Case Name: Catlin versus Ensign
Court: Supreme Court of Pennsylvania
Jurisdiction: Pennsylvania
Decision Date: 1857-11-03
Citations: 29 Pa. 264
Docket Number: 
Parties: Catlin versus Ensign.
Judges: 
Reporter: Pennsylvania State Reports
Volume: 29
Pages: 264–265

Head Matter:
Catlin versus Ensign.
November 3, 1857,
The wages of labour, or the salary of a public or private employment, is exempted from execution attachment by the Act of 15th April, 1845.
The proviso to the 5th section of that act applies to all judgments, whether entered in the Common Pleas or on the docket of a justice of the peace.
Error to the Court of Common Pleas of Erie county.
The facts are fully stated in the opinion of the court.
Thompson, for plaintiff in error.
The answer shows the money attached to be either wages or salary due Catlin for one year’s services as chorister. This money is exempted from attachment by the proviso to the 5th section of the Act of 15th April, 1845, P. L. 460.
Grrant, for defendant in error.
The proviso relied on by plaintiff in error is in derogation of the common law rights of the plaintiff, and must be construed strictly: Yelverton v. Burton, 2 Casey 351; Vezia v. Veirich, 8 Leg. Int. 54. The Act of 15th April, 1845, relates solely to the jurisdiction of justices of the peace, and cannot be construed to control the jurisdiction of courts of record, they being superior and not named in the act: Edrick’s case, 5 Rep. 118 b; 10 East 122; 5 T. R. 51; 1 Black. Com. 88; Stat. of Marlbridge, c. 19; 2 Inst. 137; 2 Rep. 46. The employment of plaintiff was scientific or artistic, and does not come within the exemption: Heebner v. Chave, 5 Barr 115.

Opinion:
The opinion of the court was delivered,
by Knox, J.
The First Presbyterian Church of the city of Erie was indebted to Henry Catlin in the sum of $75 for one year's salary as chorister, which sum was set apart by the board of trustees of the church for the payment of the debt, and was in the hands of the treasurer of the trustees.
Upon a judgment in the Common Pleas in favour of D. P. Ensign v. Henry Catlin, an execution attachment was issued against the defendant, and the money due him from the church was attached in the hands of the treasurer, against whom, as garnishee, the court below rendered judgment for the amount admitted by the answers to the interrogatories to be in his hands.
This judgment cannot be sustained. The proviso to the fifth section of the Act of the 15th April, 1845, declares " that the wages of any labourer, or the salary of any person in public or private employment, shall not be liable.to attachment in the hands of the employer."
This provision applies to all judgments, whether entered in the Common Pleas or on the docket of a justice of the peace; and the case in hand comes within the second member of the proviso. The money attached was for the salary due to a person in private employment, and was, therefore, not attachable.
Judgment reversed, and judgment in favour of garnishee for costs.