Hardwick v. Hook

[1.] The claimant, under our laws, being entitled to the custody of the property in dispute, may contract with third persons, as to the possession thereof; and such third persons will be answerable only to the claimant. But if the claimant be a feme covert, and incapable, by reason of such disability, of interposing any claim, coming wrongfully by the possession herself, she can confer no rights on othei-s. [2.] It is competent for Courts of Chancery to appoint a receiver to institute suits in his own name, for the recovery of assets belonging to the suitors in Equity; and being substituted in the place, such receiver is subrogated to all the rights of the real parties in interest. [3.] A decree in Chancery is evidence, not merely of the fact of its rendition, but also of all the consequences resulting therefrom. It may be given in proof against persons who wore not parties to the bill, in support of the plaintiffs right or title tp sue. [4.] It is no objection to a decree, that it was rcndei'ed by consent, [5.] A naked trustee is a competent witness in an action to which he is pot a party.

Assumpsit, Ac. in Washington Superior Court, Tried before Judge Holt, September Term, 1849. Daniel Harris, as guardian, obtained judgment against Morris Walden to a large amount, and caused the same to be levied, in 1842, on a number of negro slaves in the possession of Walden. To a portion of these negroes, Sarah Walden, the wife of Morris Walden, by her next friend, L, Mathis, interposed a claim, that the same were her separate property, and gave a forthcoming and claim bonds, with William P. Hardwick as surety. The negroes, at that time, went into the possession of Hardwick, and remained in his possession until the termination of the litigation. Before the claim issue was tried, Mrs. Walden, by her next friend, filed a bill, alleging the foregoing facts; and further, that her husband received this property in trust for her, and held it as trustee ; but fearing she could not sustain her claim at Law, prayed that this property might be settled as a provision for her, and that the creditor, Harris, might be enjoined. Upon this bill, a decree was rendered, in 1846, settling one half of the property in dispute to Jeptha Brantley, in trust for Mrs. Walden, and providing that the other half be sold by Jamos S. Hook, as receiver in Equity, and the proceeds paid to Harris, the creditor; and “ that the said receiver in Equity proceed to collect, and if necessary, to sue for the hire of said slaves, that may have accrued or become due, by whomsoever, since the levy of the ji.fa. and divide the same” equally between Harris and Mrs. Walden, through her trustee. Hook, the receiver, commenced an action of assumpsit, <$fc. against Hardwick, for the hire of the negroes, reciting in his petition the decree above stated. Upon the trial, counsel for Hard-wick took exceptions to the action, on the ground of a want of privity between the parties. The exception was overruled by the Court, and this is the first error complained of. Plaintiff below then offered, in evidence, the record of the bill and decree, which was objected to— 1st. Because, by the bill, the right to the hire is not vested in Hook, but he is a mere agent to sue in their names. 2d. Because Hardwick was not a party to the bill. 3rd. Because the decree showed that at the time Hardwick took possession of the property, Hook had no title thereto. The Court overruled the objections, and this decision is alleged as error. Jeptha Brantley was then offered as a witness, by Hook. Objection — that he was incompetent, being the trustee named in the decree for Mrs. Walden. The Court overruled the objection, and this decision is assigned as error. The defendant below proposed to prove by one E. C. Williamson, a contract or agreement between Mrs. Walden and Hard-wick, about the hire of the negroes, in September, 1842, after the bill in Equity had been filed. Objected to by counsel for Hook, and ruled out by the Court, and this decision is complained of as erroneous. The defendant then proposed to prove by Isham H. Saffold, that Hardwick had paid him $100, as the fee contracted by Mrs. Walden for the defence of the claim case, before the property went into the possession of Hardwick. On objection by plaintiff’s counsel, the Court rejected the evidence, and this decision is assigned as error. Defendant’s counsel then proposed to prove by Charles J. Jenkins, that the decree in the Equity cause was made and drawn by counsel, and submitted to be signed by the Jury, by consent. The Court rejected the evidence, and this decision is assigned as error. Defendant’s counsel requested the Court to charge the Jury— 1st. That from the decree under the bill, there is no evidence of title in the plaintiff, to authorize a recovery in this action. 