Case Name: The Commonwealth, for Sanders, vs. Herndon (sheriff,) and his sureties
Court: Kentucky Court of Appeals
Jurisdiction: Kentucky
Decision Date: 1834-11-11
Citations: 2 Dana 429
Docket Number: 
Parties: The Commonwealth, for Sanders, vs. Herndon (sheriff,) and his sureties.
Judges: 
Reporter: Kentucky Reports
Volume: 32
Pages: 429–430

Head Matter:
The Commonwealth, for Sanders, vs. Herndon (sheriff,) and his sureties.
Debt,.
When a sheriff" summons a jury to try the right of property, and they cannot agree,the claimant fails to succeed, the sheriff' is bound to sell, and is not liable • to any suit on account of such' ’sale.
[Messrs. Sanders and Depew for Plaintiff: Messrs. Morehead and Brown for Defendants.]
From the Circuit Court for Scott County.
November 11.

Opinion:
Judge Underwood,
delived the Opinion of the Court.
This action was instituted upon the official bond of Herndon, to render him liable for a slave sold under execution, purchased by Sanders, aud afterwards recovered from him by the true owner, in an action of detinue.
A jury ivas empannelled to try the right of property, and upon their failure to render a verdict, the sheriff sold the slave. It seems that the jury informed the sheriff they could not agree, and dispersed.
No costs.
The liability of the sheriff to Sanders, if there be any, grows out of the sale of the slave to him.
The act of '1803, 2 Dig. 1047, makes it the duty of the sheriff to sell the property, where the claimant does, not succeed in establishing his right before the jury. If there is no verdict rendered in favor of the claimant, it cannot be said that he succeeds. Consequently, in such a case, the sheriff should sell; and if' he does, the act declares he shall "not be liable to any suit on account of such sale." This suit is an attempt to make him liable, contrary to the letter and spirit of the statute, and cannot be sustained.
Judgment affirmed, but without costs, as defendants are in default.