Case Name: Griffin Eldridge versus William Acocks et al.
Court: Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court
Jurisdiction: Massachusetts
Decision Date: 1824-09
Citations: 2 Pick. 319
Docket Number: 
Parties: Griffin Eldridge versus William Acocks et al.
Judges: 
Reporter: Massachusetts Reports
Volume: 19
Pages: 339–340

Head Matter:
Griffin Eldridge versus William Acocks et al.
In a writ of entrj', a plea that during the pendency of the action a creditor of the tenant had levied an execution on the demanded premises, will not abate the writ.
In a writ of entry, Acocks and Cary, the tenants, plead that they cannot render to the demandant the premises demanded, inasmuch as they are not now, as they were, tenants of the freehold, but that during the pendency of the action in this Court, and after issue joined in the Court of Common Pleas from whence it was removed to this Court by appeal, William Chapman and Reuben Ely, creditors of Acocks, caused executions to be extended on the premises, which extent ousted and dispossessed Acocks and Cary, and Chapman and Ely by their extent are now tenants as of the freehold. To this plea there was a demurrer.
Robinson,
being called upon to support the plea, cited Com. Dig. Abatement, H 54 ; Walcutt v. Spencer, 14 Mass. R. 400.
Jarvis,
on the other side, cited Penniman v. Hollis, 13 Mass. R. 427.
The opinion of the Court was read a* May term 1824, as drawn up by

Opinion:
Parker C. J.
It is undoubtedly a principle of the common law, that in a real action, if pending the suit the land be recovered from the tenant' by a stranger, the writ abates. This is because it is no longer in the power of the tenant to render the land, and a judgment against him would be therefore ineffectual, and the change of circumstances is not pro duced by the fault or act of the tenant. Com. Dig. Abatement, H 54. But the facts set forth in the plea are wholly different in their effect. There is no recovery of the land against the tenant, nor has there been any suit for the land ; but the levy of his creditor operates like a grant from the tenant, which, being made pending the suit, will not abate the writ, although possession may be taken by the grantee. Thus, if the tenant enfeoff another pending the writ, and then disseise the feoffee, who recovers against him, this shall not abate the demandant's writ, the recovery being the consequence of the tenant's own act, which shall not prejudice the demandant. Comyns, ubi supr. So it is a good plea at common law, that the land was held of the king in chief, and the tenant died, whereby the land was seised into the hands of the king, who is now seised. But the writ shall not abate, if the tenant enfeoff the king, pending the writ. Com. Dig. Abatement, H 55.
Nor will the judgment m this case be ineffectual against the tenant, for his right is not extinguished by the levy ; for if he tenders the money due to his creditor within a year, the title under the execution is gone, and the tenant is restored, so that the demandant would have to begin again in his suit against him. This may be avoided by a judgment in this action, and a writ of habere facias may be executed as against the tenant, in the same manner as if he had vacated tlie land and a stranger without title had possession.
Plea adjudged bad.