Case Name: Abel Knapp against Ezra Lockwood
Court: United States Circuit Court for the District of Connecticut
Jurisdiction: United States
Decision Date: 1808-06
Citations: 3 Day 131
Docket Number: 
Parties: Abel Knapp against Ezra Lockwood.
Judges: 
Reporter: Day's Reports
Volume: 3
Pages: 131–138

Head Matter:
Abel Knapp against Ezra Lockwood.
.MOTION for a new trial.
The statute tit. 88. e. 1. authorizing selectmen to take into their care ami persons ami property of persons likély tobe reduced idleness,*’ mm-bandry, must hsvc ⅞ strict construction, “<r1s^®|t'",etl-'r
Therefore, where the selectmen,ha■ving taken the property of “hat^des'erip1 tion,neglected to set up a certificate of and"to*1 make and lodge ia the town-clerk’s office of the property taken, pursuant to the provisions of the 12th section, it was held, that they could not retain such property, and that the owner, after demand and refusal, was entitled to recover against them in trover.
This was an action of trover for a promissory 1 J The conversion was laid on the 21st of June, 1806; and the suit was brought in November, 1806.
__ The defendant pleaded not guilty; and on the trial, the defence was, that he took the note in question, with the rest of the plaintiff’s property, as agent of the se-lectmcn of the town of Stamford, by virtue of the statute authorizing the selectmen to take into their care and custody the persons and property of such as by idleness, mismanagement or bad husbandry, are likely " to be reduced to want. Tit. 88. c. i.
The plaintiff attempted to meet this defence, by showing that the selectmen, in their proceedings, had . . not conformed to the provisions of the statute referred to; and that, therefore, they had no right to retain the plaintiff’s property.
lo give a just statement of the case, it' will be re quisite to recite three or four sections of the statute, and then to state the proceedings of the selectmen under it.
Sect. 8. provides, “ That the selectmen for the time being, in the several towns in this state, shall, from time to time, diligently inspect into the affairs and management of all persons in their town, whether householders, or others; and if they shall find any person or persons that are reduced, or are likely to be reduced to want, by idleness, mismanagement, or bad husbandry, that then such selectmen may appoint an overseer to advise, direct and order such person in the management of his business, for such time or times as they shall think proper: a certificate of which appointment the selectmen shall forthwith set upon the sign-post, and lodge a copy thereof in the town clerk’s office of said town; and thereupon no such person, while under such appointment, shall be able to make any bargain or contract, without the consent of such overseer, that shall be binding, or valid in law.
Sect. 9.“Andif such measuresdonot prove sufficient to reform such person, then the selectmen (or without first appointing such overseer, if they judge it necessary, or more proper) may, and they are hereby directed to make application to the next assistant or justice of the peace, and inform him thereof; which assistant or justice is hereby directed and empowered, at the request of the selectmen, to issue forth his warrant to the sheriff, his deputy, or to either of the constables of that town, commanding them to take the body of such person, and bring him before the said authority, in order that such person may be examined concerning his idleness, mismanagement, and bad husbandry, and be dealt with according to this act.
Sect. 10. “ And in case such person, who shall be so informed against, shall abscond, so that he cannot be taken bodily, then the officer shall serve such warrant, ' ■ by leaving a true and attested copy thereof at the usual, or last place of his abode; and thereupon, after the proceedings above directed be had, the selectmen, or the major part of them, if no sufficient reason be offered to the contrary, shall, by and with the advice of said assistant or justice, and they having such advice, are hereby authorized, and fully empowered to take such person and his family (if any he hath) into, and under their care; and such person and family to assign, bind, and dispose of in service, as they shall judge best.
Sect. 11, “And when the selectmen shall have thus taken into their care any such person, and disposed of him as aforesaid, or in case of his absconding as aforesaid, if informed and proceeded against as aforesaid, the selectmen for the time being are hereby authorized and fully empowered, by and with the advice of the said assistant or justice, to take into their hands and custody, all the lands, goods, chattels and credits of any such person, and the same to dispose of, improve and manage by themselves, or any under them, for the best good and advantage of such person,,or his heirs.
Sect. 12. “And the selectmen shall make evident and certain their doings with, and on such estate as they shall take as aforesaid, by forthwith setting up a certificate thereof in writing, under the hands of said authority and selectmen, on the sign post, or some other public place in said town; and shall also lodge a copy thereof in the town clerk’s office of said town; and also within ten days after the taking of such estate into their hands, make a true and perfect inventory of ail and singular the goods, chattels and credits of such person, as shall come into their hands, with a just estimate of tHc true value of every article thereof, by the appraise-liicut of two indifferent freeholders, under oath ; being thereunto appointed and sworn by said authority: which - ■> ' inventory so taken, shall be lodged in the town clerk’s office of "that town.”
