Case Name: Appeal of Ruth and Stoner
Court: Supreme Court of Pennsylvania
Jurisdiction: Pennsylvania
Decision Date: 1887-10-17
Citations: 7 Sadler 547
Docket Number: No. 38
Parties: Appeal of Ruth and Stoner.
Judges: W. D., before GobdoN, Ch. T., Paxsoít, Steeeett, GeeeN, and Williams*, JJ.
Reporter: Cases in the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania; being those cases not designated to be reportedÉ
Volume: 7
Pages: 547–552

Head Matter:
Appeal of Ruth and Stoner.
Finding of fact by an auditor appointed to distribute the proceeds of a. sheriff's sale is conclusive.
Where two executions were placed in the sheriff’s hands at different times,, both before sale, and upon the writ first in date he made a special return that he had taken the receipt of the plaintiff in the writ second in date as ai prior lien creditor, and upon the writ second in date indorsed as a return “Same return as at No. 151, May Term, 1886,” thereby referring to the former writ, while not so clear as might be desired the natural interpretation is that he sold under both writs.
Matters of fact set forth in a sheriff’s special return, under the act of April 20, 1846, to a writ of execution, are conclusive, and cannot be impeached, except in a proceeding the object of which is to falsify the return. So held where exceptions were filed after the return, and distribution submitted to an auditor.
(Argued October 4, 1887.
Decided October 17, 1887.)
October Term, 1887,
No. 38,
W. D., before GobdoN, Ch. T., Paxsoít, Steeeett, GeeeN, and Williams*, JJ.
Appeal from a decree of Common Pleas of Westmoreland County dismissing exceptions to a sheriff’s special return to a writ of execution, and confirming the report of an auditor awarding the fund raised thereby.
Affirmed.
It appeared that the Conemaugh Building & Loan Association, appellee, held two mortgages of the same property made-by William McIntyre, each for $400 — one dated October 1,. 1883, the other dated December 21, 1882, and a bond reciting, the last mortgage, dated January 6, 1883.
Note. — Parol evidence is not admissible to change the return of the sheriff, unless it is ambiguous, or fraud is alleged. Bogue’s Appeal, 83 Pa. 101;. Heinbaugh v. Powell, 13 Pa. Co. Ct. 360, 3 Pa. Dist. R. 177; Freeman v.. Apple, 99 Pa. 261. It may be offered to explain an ambiguity (Wildasim v. Bare, 171 Pa. 387, 33 Atl. 365), or to show fraud (Evans v. Matson, 5b Pa. 366, 88 Am. Dec. 584).
Subsequently Ruth and Stoner, appellants, obtained judgment against McIntyre for $110.98 and on April 1, 1885, issued execution (No. 151, May term, 1886), by virtue of which the sheriff levied upon the property covered by the above mortgages and by advertisements reciting that writ advertised the property to be sold on May 10, 1886.
On April 28, 1886, appellee entered judgment upon the bond dated January 6, 1883, and issued execution thereon (No. 213, May term, 1886.)
No additional advertisement was made. The sale was postponed to May 15, 1886, when the property was sold to the association for $385.
The attorney for the association testified that he bid, under the impression that the sale was under his writ, and that the .price bidden was the full value of the property.
On May 31, 1886, the sheriff made a special return upon the writ of appellants, being the first in date (No. 151, May term, 1886), reciting: “It appearing from the proper record that the said Conemaugh Building & Loan Association as a lien creditor is entitled to receive the sum of $326.81, I have taken his receipt for that amount; and the balance of said purchase money I have ready as commanded.”
Anri to the appellee’s writ, he made the following return: '“Same return as at No. 151, May term, 1886.”
The rules of the court of common pleas of Westmoreland county provide:
Bule No. 162. In all cases.where special returns of the ■sheriff are authorized by law, they shall be read in open court on Saturday morning at 10 o’clock; and the reading thereof shall be noted on the writ and on the minutes of the prothono-tarv.
Rule No. 163. Upon the reading of a special return the same ■shall be confirmed nisi, which confirmation shall become absolute, unless exceptions be filed within seven days; and if exceptions are filed the case shall be immediately placed on the argument list.
On June 2, 1886, appellants filed exceptions thereto because the sheriff applied any part of the proceeds to appellee’s writ; because the liens of appellee’s mortgages were not discharged '¡by the sale; and because the sheriff did not collect the whole purchase money and apply the same to tbe payment of appellant’s writ.
Thereupon the court appointed John Armstrong, Esq., auditor, to report a distribution of the proceeds.
The auditor found the aboye facts and, inter alia, that the sheriff testified that the advertisement was made under appellant’s writ and the property could not be sold under appellee’s writ on May 10, 1886; that appellee’s judgment was for the mortgage debt.
And the auditor further reported as follows:
“That the return of the sheriff is conclusive is one of those elementary principles which cannot be gainsaid or denied. And, therefore, in the present ease, the sheriff having made the same return on both fi. fas., it is conclusive and cannot be altered or contradicted by parol testimony. In the case of Mentz v. Ham-man, 5 Whart. 160, 34 Am. Dec. 546, it was said: ‘Before return made by the sheriff, the courts have always interposed to prevent injustice, but they cannot alter the effect of a return. . . . Nor must we for one moment give countenance to the practice of introducing parol testimony to control the sheriff’s return, except in an action against him for official misconduct.’
“And therefore the mortgage of, the Oonemaugh Building & Loan Association of Blairsville, being the first lien on the real estate sold, is entitled to the fund, less costs of sale and audit.
