Sevier v. Magguire ( 1868 )

Mr. Justice Lawrence

delivered the opinion of the Court:

At the April term, 1865, of the circuit court of Woodford county, Sarah Sevier obtained a decree subjecting to the payment of a judgment in her favor, against Samuel L. Magguire, a tract of land, the title of which was in Harriet Gr. Magguire, the wife of said Samuel.

The bill in this case is filed by the said Samuel L. and Harriet Gr. Magguire to set aside the former decree, for errors apparent on its face, and also to enjoin the sale of the land, on the ground that it was, when said decree was rendered, and now is, the homestead of said Harriet and her children. The decree in the former case was rendered by default, and made no exemption of homestead rights. It also directed the land to be sold, not only for the payment of Sarah Sevier’s judgment, but also in satisfaction of a judgment against Magguire and in favor of one Edgerly, who was not a party to the bill.

That, in this last respect, there was error on the face of that decree admits of no doubt. The court had no concern with the judgment in favor of Edgerly. He was not before the court asking relief. For aught the court could know his judgment may have been paid, or he may not have desired its payment. As the decree was by default, probably the attention of the court was not called to this provision in it, and we are at a loss to conceive why counsel thought it a necessary or proper provision. It is said by counsel for plaintiff in error that this was the elder judgment, and therefore entitled to priority of payment. But it was not entitled to .priority so far as regarded the fund to be raised by this proceeding, nor would it have been a lien on the land in the hands of a purchaser under the decree, the legal title never having been in the judg■ment debtor.

The decree in the present case wholly sets aside the former decree, giving as the reason therefor the error in regard to the Edgerly judgment. Instead of setting aside the former decree, the court should have merely modified it, by directing that so much of it as related to this judgment should be set aside, 'and should have directed a sale of the land in payment of the Magguire judgment, subject, however, to the homestead right of Mrs. Magguire. That matter not having been adjudicated in the former case, nor presented to the court either by the pleadings or proofs, it will be proper, in remodeling the decree, to direct the sale to be made subject to the homestead, the right to it having been clearly established by the proof.

The publication against Magguire was authorized by the statute, and as to him the court had jurisdiction.

Decree reversed.