Wyatt v. Turner , 37 Ga. 640 ( 1868 )

Walker, J.

On the 15th Deei, 1866, the General Assembly passed an act, entitled “An act to give landlords a lien upon the crops of tenants, for stock, farming utensils and provisions furnished such tenants for the purpose of making their crops, and to give factors and merchants a lien upon the growing crops of farmers, for provisions and commercial manures furnished them for the purpose of making their crops.

“Sec. I. Be it enacted, that from and after the passage of this act, that landlords may have, by special contract in writing, a lien upon the crops of their tenants for such stock, farming utensils and provisions furnished such tenants for the purpose of making their crops.

Seo. II. That factors and merchants shall have a lien upon the growing crops of farmers for provisions furnished, and commercial manures furnished, upon such terms as may be agreed upon by the parties.

Sec. III. That such liens shall be enforced in the same way and manner that liens are now enforced against steamboats in this State.

Sec IV. Repeals conflicting laws.”

Acts 1866, p. 141.

1. This act authorizes the creation of a lien upon the crop of a tenant in favor of the landlord for stock, provisions etc., “by special contract in writing.” The Court below held,,in this case, that where the evidence showed that the landlord made the advances to aid in making the crops, and it was understood that a lien was to be created on the crop for the advances, and a promissory note was given for the amount, so due, that this gave the landlord such a lien as contemplated by the statute; and that, the lien created under the' statute upon the crop of the tenant in favor of the landlord, was of higher dignity than a prior judgment lien.

The note given for the advances was a simple promissory note, and failed to show any intention to create a lien on. .the crop; it was a mere promise to pay so many dollars. This was not what the statute intended by the words “special contract in writing.” This special contract may be imbraced in a promissory note, but there must be written evidence of the contract in order to create such a lien. “Landlords may have, by special contract in writing, a lien upon the crops of their tenants,” are the words of the statute. Such being the statute, the Court erred in holding that a promissory note, tyit.hout any special contract in writing showing an intention to create a lien, was such a lien as contemplated by the statute.

This view of the case renders it unnecessary to decide whether the landlord’s lien upon the tenant’s crop for-advanees is of higher dignity than judgment liens of older date or not. Judges Warner and Harris are inclined to hold that,, so far as the crop is concerned, the landlord has the higher lien. They say it is true the statute does not, in express terms, give this preference, yet, in looking to the policy of the act, as well as to the words of the third section, they are inclined to think this the better ruling. The third section authorizes these liens to be enforced “in thé same way and manner that’liens are now enforced against steamboats in this Stateand the lien given on steamboats by the Code, section 1968, to employees, etc., “ is of the highest dignity.” I am rather inclined to think this is giving to the statute a meaning more enlarged than a fair construction of the words will warrant. It seems to me that the words “ in the same way and manner,” as used in the act of 1866, lefer to the remedy alone, and do not enlarge the right. I think if this lien was designed to override all' others, the statute would have said so in express terms. The mechanics’ lien “ shall be superior in dignity and of higher claim than any other incumbrance, without regard to date.” Eevised Code, section 1959. The machinist “shall be entitled to the same l^en, and may enforce such lien in the same manner and with like benefit, privileges and restrictions as those which apply to mechanics.” Eevised Code, sec. 1966. The steamboat lien is “ of the highest dignity.” Mill-wrights and builders of gold machines have a lien “ of the same dignity” as the steamboat lien, and may enforce it in the same way. Eevised Code, section 1973. Stone cutters and marble companies have a similar lien, which may be enforced the same way. Eevised Code, section 1974. These are referred to as evidence that the omission to declare, in express,terms in this act, that the landlord’s lien is paramount to all others, was intentional; and the priority was not designed to be given. These are mere suggestions, however. The facts of this case render a decision of this point unneessary. The Court below sustained the certiorari, but ordered the money held up until the defendant in error could reduce his claim to judgment, and that it should then be paid to him. This was error. Turner having no such lien as contemplated by the statute, the Court should have ordered the money to be paid to the plaintiff in error.

Judgment reversed.