Case Name: Sir Ambrose Turvil vs. Tipper
Court: United States Circuit Court for the District of North Carolina
Jurisdiction: North Carolina
Decision Date: 1793
Citations: 1 Mart. 222
Docket Number: 
Parties: Sir Ambrose Turvil vs. Tipper.
Judges: Whitlock, J. concurred,
Reporter: North Carolina Reports
Volume: 1
Pages: 222–223

Head Matter:
Sir Ambrose Turvil vs. Tipper.
Mich. 3 Car.
IN trespass for taking goods, &c. The defendant pleaded that the Earl of Southampton was seized of the manor of St. Giles, and that in the said manor there was a plaint against one Bayton, and an attachment issued against him, and he (the defendant), being bailiff, attached him by his goods; which the plaintiff claiming by colour of a fraudulent deed brought his action. The plaintiff joined issue that the deed was made bona fide, and it was found for the defendant. The plaintiff took divers exceptions in arrest of judgment to the plea in bar.
1. As to the statute of 13 El. 5. p. 31 7. that a fraudulent deed shall be void against a creditor. The defendant is not within the statute, for he is no creditor; but an officer, and he cannot justify under an allegation that the deed was done fraudulently; and this being a pœnal law, ought to be construed strictly.
It was objected that if the officers of justice were not to be protected, the statute would be of no avail. As to this the sheriff, in case of an execution, justifies that the gift was fraudulent, but not by pleading non culp. He lays that he attached the goods per consuetudin. manerii. It does not appear that they were forfeited: For according to law there ought to be a summons before an attachment and it is not shewn that there was any custom of making attachments.
3. He does not say that he attached him to appear, for otherwise the party had no day on the rolls to have his goods.
4. He does not say that he returned the attachment, and this makes him a trespasser ab initio,
5. He attached W. Boyton by his goods, and impounded them as if there was no difference between an attachment and a distress.
6. The traverse is bad; for if is on the colour.
E contra. If the statute did not help bailiffs no mean process could be executed; and when the statute *gives the principal, it gives also the accessary. 22 Ass. 61.
As to the second exception, we have said that the attachment issued before the summons secundum consuetudinem manerii. If this be not the custom, it is the fault of the statute, and the bailiff cannot question this; 6 Co. 52. Countess of Rutland’s case; but aliter if the court awards a capias where it does not lie, as in 10 Rep. 68, Marshalsea’s case. But here the stewart had authority to award an attachment, but if he had awarded a capias, false imprisonment would lie. For he knew that such process did not lie, The execution of an attachment without alledging a summons is well. Book of Entries 30 H. 8. Placito 26.
As to the fourth exception. We have answered to act the pleas. The plaintiff declares not only on the taking but on the loss of his goods: and we have answered to the taking only: but at the end of the plea, we say non culp. aliter vel alio modo. He ought to have taken issue with us upon this matter.
The principal exception is that the attachment was not returned. If the sheriff does not return a capias false imprisonment lies against him. For the capias is conditional and the attachment general, 16 H. 7. 14. per Keeble. 2. It is unnecessary to alledge a return when a stranger is party.
As to the sixth point. The issue is not taken on the colour but on the ground and substance of the plea: and if it is bad, it is helped by the statute, as Nichol’s case, in Dyer 238, Hudson's case.

Opinion:
Jones, J.
There ought to be judgment for the defendant. If the attachment was not returned, it ought to be shewn by the plaintiff,
Whitlock, J. concurred,
Doderidge, J.
Let the matter be referred to another day, the C. J. being absent. Palm. 415. Palm. 493.