{
  "id": 11276339,
  "name": "D. L. PARISH, Adm'r. of ALEX. MURPH v. A. M. WILHELM",
  "name_abbreviation": "Parish v. Wilhelm",
  "decision_date": "1868-06",
  "docket_number": "",
  "first_page": "50",
  "last_page": "53",
  "citations": [
    {
      "type": "official",
      "cite": "63 N.C. 50"
    }
  ],
  "court": {
    "name_abbreviation": "N.C.",
    "id": 9292,
    "name": "Supreme Court of North Carolina"
  },
  "jurisdiction": {
    "id": 5,
    "name_long": "North Carolina",
    "name": "N.C."
  },
  "cites_to": [
    {
      "cite": "28 Penn., 238",
      "category": "reporters:state",
      "reporter": "Penn.,",
      "weight": 2,
      "pin_cites": [
        {
          "page": "264"
        }
      ],
      "opinion_index": -1
    },
    {
      "cite": "25 Yt, 662",
      "category": "reporters:state",
      "reporter": "Vt.",
      "opinion_index": -1
    },
    {
      "cite": "28 Penn. 238",
      "category": "reporters:state",
      "reporter": "Penn.",
      "opinion_index": 0
    },
    {
      "cite": "18 Hen. 6",
      "category": "reporters:state",
      "reporter": "Hen. & M.",
      "opinion_index": 0
    }
  ],
  "analysis": {
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    "simhash": "1:d4c6755bab0c4c80",
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  "last_updated": "2023-07-14T15:51:48.011339+00:00",
  "provenance": {
    "date_added": "2019-08-29",
    "source": "Harvard",
    "batch": "2018"
  },
  "casebody": {
    "judges": [],
    "parties": [
      "D. L. PARISH, Adm\u2019r. of ALEX. MURPH v. A. M. WILHELM."
    ],
    "opinions": [
      {
        "text": "Battle, J.\nThe first position taken by the defendant\u2019s \u2022counsel is undoubtedly correct. It- does not matter what an officer declares when he seizes property, for if he have a lawful process authorizing him to seize it, he is not guilty of a trespass though he professed to act under another process which did not justify him, State v. Elrod, 6 Ire. 250; Crowther v. Ramsbottom,7 T. R., 650; Greenville v. College of Physicians, 12 Mod. Rep. 385.\nIn bis second position, the counsel for the defendant is not so fortunate. The officer by selling the horses upon which he-had levied, after a tender of the money by the plaintiff's intestate for the amount of the executions against him, became a, trespasser ab initio. The principle was fully discussed and settled in the celebrated Six Carpenters\u2019 case, reported in 8 Coke\u2019s Rep. 146, that if a man abuse an authority given him by the law, he becomes a trespasser, ab initio. Thus it was. said in that case that \u201cwhen entry, authority or license is given to any one by the law, and he doth abuse it, he shall be a trespasser ab initio ; but where an entry, authority, or license is-given by the party, and he abuses it, then he must be punished for abuse, but shall not be a trespasser ab initio. And the reason for this difference is that in the case of a general authority or license of law, the law adjudges by the subsequent act, quo-animo, or to what intent he entered, for acta exteriora indicant interiora secreta. \u201d A better reason was we think given by the Court in the case of the State v. Moore, 12 New Ham. Rep. 42, to-wit: that it was the policy of the law for preventing its authority being turned into an instrument of oppression and injustice.\nThis doctrine has often been applied to persons acting in. an official capacity, and they have been held trespassers ab initio for any act done in abuse of their authority. Thus in. ancient times in England, a purveyor, who took goods for the King\u2019s house under a commission was held a trespasser for selling them in the market, though the first taking was-lawful, 18 Hen. 6, 19b., cited in the Six Carpenters\u2019 case. So-in Ward\u2019s case, Clayt. 44, it was held that a constable who had a warrant to search the house of a suspected person for stolen goods, and who pulled down the clothes of a bed in which there was a woman, and attempted to search her person, by this indecent abuse of his authority became a trespasser ab initio. And again, it was decided in Pennsylvania that a constable who seized the property of a defendant-under an execution, and refused to let such defendant select and have appraised for him, property to the amount of $300' \u2022under an act of that State, the defendant demanding and being entitled to the benefit of the exemption, became liable as a trespasser ab initio. Wilson v. Ellis, 28 Penn. 238. The \u2022conduct of the defendant in. the case now before us, was quite as unjustifiable as was that of the officer in either of the cases above cited. The .plaintiff\u2019s intestate had an undoubted .right to pay off the executions against himself, and thus .relieve his horses from the levy, but this privilege was refused him by the defendant, who proceeded to sell the horses for the purpose of satisfying executions against another person. In doing this he abused the authority which the law conferred upon him to levy upon the intestate\u2019s property, and thereby \u2022became a trespasser ab initio; as, also, by selling the second horse, after the sale of the first had brought money enough to pay off the executions which he held against the intestate. .But as the other illegal act extends to both the horses, it is unnecessary to rely upon this.\nThe defendant\u2019s counsel again objects that the question of \u25a0an abuse of the defendant\u2019s authority cannot be raised upon the pleadings in the case, because it ought to have been made by a special instead of a general replication. This objection might have been sustained had it been taken in proper time, but it comes too late after verdict. The Revised Code, ch. 3, sec. 5, cures all defects arising from mispleading or insufficient .pleading, after a verdict has been rendered.\nThe judgment must be affirmed.\nPer Curiam. No error.",
        "type": "majority",
        "author": "Battle, J."
