Court Opinion

ID: 6537485
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-07-19 22:12:55.977864+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T15:55:42.345322
License: Public Domain

By the Court, Ringo, C. J. The plaintiff in error recites and relies upon the cases of Gilbreath vs. Kuykendall, 1 Ark. R. 50; and Rose vs. Ford et al. 2 Ark. R. 26, as establishing the proposition, that the return to process, to justify a judgment by default, must expressly state, that it was executed in the county within which the officer to whom it is addressed is authorized by law to execute it. We have examined the opinions expressed in the cases cited, and find that this point has not been.expressly decided in either. The Court, in these cases, says, in effect, that it must appear, from the return of the officer, that the process was executed in such county, and must state expressly how it was executed. This opinion we still entertain; but the statute does not require the officer to state expressly, in his return, where the process was served; and, therefore, the legal presumption that he acted within the sphere of bis power, and according to the obligations of his official duty, must be so far indulged as to warrant the conclusion that the act was done within the limits of the county in which he was legally authorized to act. The return before us shows every fact essential to a legal execution of the writ, and is signed “ Eli Bell, Sh’ff of Crawford county, Ark.” And, although it does not expressly state that it was executed in said county, the legal presumption is, that it was executed there; and, therefore, it is, in our opinion, sufficient to warrant the judgment by default. The second question depends upon the construction to be given to the provisions contained in chapter 80 of the Revised Statutes of this State; the 2d section of which provides that parties may agree, in writing, for the payment of interest, not exceeding ten per centum per annum; the third gives interest on all moneys due on judgments at law, or decrees in equity, from the day of the rendition thereof, until satisfaction be made, by payment, or sale of property; and the fourth declares expressly, “ that judgments or decrees upon contracts bearing more than six per cent, interest, shall bear the same interest as-may be specified in such contracts, and the rate of interest shall be expressed in all such judgments and decrees.” These provisions unquestionably allow parties to contract in writing for the payment of interest, at any rate not exceeding ten per centum per annum, and expressly give the same interest specified in such contracts, upon-judgments and decrees founded thereupon, when the interest so stipulated in such contract is more than six per cent, per annum, from the date of the judgment and decree, and imperatively require the rate of interest so given upon such judgments or decrees, to be expressed therein. But it is insisted, that judgments bear no interest at common law; and, therefore, all statutory provisions giving it, must be construed strictly- This, we think, might be conceded, and yet judgment be given for interest, at the rate specified in the contract, upon the whole sum adjudged or decreed, including both principal debt and damages, according to the express letter, as well as the obvious design, of the law; and this appears to us to be the only mode in which these plain and express provisions of the statute could be literally or strictly enforced. And the argument, that they are designed to enforce a specific execution of the contract, cannot be maintained; because, a judgment er decree, so framed as to enforce only a specific performance of the contract, would necessarily give interest upon the contract, according to the stipulation therein contained, instead of giving it upon the judgment or decree, as the statute expressly requires it to be given; and, in this respect, they would not only not be in conformity to the provisions of the statute, but be directly opposed to them. We are, therefore, clearly of the opinion, that the statute contemplated that the whole sum, both principal and damages, adjudged or decreed to be recovered or paid on such contracts, should bear interest from the date of the judgment or decree, at the rate specified in the contract, and that the same should be so expressed in the judgment or decree. Judgment affirmed.