Tearney v. Fleming , 1892 Ill. App. LEXIS 525 ( 1892 )

Opinion of the Court, the

Hon. George W. Pleasants, Judge.

This was a bill of interpleader filed April 14,1891, by Patrick Fleming against James Tearney, Patrick Tearney and Patrick Kealey, averring that James Tearney, a minor, about sixteen years of age, was in complainant’s employ as a farm hand during the season of 1890; that he owed for said work a balance of $95.90; that Patrick Tearney, the father of James, being still living, he supposed these wages were due to him in right of a parent, but James claims them, as having been emancipated; that Kealey, having a judgment against the father, garnisheed complainant, and obtained judgment for $89.90 and costs; that complainant, to protect himself, took an appeal to the County Court, where the case is now pending; that James Tearney then commenced suit against him for said wages in that court and that case is also now pending. Complainant then avers his readiness to pay said $95.90 to whichever of the parties claiming may be entitled to it, offers to bring the money into court for that purpose and subject to its order, and prays that they be required to interplead, and be enjoined against prosecuting said suits.

Defendants answered, Patrick Tearney disclaiming all right to the money and denying that he had ever asserted any, and that complainant had any ground to suppose or did .suppose he claimed it; James asserting his, and Kealey denying the alleged emancipation and charging that these wages were due to Patrick Tearney as the father of Jamos. Eeplications were filed and proofs taken, and on final hearing the court decreed to complainant the relief asked, and as between the defendants found “that the said fund is the wages of the defendant James Tearney, earned by him from the complainant for his work as a farm hand and not claimed by the defendant Patrick Tearney, and that as between the defendants, James Tearney and Patrick Kealey, the said fund is not subject to garnishment at the suit of the defendant Patrick Kealey, claiming, as he does, as a judgment creditor of the defendant Patrick Tearney,” and concludes as follows: “ It is therefore ordered, adjudged and decreed by the court that the costs of this suit to be taxed by the clerk of this court, and the costs of the said suits in the County Court of McLean County, Illinois, of Patrick Tearney, for the use of Patrick Kealey against Patrick Fleming, and the suit of James Tearney by his next friend, Patrick Tearney, against Patrick Fleming, shall be paid by the clerk of this court out of the said fund paid into his hands by the. complainant, Patrick Fleming, in this cause; and that the residue of said fund be paid by the said clerk to the said defendant James Tearney. It is further ordered that the said suits in the County Court of McLean County be dismissed by the plaintiffs therein.” The defendant J ames Tearney prosecutes this writ of error and complains of the decree as to the costs. It appears that in the three cases they amount to $73.70, all of which is charged, absolutely and finally, upon the fund the decree finds was rightfully his.

Why those of Kealey in the garnishee proceeding or in this case should be so charged we do not see; and if those of Fleming were properly so in the first instance, they too, should eventually be recovered from the defeated claimant, and the decree should have so provided. We think, however, the evidence shows that complainant himself had no equitable right to costs as against James Tearney. Ko ground of objection to his bill appears on its face. The proper way toJ treat it, therefore, was to answer it. But had it also stated the facts, fully proved, that before answering as garnishee he had full notice of James’ claim and nevertheless answered that he was indebted to Patrick and gave no intimation of that claim, it would have shown a want of equity in Avillfully disregarding the right of the defendant and neglecting to avail of an adequate legal remedy then at hand. He deliberately put himself in the position from Avhich he sought by his bill to be relieved; and the decree relieves him at the expense of the party without fault, whom he wronged in so doing. His own fault and neglect occasioned all the litigation that f olloAved his ansAver. From the finding of the decree it appears that by the notice he had received from both Patrick and James, he Avould have been justified in ansA\rering that he Avas not indebted to Patrick. They Avere both then present and prepared to testify as to the emancipation. Complainant’s duty to this boy required him at least to state that he claimed the wages due for his labor. Such a statement, it may be presumed, Avould have led to his discharge at Healey’s cost, and there Avouldhave been no occasion for James’ suit, his oavii appeal, or this bill. Besides the notice referred to, given him a feAv days previously, James told him at the justice’s office just before his ansAArer, that he would sue him if not paid,- and AAre think his ansAver, under the circumstances, was a needless provocation to the suit that so promptly folloAved. Ho excuse or reason for his conduct has been suggested. Self-protection and fairness to this infant claimant alike called upon him to make known the claim. The grounds of his right to the relief here sought, are, that being in' no way to blame for his position, and having acted impartially toAvard the contesting claimants, he should not be required to determine at his peril which is right. But Avith what grace or equity can complainant urge these grounds, Avhen he has voluntarily, needlessly and against warning, assumed the responsibility and risk of such determination? • A word from him before the justice of the peace would have accomplished all that is sought by this bill, but he would not speak it. Tet this decree relieves him from a judgment he had confessed for the use of Healey, and another suit that he had defiantly invited upon a just claim, at his instance, and at the cost of the creditor whose claim, now found to he just, he wrongfully ignored.

It is said that plaintiff in error had notice of the garnishee proceeding, was present at the time of the hearing, and could then have made known his claim and on his oivn application been admitted as a party to prove and establish it. R. S., Ch. 62, Secs. 11, 12. He should lose no right by reason oí his failure to intervene in that way. Infants are not chargeable with laches. The presumption is that the boy did not, in fact, know he might so intervene, else he would not have resorted to another proceeding more expensive and dilatory.

We think the decree was wrong in its disposition of the costs; that those of the garnishee proceeding should have been adjudged against Healey, those in the case in the County Court of James Tearney v. Fleming against Fleming; those of this case in the court below also against Fleming, and in this court against Healey and Fleming equally.

Decree affirmed in part, and reversed in part, and remanded with directions.