LEOPOLD V. GODFREY.
145
LEOPOW V. GODFREY
et al. January, 1882.)
(C'in"cuit Court, N. D.
1.
EXECUTIONS-LEVY AND LIEN-STA.TE A.ND FEDERAL COURTS.
Where two executions issue from the state and federal courts, respectively. it makes no difference that the former was first placed in the hands of the officer, as the latter, under which levy is first made, will hold the property. there no lien by either judgment. In Illinois, where the landlord has no lien upon the personal property of his tenant for rent before the actual levy of his distress warrant, he Is not entitled to claim against a prior levy under execution.
2. SAME-CLAIMS OJ!' LANDLORD.
In Equity. Bill to set aside a sale of personal property in fraud of creditors. Decree for complainant. The facts in this case were that the complainant, Leopold, on March 4, 1880, recovered a judgment in this court for $3,588.54 and costs against Stephen R. Godfrey. The execution was delivered to the marshal, and a levy was made on a stock of goods in a ,store at Rockford, which had belonged to and been in the possession of Godfrey up to February 28, 1880, when he had made a pretended sale and delivery to his son, William H.Godfff-ly, and William B. Shaut, who had been an employe. The bill charged that this sale was fraudulent ,and void, and prayed that it be set aside, and the property applied to the payment of complainant's judgment. Then Mary A,. Godfrey, wife of Stephen R. Godfrey., filed across bill, alleging that she had recovered a just judgment March 1, 1880, against her husband, in the Winnebago county circuit court, for $3,500, and issued execution on the same day to the sheriff qfthat county; that her execution was a lien on the property from the date of its receipt by the sheriff, and a prior lien to that of the federal court judgment; and she therefore prayed that the amount of her execution be first satisfied. Jonathan Peacock, the landlord of the Godfrey store, also filed a cross bill, claiming $187.50 rent under a written lease dated March 1, 1878. He claimed that under this lease he had a first and valid lien on the property. Tenney, & Cratty, for complainant. E. H. Baker, for Mary A. Godfrey. N. O. Warner, for Jonathan Peacock. C. M. Brazee, for Godfrey and Shaut. BWD<:lETT, District Judge. The evidence satisfies me that the sale by Godfrey to his son and 'Shaut was void for want of consideration; no cash having been paid, and the $6,000 worth of notes which were given not having been taken up. It will therefore be set aside as a fraud upon the creditors. As to'Mrs. Godfrey's claim, the rule is well settled that when executions issue from the state and federal courts, if there be no lien by the judgment, the one under which a seizure is first made must prevail, and hold the property. Here there was no lien by virtue of the judgment, v.50F.no.2--10
146
FEDERAf,< REPOItTER ,vol.' 50.
and, as the liens of sheriff and marshal were concurrent, the one who perfected hiB lien by actuai levy, as did the marshal,'must hold. The cross bill of Mrs. Godfrey must therefore be dismissed. As to Peacock's ClaiInfor rent, the law in this state is that the landlord had no lien, the statute or the covenants in his lease. upon the personal property his tenant prior to the actual levy of his distress warrant. As the levy 'of .the marshal, was prior to that of the landlord, Peacock's cross bill must also be dismissed. The goods having been sold inthe mean time under an interlocutory order, and the proceeds paid into court, a decree will be entered that the fdnd, less costs taxed, be paid to the complainant.
of
UNITED STATES ,. MEEKER. (Cwcw/,t CO'Urt, D. Washington, W. D. March 23, 1899.) TIMBER LAND-CANCELLATION OJ' PATENT-EVIDENCE.
A timber-rand patent will not be canceled on the ground that the lands are not in fact timberlandlt. wben tbe evidence merely renders it doubtful wbether they can properly be lIO oh\.ssed. .
In Equity· Suit in equity to cancel a patent fora tract ofland purchased from the United States as timberland under act of June3i i878,entitled "An actior the sale oftimber lands in the states of California, Oregon, Nevada,and in Washington Territory," (1 Supp. Rev. St., 2d Ed., 167,) on the grotmd that said tract is not in fact timber land, nor subject to sale under the provisions of said act. Bill dismissed. P. O.Sullivan, Asst. U. S. Atty.. W. H. Pritchard, for defendant. . HANFORD,District Judge. A number of witnesses have been called on both sides, and have testified as to the character of the land involved in this suit, all of whom appear to be men of good repute, well informed, and credible. There is no conflict in their statements of facts, but in matters of opinion and estimates: theY' differ. From all the evidence I conclude that the land is of such character that honest persons. capable of estimating the value ofland, for agricultural purposes or for its timber, Inay honestly differ iIi their opinions upon the question whether said land is chiefly valuable for the timber thereon, and unfit for cultivation, or otherwise. Part Of the tract isgriod land, capable of being made productive, and,by reason of its location, is certainly valuable simply as agricultural land. Other portions, however, belong to the class of lands in this country as unfit for cultivation, and in fact they cannot be profitably brought under cultivation, except by a gradual process, requiring years of time. The tract, as a whole, is valuable for the timber. it contains. The witnesses who have gone over it and made