Court Opinion

ID: 3661501
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2016-07-06 06:12:53.316206+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T13:39:11.065020
License: Public Domain

Debt upon a constable's bond, executed by one Hooper in 1837, with the defendants as his sureties.
It appeared in evidence that during that year the constable levied an execution in favor of one Gunn, amounting to about $30, on a slave, the property of Anderson, the relator's intestate, and sold the same for about $584. The constable paid Gunn's debt, and also another execution levied subsequently to Gunn's, amounting to about $305. And this suit was for *Page 69 
the excess in the constable's hands after paying those two claims. A judgment was taken for the plaintiff for the amount of the excess, subject to the opinion of the court as to the liability of the sureties.
The court was of opinion that such excess in the hands of the constable was not held by virtue of his office, and that the defendants were not, therefore, liable, and directed the verdict to be set aside and a nonsuit entered. From this judgment the plaintiff appealed.
In S. v. Pool, 27 N.C. 109, this Court said that a purchaser at a sheriff's sale must undoubtedly pay his whole bid to the sheriff, and, after getting enough to discharge the execution, the sheriff must see that the purchaser satisfies the surplus to the owner of the property before he can make a conveyance to the purchaser. He, the sheriff, receives the surplus money by virtue of his office, and for all money received by virtue of his office his bond is a security, whether it belong to the plaintiff or the defendant in the execution. The bond of a constable stipulates that he should diligently endeavor to collect all claims put in his hands for collection, and faithfully pay over all sums (82) thereon received, unto the persons to whom the same is due. On the bond the act of Assembly, Rev. Stat., ch. 115, sec. 7, declares that suits may be brought and remedy may be had in the same manner as suits may be brought and remedies had upon the official bonds of sheriffs and other officers. The above decision was made by this Court at the last term, and, it is probable, was unknown to his Honor when he gave judgment in this case. The judgment of nonsuit must be reversed, and a judgment rendered on the verdict for the plaintiff.
PER CURIAM.                                             Reversed.