Case Name: T D. Bull et al. v. G. A. Jones
Court: Texas Courts of Civil Appeals
Jurisdiction: Texas
Decision Date: 1894-12-12
Citations: 9 Tex. Civ. App. 346
Docket Number: No. 1367
Parties: T D. Bull et al. v. G. A. Jones.
Judges: 
Reporter: Texas Civil Appeals Reports
Volume: 9
Pages: 346–350

Head Matter:
T D. Bull et al. v. G. A. Jones.
No. 1367.
Trial of Bight of Property — Claimant’s Bond for Property which Proves to be Realty — Liability of Sureties.- — B. filed a claimant’s bond in trial of right of property, and took into possession, as personal property, an engine and, certain gin fixtures, his claim of title to which depended upon a sale thereof to him under an attachment levied upon them as personal property. It was adjudged that they were in fact realty, and that B. therefore had no title or valid claim thereto; and as the property was not forthcoming, summary judgment under the statute for its value and damages was rendered against B. and the sureties on his claim bond. Held-.
1. That the statute which authorizes the giving of a bond for the trial of the right to personal property does not authorize the summary judgment provided for therein where the property claimed is in fact real estate.
2. The adverse party having obtained his judgment against B., the claimant, on the ground that the property was realty, can not treat it as personalty for the purpose of entering up judgment against the parties to the bond.
Appeal from Eastland. Tried below before Hon. T. H. Conner.
Frost, Hunt & Schmick and Lanham & McCall, for plaintiffs in error.
R. B. Truly and Bell & Randolph, for defendant in error.

Opinion:
HEAD, Associate Justice.
— This is a proceeding for the trial of the rights of property under our statute. The subject of the controversy is an engine and gin machinery which formerly belonged to J. S. Jones. Plaintiff in error Bull claims under an attachment and sale of the machinery as personal property. Appellee claims under a foreclosure and sale of the land upon which the machinery was situated, as real estate.
Upon a former appeal of the case, reported.in 85 Texas, 136, under the style of Jones v. Bull, the machinery was held to be real estate, and the superior title to be in Jones, and the cause was reversed and remanded for a new trial.
Upon the second trial, judgment was rendered in favor of Jones, against Bull and the securities on his claim bond, for the value of the property and the 10 per cent statutory damages. The record shows that this judgment (which is the one now in question) was based upon the ground that the machinery in question was real estate, and that therefore no title passed to Bull under his sale thereof as personal property.
We are of opinion, that our statute which authorizes the giving of a bond for the trial of the right to personal property does not authorize the summary judgment provided for therein where the property claimed is in fact real estate.
In Jacobs, Bernheim & Co. v. Shannon, 1 Texas Civil Appeals, 399, we said: "We think the court erred in this charge in telling the jury that the plaintiffs in the suit for the trial of the right of property had the right to take judgment against the security on the claimant's bond, if there was only one. Plaintiffs could take this summary judgment only upon a statutory bond, but if a recovery should be sought upon such bond as a common law obligation, suit would have to be brought thereon in the regular way;" citing Bank v. Lester, 73 Texas, 542, and Jacobs v. Daugherty, 78 Texas, 682.
It seems well settled that the common law action of replevin will not lie to recover property affixed to the freehold, and made part thereof. 20 Am. and Eng. Encyc. of Law, 1061.
As to whether or not defendant in error could recover in a proper proceeding upon the bond executed by plaintiffs in error as a common law obligation, we need not decide, as the question is not here presented; but will call attention to the cases in 73 and 78 Texas, above cited, as having some bearing thereon.
The judgment of the court below will be reversed and the cause remanded.
Reversed and remanded.
Delivered December 12, 1894.