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3 Iowa 58

Miller v. Bryan

Supreme Court of Iowa

Decided June 15, 1856

Supreme Court of Iowa · decided 1856-06-15

The defendant, as sheriff of Warren county, by virtue of several writs of attachment, seized certain goods and chattels as the property of one Stewart, the defendant, on said writs. The plaintiff replevied said property, claiming the same to he his, and to be entitled to the immediate possession of the same.

Decided 1856-06-15

Wright, C. J.

¶2If the second instruction means that the sale would be void as between Miller and Stewart, unless there was a bill of sale, executed, acknowledged, and Recorded, like deeds of real estate, it is clearly erroneous. We suppose, however, that the instruction relates to the rights of the existing creditors of the said Stewart, or subsequent purchasers from him. As to them, the sale would be void where the vendor *60retained tbe actual possession of tbe property, unless they had notice of such sale, or unless there was a written instrument conveying the same, executed, acknowledged, and filed, like conveyances of real estate. Code, § 1193. With the qualification, that' the sale would not be valid against such creditors, or purchasers without notice, we think the instruction substantially correct.

¶3The last instruction, we think, is wrong. We are unable to see any probable state of case, in which it would be true. If this instruction is correct, then, indeed, the plaintiff’s own petition fails substantially to sjiow a right to maintain this action, for it states, as required by the Code, § 1995, that the sheriff holds the property by virtue of certain writs of attachment, in his hands as such officer. In these cases, the sheriff is a, necessary, and yet really the nominal, party de fendant. Those really interested are the attaching or execution plaintiffs, and to say that if a sheriff levies upon and holds property by virtue of his office, no other person can maintain replevin against him, would be to virtually subject the property of A. to the payment of the debt of B. If this property had been taken by virtue of any legal process against Miller, and was not exempt from seizure thereon, this instruction might be correct. But a process against Stewart, would not be a justification to the sheriff in attaching the property of Miller,; and whether he did so attach the property of Miller, as already stated, was the controverted question. . •

¶4Judgment reversed.

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