Court Opinion

ID: 6313539
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-02-18 20:19:26.848772+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:59:09.916872
License: Public Domain

Tilghman C. J.
This is a writ of error to the court of. Common Pleas of Philadelphia county. The error complained of, is in issuing the execution. It was an amicable action entered by agreement qn/t'he 8th of December 1810, and submitted to arbitration. On the day of entering the action, special bail was entered by the defendant in 800 dollars. On the 11th January 1811, a report of the arbitrators for 404 dollars 00 cents in favour of the plaintiff was- filed, and judgment entered; and on the 4th February 1811, the plain*429tiff took outran execution. The plaintiff in error, who was defendant below, contends, that having entered special bail, he was intitled to a stay of execution for thirty days after the judgment. But this is denied by the defendant in error, who says that the law gave no stay of execution, because security in the nature of special bail was not entered after thejudgment.
It is enacted in the eleventh section of the act regulating arbitrations (20th March 1810,) that where judgment has been rendered for any sum of money, “ the like stay of exe- “ cution shall be had under the like regulations, as are pro- “ vided by the seventh section of an act, intitled an act to “regulate arbitrations and proceedings in courts of justice, “ passed 21st March 1806.” The provision in the seventh section of the act referred to, is as follows. In all suits instituted by capias or summons, the execution shall be stayed on the judgment, if it shall not exceed 200 dollars, six months; if not exceeding 400 dollars, nine months; and if exceeding 400 dollars, twelve months from the first day of the term to which the original process was returnable, if the defendant in the opinion of the court, is possessed of a freehold estate, worth the amount of such judgment dear of incumbrances,; but if the defendant is not a freeholder as aforesaid, then execution may issue immediately, unless the defendant shall enter security in the nature of special bail, in which case there shall be a stay of execution thirty days; and if at or before the expiration of that time, the defendant shall give security for the amount of debt interest and costs, such defendant shall be intitled to the same stay of execution as if he was a freeholder, “ and the like stay of execution shall be had upon “judgments obtained in amicable actions, unless when it is “ differently provided for by the parties in their terms of “ agreement, counting from the date of the agreement.”
The intent of this provision is very plain. If the defendant is a freeholder, possessed of clear real estate to the amount of the judgment, he is intitled to the stay of execution above mentioned, without giving any kind of bail or security. But if he is not such a freeholder, he is subject to immediate execution unless he gives security in nature of special bail. If such security is entered, the plaintiff is sufli*430ciently safe, and there shall be a stay of execution for thirty days from the judgment, in order to give the defendant time to enter security for debt and costs, if he shall think proper. But in the case before us, special bail was entered not after the judgment, but at the commencement of the action. It is out of the letter, but clearly within the spirit of the law. For what can be the occasion of entering security in nature of special bail, when special bail itself has been entered? What advantage will the plaintiff gain by it? It increases the costs, and oppresses the defendant for no useful purpose. This provision was made for the benefit of the defendant, and is intitled to a favourable construction, as far as it can be made without injuring the plaintiff. If the special bail entered before the judgment, was not in a sufficient sum to secure the amount recovered, there might be reason for entering security in the nature of special bail after the judgment. But that is not the present case. When such a case shall arise, it will be time enough to give an opinion on it. Here the bail was much more than sufficient. I am therefore of opinion that the defendant was intitled to a stay of execution for thirty days after the judgment, and consequently the execution was issued erroneously.
Yeates J.
I am unfortunate enough to dissent from the construction of the law as insisted on by the counsel of the plaintiffin error. I am bound to express my own opinion. The eleventh section of the “ act regulating arbitrations” passed 20th March 1810, incorporates under certain provisions, the seventh section of the arbitration law of the 21st March 1806 as to the stay of writs of execution upon judgments. 7 St. Laws 563. The words of this seventh section are very general and comprehensive, and include “ all suits instituted “ either by capias or summons in any court of record within “ this commonwealth.”
The now plaintiff in error, who was the defendant below, does not appear to be a freeholder, and therefore under the particular circumstances of the case, would be intitled to a stay of execution of twelve months, counting from the 8th, December 1810 when the suit originated, provided he has, conformed to the act. In such case’, th’■ law directs, “ that *43141 execution may immediately issue, unless the defendant 44 shall enter surety in the nature of special bail, in which' 44 case there shall be a stay of execution for thirty days; and if 44 at or before the expiration of that term, the defendant 44 shall give security for the amount of debt interest and 44 costs, such defendant shall be intitled to the same stay of 44 execution, as if he was a freeholder.”
It is asked why shall the defendant enter special bail a second time? The law intended to grant a benefit to the debtor; but such a construction would be oppressive on him. 'It is answered that he thereby intitles himself to a stay of execution for thirty days, during which period he may provide other security for the payment of the debt interest and costs. The special bail first entered was, that the defendant should pay the condemnation money and costs, if cast in the action, or surrender himself a prisoner to the sheriff of the county. But by this new security he elects to have the benefit of the stay of execution; and the words 44 that exe44 cution may immediately issue unless &c.” are susceptible of no other construction. The entry of special bail to the action in its commencement, does not of itself prevent the plaintin from issuing execution after judgment, within the terms used by the lawmakers. Should this answer be deemed unsatisfactory, I have only to remark, that the intention of the legislature, whatever may be its grounds, is clearly and distinctly expressed in the clause under consideration. 1 Black. Com. 94, Christian's note 21. It embraces all suits originating by capias, whéther the defendant be admitted to bail, returned in custody, or his appearance be accepted. Such was the idea of the defendant’s counsel in the Common Pleas, when Ira Allen entered into a recognisance after the judgment; but he was afterwards excepted to, and formally waived. It was therefore incumbent on the defendant below to find sufficient bail to intitle himself to the benefit of the act; and on failure thereof, I think the court were warranted in the award of execution. I am for affirming the judgment of the court of Common Pleas.
Brackenridge J. expressed his concurrence with the Chief Justice.
Execution set aside.