Seekins v. Goodale , 61 Me. 400 ( 1873 )

PeteRS, J.

The collector, having seized more goods and chattels than sufficient to pay- the tax and expense of sale, after selling enough for that purpose proceeded further and sold all the balance of the distress remaining in his possession. This balance consisted of articles distinct and separate from those which were sold before the authority to sell was exhausted. The officer was actuated by no improper motive; and, in the attempt to perform his duty, followed so literally the provision of the statute prescribing that duty that his counsel contends that in all his doings he acted legally. The words of the statute are “ the distress shall be openly sold.” But it would be an unsatisfactory construction to say that the authority is to sell more of such distress than would be ample for the purposes for which the authority is conferred.

The question arises whether the officer was a trespasser ah initio as to all the property taken and sold, or only as to so much of it as was sold in excess of the requirements of law.

In Pod v. Monger, 6 Modern Rep. 215, where several barrels of beer were distrained -for rent, and the distrainor drew beer out of one of them, Lord Holt held that it rendered him a trespasser ah initio only as to that single barrel. In Harvey v. Pocock, 11 M. & W. 740, it was decided that “where a landlord distrains for rent, amongst other things, goods in law not distrainable, the distrainor is a trespasser ah initio only as to the goods which were not distrainable.” Lord Abinger, C. B., says, “ The case in 6 Modern Rep. 215, is undoubtedly a very strong authority for the defendants. The Six Carpenters’ case leaves it an open question how far the party becomes a trespasser ah initio as to the whole distress by an excess as to part. It is very reasonable that he should not, but that his liability should be limited according to the doctrine laid down by Lord Holt.” This last case is approvingly alluded to in Price v. Woodhouse, 1 Exch. 559. In Smith’s Leading Cases the doctrine is stated as follows: “ But if there be a Seizure of several chattels, some of which are by law seizable and some not, or some of which are subsequently abused and the rest not, the seizure is, or becomes, illegal only as to the part which it was unlawful to seize, or which was subsequently abused, and the seizure of the rest continues legal.” In Walcott v. Root, 2 Allen, 194, the point is stated by the court but not decided. It is contended by the plaintiff that Williamson v. Dow, 32 Maine, 559, decides that an officer would be liable in a case like the present for the entire value of all the articles distrained. It will be seen upon examination that the marginal note in that case is not authorized by the opinion of the court. The opinion is very brief, and while upon this point it is merely said that when an officer has sold sufficient property he is not authorized to sell more, the court adds, “ there is also the same defect noticed in the case Blanchard v. Row [a previous case in same volume], in the neglect to return with the overplus an account of sales and expenses.” Upon this last point the case was really and necessarily decided, and need not be considered as limited or overruled by our conclusions in the case now before us. Nor is the doctrine of Lord Holt opposed by the case of Moore v. Pennell, 52 Maine, 162, where an officer attached an undivided half of chattels, and selling the entire property in the goods attached was held a trespasser ah initio as to the full value of the goods sold. The reasons given for the result reached in that case are not applicable here. There the officer committed upon each and every article of the property attached an act in excess of his authority which amounted to a conversion or trespass, while here no act of any sort was committed or neglected which would render the action of the officer irregular or abusive, excepting so far as the particular articles were concerned which were sold after the authority to sell had been fully executed. Had he stopped when he had sold enough for the payment of the tax and expense of sale no error would have been committed. Not even would a neglect of returning the balance of the property to the owner have been, according to many authorities, such an irregularity as to render him liable for the value of the whole distress, because such an act would have been a non-feasance only. His proceedings subsequently were a fresh trespass, by relation dating back to the first taking of such of the articles only as wei’e sold in excess of authority. The Six Carpenters’ case speaks of the trespasser ab initio as one “ who works or kills the distress.” How has the officer in this case “ worked or killed ” so much of this distress as was legally sold? We think a fair construction of the rule established in the Six Carpenters’ case makes the defendant liable as a trespasser ab initio only for the sale of so much of the goods as were sold in excess, and not for those sold in pursuance of authority. In this case it will work out exact justice to all concerned. The debtor will have paid his tax; the officer will receive the protection of the law as long as he obeyed the law : and for the injury inflicted by his abuse of it the party injured will be indemnified for all damages actually sustained. A .doctrine which will ameliorate the hardships imposed upon honest officers rather than that which will put difficulties and dangers in their way is the safe and salutary one. The contrary doctrine would render a sheriff, who, upon an execution amounting to thousands of dollars, sold more goods by a few dollars only than was necessary to cover the amount of such execution and costs of sale, for an error or inadvertence such as a man of common care and common intelligence might commit, exposed to most hazardous consequences.

It is not perceived that the positions taken by counsel as to tl\e conclusiveness of the officer’s return have any application in this case. ' The return is not necessarily contradicted by the facts set up and proved by the plaintiff.

Another question raised in the report was lately settled in Nowell v. Tripp, 61 Maine, post; to wit: that the officer’s warrant is a full protection to him so far as he has not exceeded or abused its authority.

The sum required by the collector for the tax and charges was $26.40. The first three articles were sold for $26.66, leaving to be returned 26 cents. The other articles sold for $22.75. The evidence shows that they were worth about fifty per cent more than sold for, which would make their value $34.05. This sum added to 26 cents plaintiff would be entitled to, less $22.96, which left with him would go in mitigation of damages to that extent.

The defendant is to he defaulted for $11.35 and interest from June 22, 1871.

Appleton, C. J.; Cutting, DicKerson, Danforth, and Virgin, JJ-, concurred.