“The following authorities are referred to as sustaining this decision: Mentz v. Hamman, 5 Whart. 150, 34 Am. Dec. 546; Patton v. .Insurance Co. 1 Phila. 396; Sample v. Coulson, 9 Watts & S. 62; Elick v. Troxsell, I Watts & S. 65; Warder v. Tain ter, 4 Watts, 214.”
To this report appellants excepted because the auditor erred in applying the fund and in deciding that the sheriff’s return was conclusive upon exceptants.
Thereupon the court dismissed the exceptions and confirmed the report; and appellants took this appeal, assigning as error that the court erred in dismissing the exceptions and in refusing to sustain them.
McAfee, Atlcinson, & Peoples, for appellants.
Sale under a junior judgment will not discharge a prior mortgage lien. Com. v. Wilson, 34 Pa. 63; Cross v. Stahlman, 43 Pa. 129; Kuhn’s Appeal, 2 Pa. St. 264; Wertz’s Appeal, 65 Pa. 306.
Appellee’s bond was dated January 6, 1883, the mortgage December 21, 1882; and there was no evidence to show that they were for the same debt. If they were not for the same debt, appellee’s judgment was a subsequent lien.
There was no evidence that appellee produced to the sheriff a certified statement showing his lien as required by the act of April 20, 1846. Franklin Twp. v. Osier, 91 Pa. 160.
The property was not, and could not have been, advertised under appellee’s writ.
If a sheriff’s special return under act of April 20, 1846, is conclusive, a creditor aggrieved thereby has no remedy.
Section 2 expressly provides that if the return shall be questioned or disputed the court shall appoint an auditor who shall malee report distributing the proceeds; or to direct an issue to determine the validity of said lien.
The rules of court (Nos. 162 and 163) provide for reading the return in court, and that thereupon the same shall be confirmed nisi; and if exceptions are filed they shall be placed on the argument list.
These provisions contemplate a contest upon the return; otherwise, there was nothing to refer to the auditor.
A sheriff’s return may be disproved by evidence aliunde. Hyskill v. Givin, I Serg. & R. 369; Lowry v. Coulter, 9 Pa. 349; Yandike’s Appeal, 17 Pa. 211.
A sheriff’s special return is only prima facie in favor of the purchaser; and any averment therein may be negatived by showing the purchaser not entitled to the benefits of the act of April 20, 1846.
James 8. Beacom, for appellee.
The argument of appellants relating to the lien of appellee’s judgment and as to whether the proper certificate of lien was furnished the sheriff are questions of fact found by the auditor. The finding of an auditor upon the facts, which has been approved by the court below, will not be disturbed on appeal, except for flagrant error. Bur-rough’s Appeal, 26 Pa. 264; Bedell’s Appeal, 87 Pa. 510; McConnell’s Appeal, 97 Pa. 31.
The fact that the price bid was the full value of the property is evidence of the understanding of the parties. There would be ground for setting aside the sale if the fund was not awarded to appellee. There i.s no dispute as to the legal effect of the re turns; tbe effort is to sbow erroneous application of tbe fund. Tbis cannot be done, except in an action against tbe sheriff.
In addition to tbe cases cited by tbe auditor in his report, tbe following are cited here: McMicken v. Com. 58 Pa. 213; Welsh v. Bell, 32 Pa. 12; Trigg v. Lewis, 3 Litt. (Ky.) 129; Stewart v. Stocker, 13 Serg. & R. 199., 15 Am. Dee. 589; Per-rin v. Leverett, 13 Mass. 128; Evans v. Parker, 20 Wend. 622.

Opinion:
Opinion by
Me. Justice Green :
Tbe auditor appointed to make distribution, in tbis case, found as a fact that the judgment of the Conemaugb Building & Loan Association was entered for the debt secured by the mortgage. Tbe execution issued upon tbis judgment was delivered to tbe sheriff, after tbe writ of the appellants came to bis bands, but before the sale.
Tbe sheriff, having both writs in his hands at tbe same time, made return to tbe writ of the appellants that be bad levied and sold the real estate of tbe defendant in tbe execution in obedience to and by virtue of that writ, and to tbe writ of the building and loan association he returned, "same return as at No. 151, May term, 1886." Whether he meant by tbis to say that be bad levied and sold under the writ of tbe association also is perhaps not quite so clear as might be desired, but tbe natural interpretation of bis words is to that effect; for tbe "same return" written out in full would, with reference to that writ, mean the same thing as tbe return upon tbe other writ meant in the reference to it.
Tbis conclusion is strengthened by tbe circumstance that in tbe fully written out return tbe sheriff certified that as it appeared from tbe proper record that tbe association as a lien creditor was entitled to the sum of $326.81 be bad taken its receipt for that amount. As tbis return would only be consistent with tbe fact that be bad sold tbe property under both writs we are obliged to assume such to be tbe fact. Of course, if tbe sale was made upon both writs tbe lien of tbe mortgage, for tbe debt secured by which tbe judgment was entered, would be devested by the sale.
As to tbe matters of fact set forth therein, tbe sheriff's return is, of course, conclusive, and cannot be impeached, except in a proceeding tbe object of which is to falsify tbe return.
Tbe auditor appointed to distribute the money has found tbe facts to be as above stated, and, in accordance with them, the dis* tribution was properly made.
Decree affirmed and appeal dismissed, at the costs of the appellant.