2d. That if the Jury believed that Hardwick went into the possession of the negroes, under a contract with Mrs. Walden, if liable at all, he is liable to Mrs. Walden. 3d. That after the bill was filed, Hardwick could contract with Mrs. Walden, he being no party to the bill, especially if he had no notice of it. The Court refused so to charge, but on the contrary, among other things, charged the Jury, that “In this case, the decree vests the legal title in Hook to the hire, and he has a right to recover all the hire in this suit, against Hardwick, from the time the Court of Equity took jurisdiction of the cause; that the legal title to the hire was separated by the decree from the legal title to the property, and vested in Hook; that if Mrs. Walden had been a feme sole, when the property went from the Sheriff to Hardwick, she would have had the right to contract about the possession, and would have been bound by it, but being a feme covert, she could make no contract to impair her rights after the Court of Equity took jurisdiction of the cause; that the hire must be governed by the decree.” All of which charge and refusal to charge, is assigned as error. To maintain the action of assumpsit, a promise, express or implied, must be proved, and the contract must be proved to have been made by the defendant with the plaintiff, and him only. 1 Saund. Pl. & Ev. 109, 42. 4 B & A. 437. 1 East, 497. 8 T. R. 332. Brown on Actions at Law, 328. 9 C. & P. 87. The consideration must have proceeded from the plaintiff, and at the defendant’s request, express or implied. 1 Saund. Pl. & Ev. 148. 1 T. R. 20. Str. 933. Brown on Actions, 328. In all actions at Law, the plaintiff must be the one in whom the legal right was vested, at the time the cause of action arose. Brown on Actions, 99, 103. Broom on Parties, 1. 7 T. R. 50, 607. 2 Bing. 20. 8 T. R. 332. 3 Camp, 417. A contract, being a mere chose in action, cannot be assigned, so as to allow the assignee to sue in his own name. He must use the assignor. Brown on Actions, 105, and authorities there cited. Covenants do not run with personalty. Broom on Parties, 10. 13 East, 63. 10 East, 279. A receiver is one appointed by the Court to provide for the safety of property pending the litigation — to take care of the property in dispute, and pay it over, and its profits, to the party eventually entitled. This was not a proper case nor a proper time for the appointment of a receiver. 1 Smith’s Ch. Pr. 628, ’9. 2 Madd. Ch. Pr. Bennett’s Ch. Pr. 89. 16 Wend. R. 405, 21. 3 Daniel’s Ch. Pr. A receiver cannot bring an action in his own name. When he sues, he sues by permission of the Court of Chancery, and sues in the name of the party having the legal right. 1 Smith’s Ch. Pr. 639. 3 Atk. 750. 16 Wend. 410. 3 Bro. C. C. 86. 1 Johns. Ch. R. 60. The rights of third parties, neither parties nor privies to a suit, cannot be affected by that suit. The testimony of a trustee is not admissible in a suit for the benefit of the cestui que trust, because the fund is to be paid to him, and is subject to be retained for any balance due him from the cestui que trust, he being entitled to commissions. The decree in Chancery, appointing Hook, (the plaintiff below,) receiver, vests in him a legal title to the hire of the slaves in contest, s.ccx\xmgpendente lite, and the defendant, Hardwick, is legally liable for it — hence the privity. 1 Story’s Equity, §73. 2 Story’s Equity, §§831, 833, 834. 8 Paige’s Chancery Reports, §§565, 388. 2 Roper on Husband and Wife, 117, 118. 8 Term Reports, 547. The record of the suit and decree in Chancery, was competent evidence, even against a stranger, to show title in the plaintiff below. 1 Starkie’s Evidence, 212. 1 Greenleaf’s Evidence, §538, ’9. A trustee, when not a party to the record, nor liable for costs, is a competent witness, though his cestui que trust may have an interest in the record. Phillips' Evidence, 41. Norris Peake’s Evidence, 229. 1 Greenleaf’s Evidence, §333. 1 Douglass' Reports, 140. 1 P. Williams’ Reports, 289, 290. 1 Modern Reports, 107. A decree in Chancery, having been put in evidence, simply to show plaintiff’s legal right — to establish privity — not to fix defendant’s liability — it was not competent for defendant to attack that decree collaterally, by proving that it was founded on consent between the parties.