The proceedings produced in evidence by the defendant, were, 1. A complaint by the selectmen to Ebenezer Davenport., Esq. a justice of the peace; 2. A warrant to apprehend the plaintiff, and bring him before the justice, to answer to the complaint; 3. The judgment of the justice, finding the plaintiff guilty, and advising the selectmen to take him and his family under their care, and also to take into their hands and custody all his lands, goods, chattels and credits, to be by them disposed of, improved and managed, to the best good and advantage of the plaintiff, or his heirs, agreeably to the statute; 4. An appointment by the selectmen of the defendant as agent. This appointment was as follows: “ Whereas the selectmen of the town of Stamford, with the advice of the civil authority of the same, have thought proper to take into their care the person and family of Abel Knapp, of said Stamford, together with the goods, chattels, lands, &c. belonging to said Abel, by virtue of the 9fh section of a certain statute law of this state, entitled ‘ An act for relieving and ordering of idiots, impotent, distracted and idle persons:’ We, the selectmen of said Stamford, have thought proper to appoint, and do hereby appoint Ezra Lockwood of said Stamford, agent, to take into his care said Abel Knapp, his family, and estate, to manage for the best good and advantage of said Abel, and his heirs. Stamford, Decem~ her, ,13th, 1804.” [Signed.] This appointment was continued, by a writing in these words: “ Stamford, March 19th, 1806. We the subscribers do continue the appointment of Ezra Lockwood as agent over Abel Knapp, and io take charge of said Abel, his property and family.” fSigned by the selectmen.]
The complaint, warrant, judgment and appointment, which have been stated, was all the evidence adduced by the defendant, in justification of his detention of the plaintiff’s property. The presiding judge, in giving his charge to the jury, instructed them, that the court were of opinion, that it was not necessary, in order to justify the defendant in detaining the property, that the selectmen should have taken, assigned, bound or disposed of in service, the person of the plaintiff, or his family; nor that they should have set upon the sign post in Stamford, or some other public place in the town, a certificate of their doings in writing, under the hands of the authority and selectmen; nor that they should have lodged a copy of such certificate with the town clerk; nor that an inventory should have been taken; but that the only facts which the jury had to find, were, whether the selectmen had, in fact, taken the plaintiff’s property into their possession, in pursuance of the proceedings which had been had, and given in evidence; and whether the defendant was their agent; and if so, they must find a verdict for the defendant. The jury found for the defendant accordingly; and the plaintiff moved for a new trial, on the ground of a misdirection; which motion was reserved for the opinion of the nine judges.
Ingersoll and JV. Smith, in support of the motion.
1. It does not appear from the certificate of the selectmen, that they ever took the person, family or property of Knapp, into their possession, as they only say, they have thought proper to take into their rare, fee To think proper to do a thing, is not doing h.
2. The reappointment of the agent in March, 1806, being more than one year from the time of the first ap« pointment, and without any new application to the justice, was void.
3. It was necessary, before the selectmen took the property of Knapp, into their custody, to assign him in service.
4. As the selectmen did not set up a certificate of their doings on the sign post in Stamford, nor in any other public place in that town, nor lodge a copy of such certificate with the town clerk, and leave, at his office, within ten days, an inventory of the property, they are accountable to the plaintiff for the property; and, of course, the defendant’s authority under them fails.
Gould, contra.
1. The certificate of the selectmen is positive and explicit as to the fact, which it was introduced to establish, viz. the appointment of Lockwood as agent. It was not introduced to show that the selectmen took the person, family, and property of Knapp, into their care.
2. It is of no consequence, whether the reappointment of the agent in March, 1806, was more than a year after his first appointment, or not. It will not be denied, that the judgment of the justice may remain in force more tfian one year; and admitting, that the selectmen cannot appoint an agent for more than one year, yet the reappointment in question was within a year from the commencement of the suit.
3. It was not necessary that Knapp should have been literally assigned in service. The statute must have a liberal construction in favour of personal liberty. The age, health and circumstances of the person proceeded against, are to be regarded.
4. As to the notice and inventory, it is to be observed, that they are not made conditions, on which the defendant’s right depends. The statute directs the notice to be given for the information of third persons; and the inventory to be made only as evidence to ascertain the extent of the defendant’s liability in accounting. Both the notice and inventory are to take place after the appointment of the agent, and after his right to take the property has accrued.

Opinion:
By the Court,
Reeve, Edmond and Giuswoi.d, ,Ts.
dissenting. The proceedings of the selectmen under the 9th section of the statute, were regular: And although they did not, under the 10th section, actually bind Knapp., or assign him in service, yet they had him before themselves, and the justice ; and they disposed of him as they judged best, and most prudent; which was a virtual compliance with that part of the statute. They, -thereupon, had a right to take possession of the estate. But as that statute is in derogation of common right, it must have a strict construction, and be strictly pursued. A right to take is one thing, and a right to retain, another. Although an officer, with a lawful writ of attachment, or execution, rightfully takes property, yet if be neglects to pursue the steps pointed out bylaw, his withholding is unlawful, and he becomes a trespasser.
The provisions of the 12th section of the statute are for the safety and security of the citizens; and the right of the selectmen to hold the property, depends entirely on a compliance with them. These provisions are, that the selectmen shall forthwith set up a certificate of their doings, in writing, under their hands, and that of the authority, on the sign post, or some other public place in the town; and also lodge a copy thereof ⅛ the town clerk's office; and also, within ten days, make . . . , . an inventory ot the estate, with a just estimate ol the value thereof, by appraisement of freeholders, under oath, and the same lodge in the town clerk's office.
New trial to be granted.