Case Name: J. B. Byrne & Co. v. Samuel Anderson, et al.
Court: Louisiana Supreme Court
Jurisdiction: Louisiana
Decision Date: 1853-04
Citations: 8 La. Ann. 139
Docket Number: 
Parties: J. B. Byrne & Co. v. Samuel Anderson, et al.
Judges: 
Reporter: Louisiana Annual Reports
Volume: 8
Pages: 139–140

Head Matter:
J. B. Byrne & Co. v. Samuel Anderson, et al.
If the Sheriff leaves the property in the possession of the debtor it is at his own risk. His responsibility for the goods levied on continnes so long as he can keep possession of them under the execution.
Appeal from the District Court, Tenth District, Parish of Madison.
Perkins, jr., J.
Stockton & Steele, for plaintiffs and appellants.
Short & Parham, for defendants.

Opinion:
Dunbar, J.
(Slidell, J., dissenting.) This is a suit brought on a Sheriff's bond against the principal and sureties.
The plaintiffs allege that on the 5th January, 1849, they obtained from the Judge of the Tenth Judicial District, for the parish of Madison, an order of seizure and sale, against certain slaves, the property of Mary Stanford, wife of Richard 0. Stanford; and, on the same day, placed in the hands of Samuel Anderson, the Sheriff of the parish of Madison, a writ of seizure and sale directed to him, returnable in not less than thirty nor more than seventy days.
That the said Sheriff, soon thereafter, levied on the said slaves, and advertized them for sale on the first Saturday in March, 1849. That he afterwards permitted three of the slaves, that had been levied upon, to be taken out of his possession and carried beyond the jurisdiction of the District Court of Madison, by which neglect of duty on his part, the plaintiffs have lost a large portion of their debt, and have sustained damages to the amount of eight hundred and ninety-one dollars and fifty-eight cents.
It is shown, that on the 29th of March, 1849, -the parties agreed that as many of the slaves, levied upon by the Sheriff, as would be necessary to bring the sum of fifteen hundred dollars, should be sold on that day by the Sheriff, and the remaining slaves should be re-advertised to be sold by him on the first Saturday in June thereafter. That in conformity with this agreement, all of the slaves levied upon were sold at the Sheriff's sale on the 29th March, except three, named Mils, Susan and Ha/i'riette. The proceeds of the sale amounted to thirteen hundred and eighty-throe dollars and fifty-eight cents, which sum was credited on the writ, leaving a balance, duo the plaintiffs, of eight hundred and ninety-one dollars and fifty-eight cents. The writ was not returned by the Sheriff, who made an endorsement on the appraisement in his own handwriting: "Advertise the three slaves for June." But before the first Saturday in June, the three slaves, who had been left by the Sheriff with Mrs. Stanford, or her agent, on her plantation, were by them removed from the parish of Madison.
It is well settled, that if the Sheriff leaves the property in the possession of the debtor, it is at his own risk; his responsibility for the goods levied on, continues so long as he can keep possession thereof under the execution. Having made the levy before the return day, he had the right, and it was his duty, to have kept the slaves safely until they were all sold. He has given us no excuse for his negligence. Grwynne on Sheriffs, 299.
It is, therefore, ordered and decreed, that the judgment of the District Court be reversed, and that there be judgment for the plaintiffs against the defendants in solido, for the sum of eight hundred and ninety-one dollars and fifty-eight cents, with legal interest from judicial demand, with costs in both Courts,