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1 Miss. 260

Lewis v. Johnson

Mississippi Supreme Court

Decided December 15, 1827

Mississippi Supreme Court · decided 1827-12-15

<p>Clorks of Courts have no authority to recoivo the plaintiff’s money; and a payment to them is no* satisfaction of the claim or judgment.</p>

Decided 1827-12-15

¶1OPINION OF THE COURT.

¶2Two questions are presented in this case for the consideration of the court. First, whether the payment stated to have been made by the defendant to the clerk of the court below, is a discharge to the defendant, or satisfaction of the judgment? Second. If the clerk, ex officio, had no authority to receive payment of the debt, did the party sanction such a payment, by bringing suit against the administrator of the clerk after his death? As to the first question, it is clear that the clerks of our circuit *261courts have no authority, by virtue of their office, to collect or receive the plaintiff’s money, and acquit a defendant of the judgment of his court, neither by the common law, nor any provision in our statute law. That the securities of a clerk would not be responsible on their bond for such an act, and that the plaintiff had a right to consider his judgment unsatisfied by such pretended payment, and to demand and receive from the court, execution according to the judgment. That the defendant by paying the money to the clerk, constituted the clerk his agent, or paid to him who had no authority to receive and receipt for plaintiff’s money. It is not necessary to express any opinion on the second point, as there is no evidence before us to sustain it.

¶3Motion to quash the execution overruled, and supersedeas discharged.

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