who shall be admitted to the benefit of the said act, shall be, and are hereby made liable, for, and chargeable with the fees due to the provost marshal, on account of the arrest and imprisonment of such person. As this act relates altogether to insolvent debtors, it may be argued that it is only persons taking the benefit of the act, who are entitled to this provision. But I do not conceive the act as introducing any new principle: yet it may serve to confirm or explain an old one. This clause has two objects in view, first, to declare who shall be liable for the fees under this, act, and secondly, to declare who shall not be liable, and who mighty perhaps, have been considered so, were it not for this clause. It provides that the creditor, if there is but one at whose suit he is imprisoned, shall be liable for the fees, but if there are more than one, that they shall all be equally liable. This was necessary lest the demand should be made, which was made under the British act, fora full allowance from each plaintiff. It was necessary to shew that the other suing creditors, although entitled to a dividend of the estate, are not liable for the fees of the gaoler. Indeed, it appears -to be the object of the act throughout, to make the persons who create fees %ble to pay them. For the 13th section, which provides for the recommitment of a prisoner, who has committed a fraud in surrendering up his property, expressly provides that the creditor requesting a recommitment, shall pay for his subsistence. The person or persons by whom he was originally imprisoned are exempted, and the whole liability falls upon the person who has caused him tobe recommitted. It can hardly be supposed that the Legislature would be so careful to provide for a creditor who had been guilty of a fraud, by which he forfeited all claim to mercy, while persons were unprovided for, who however honest they might be, were not entitled to the benefit of that act. But the act of 1785 (P. L. 380.) goes still further: it declares in totidem verbis, " that if a person con- " finéd in gaol has no lands, tenements, &c. where- " '< y his maintenance in gaol can be defrayed, the i{ plaintiff or, person at whose instance such person ie shall be imprisoned, shall pay and satisfy the (i same."
In answer to this it may be said, that this is a clause of the county court act, and, therefore, relates only to those courts, and that the act is now repealed . To the first I would observe, that many of the clauses of the county court act were intended, and have always been considered as having a general operation. Of this description, are those parts of the act relating to bail, the jurisdiction of magistrates, the recording of deeds, and several others. This clause is in very general words : it says, " where any person shall be taken in execution, or other U P1,ocess? and from inability to pay the debt and " damages, or find bail, in any civil action, if coma mitted to gaol, &c. the plaintiff shall pay for his " support." It is not restricted to the county courts. And if the legislature did not intend it to extend to the superior courts, it must have been because such was the practice in those courts before. It is difficult to believe that so important a privilege should depend upon the court from which the process issued. And this opinion is strengthened by a reference to another clause in the same act, (P. L. 377.) where a similar provision is made expressly to indemnify the sheriff of the county. And I cannot conceive why the two clauses were introduced, unless one was intended for the observance of the county courts, and the other to have a general operation, which the phraseology of the two clauses would seem to imply. With regard to the second objection, to wit, that the county court act is now repealed, it will be sufficient to reply that only such parts of it are repealed, as are repugnant to the present circuit court act, and there is nothing in this clause repugnant to that act. Another question made in this case is, whether admitting the plaintiff to be liable, the sheriff was authorised to discharge him on the ground that the money was not paid, or security given for it. But as a majority of the court are of the opinion that the plaintiff is not liable, it is unnecessary to give an opinion on that point.