Public-domain · open source
OpenJurist

14 Me. 411

Phillips v. Williams

Supreme Judicial Court of Maine

Decided May 15, 1837

Supreme Judicial Court of Maine · decided 1837-05-15

Exceptions from the Court of Common Pleas, Smith J. presiding. Trespass quare clausum. The plaintiffs claimed the locus in quo by virtue of tlie levy of an execution thereon in their favor against the defendant, June 3, 1830, as his property. Two objections were made to this levy. 1. That it does not appear, that Eusebius Fales, one of the appraisers, was sworn. 2.

Decided 1837-05-15

¶1After a continuance, the opinion of the Court was drawn up by

Weston C. J.

¶2The officer, in his return upon the execution, states, that he caused the appraisers, naming them, to be duly sworn, faithfully and impartially to appraise such real estate, as should be shown to them, according to their best skill and judgment, as wall appear by the certificates of the Justices.” One of those certificates was not signed by the Justice, but there is nothing in either, which contradicts, or is inconsistent with the material fact, set forth in the return, namely, that the appraisers were duly sworn. It was not essential, that the Justice should either make or sign a certificate. The return of the officer is plenary evidence upon this point. Williams v. Amory, 14 Mass. R. 20.

¶3Ry “ the appraisers,” who are slated in the return to have viewed the premises, must, in our opinion, be understood the three, whose appointment and qualification had been previously certified. The absence of either is not intimated; and it is not to be inferred from the fact, that the written appraisement is signed by but two of them. It has been held to be no objection to a return, that when two only sign the appraisement, no reason is assigned for the omission of the subscription of the third, where it otherwise appears, that the three acted. Barrett v. Porter. 14 Mass. R. 143.

¶4Exceptions sustained.

/14/me/411 · .json · Public domain