      }
    ],
    "attorneys": [
      "Boyden &, Bailey, for the appellant.",
      "Phillips dc Battle, contra."
    ],
    "corrections": "",
    "head_matter": "D. L. PARISH, Adm\u2019r. of ALEX. MURPH v. A. M. WILHELM.\nAn officer having two executions against the plaintiff and his father, and another execution against the father alone, levied on three horses belonging to the plaintiff, as the property of the father; the plaintiff offered to pay off the executions against himself, hut the officer refused to receive the , money, and proceeded to sell the horses : Held, that the officer became a trespasser ah initio, and was liable in an action of trespass, for the value of the two horses last sold.\nAn objection that the plaintiff should have filed a special instead of a general replication, comes too late after verdict. (Rev. Code ch. 3, s. 5.)\nTRESPASS, tried before Mitchell, Jat Spring Term 1868 of the Superior Court of Cabarrus.\nThe plaintiff declared for damages sustained by the taking and converting of two horses belonging to his intestate, and offered evidence sustaining his declaration. The defendant attempted to justify on the ground that he was an officer, and proved that as such he had executions in his hands against one Rudolph Murph, the father of the plaintiff\u2019s intestate, that two of these executions were also against the latter as surety for his father, and that the third, which was for a much larger sum than the other two, was against the father alone. He levied the executions on three horses belonging to the plaintiff\u2019s intestate, as the property of Rudolph Murph.\nIt was further in evidence that the intestate of the plaintiff offered to pay off the executions against himself before the day of sale, and that the defendant refused to receive the money unless he would also dispose of the third execution; and proceeded to sell the horses. The first horse sold brought enough to satisfy the executions against the plaintiff\u2019s intestate.\nThe Court charged the jury that the defendant had failed to make out his defense of justification, and the defendant excepted. Yerdict for the plaintiff; rule for a new trial discharged; judgment, and appeal.\nBoyden &, Bailey, for the appellant.\nDefendant cannot be treated as a trespasser ab initio, by \u2022reason of mere excess, Smith v. Eggerton, 1 A. & E., 167 ; Shorlandv. Govett, 5 B. & C., 485 ; Gates v. Lounsbury, 2.0 \u25a0Johns., 427; Whitney v. French, 25 Yt, 662; Walker v. Lovell, '9 Eost (N. H.) 138. Or at least, (as the articles were sold \u25a0separately and not in mass) only for the horse last sold, and ;a venire de novo should be granted because of the error of the Court below in treating defendant as trespasser for all the \u2022articles. Six Carpenters\u2019 case, 1 Smith Lead. Cases 62, Eng. \u2022ed. with note, Dod v. Merger, 6 Mod. 215; Harvey v. Pococlc, 11 M. & W., 740. The question of a trespass ab initio, can not arise on the pleadings, as it should have been made by a special replication. Six Carpenters\u2019 case Gargrave v. Smith, .Salk 221, &c., Buller N. P., 81-;'and according to our practice, if no replication is entered, as in our case, a general one is .understood, State v. Hankins, 6 Ire. 428.\nPhillips dc Battle, contra.\nWhen the writ has been fully executed, subsequent acts by \u25a0an officer are trespasses, Shorla-nd v. Govett, 5 B. & C. 285. Trespass lies against sheriff, selling under execution after judgment has been satisfied, Kuhn v. North, 10 S. & E. (Penn.) 399. After an execution has done its office, if the \u25a0officer proceeds to act under color of it by order of plaintiff, both become trespassers, Gollins v. Waggoner, Breese 148.\nOfficer taking under lawful execution, but afterwards refusing the defendant a right of selection and appraisement under exemption act, becomes trespasser ab initio, Wilson v. Ellis, 28 Penn., 238; Freeman v. Smith 30, ibid. 264.\nDefect in replication is cured by verdict."
  },
  "file_name": "0050-01",
  "first_page_order": 66,
  "last_page_order": 69
}