Opinion
(December Term, 1837.)
A return by the sheriff of satisfaction to an execution issued on a judgment for a debt infected with usury, is not sufficient evidence of the receipt of the usurious interest, to charge the lender in an action for the penalty.
THIS was an action of DEBT, to recover the penalty imposed by the statute against usury. On the trial before his Honor Judge SAUNDERS, at Guilford, at the last Circuit, it appeared in proof, that one Alcy Merrett, had borrowed one hundred and twenty-five dollars of the defendant, who took a note at twelve months for one hundred and thirty-nine dollars, on which he brought suit and obtained a judgment, and sued out a fi. fa. This execution was returned "satisfied," by the sheriff, and was so entered on the clerk's execution docket. There was no evidence of the money being paid to the defendant, unless the above return and entry be considered such evidence. His Honor being of opinion against the plaintiff, he submitted to a non-suit and appealed.
W. A. Graham, for the plaintiff, contended, that the return of satisfaction on the execution by the sheriff, and its entry on the clerk's docket, was prima facie evidence of a receipt of the money by the plaintiff in the execution. That the receipt by the sheriff was a receipt by the plaintiff; and he referred to the case of Dawell v. Vannay, 3 Dev. Rep. 43.
J. T. Morehead, for the defendant, insisted, that an actual receipt by the lender was necessary to constitute an usurious taking; and in support of his position, cited the cases of Isom v. Johns, 2 Mumf. Rep. 272, and Cator v. Stokes, 1 Maule Selw. 600.
— The offence of usury is not complete until the lender has actually received the excess of interest in money, or money's worth. Maddock qui tam v. Hammet, 7 Term Rep. 180. The defendant had made a loan of one hundred and twenty five dollars, and taken the note of the borrower at twelve months thereafter for one hundred and thirty-nine dollars. He obtained a judgment on the note, and sued out execution, and the sheriff returned the same "satisfied," and it was so entered on the clerk's execution docket. The question was, whether the after-mentioned return by the sheriff was sufficient evidence of the fact of the defendant's having received the amount of the execution, or the illegal excess of interest for the money loaned. The judge was of the opinion, that the return of the execution "satisfied," was not of itself sufficient evidence that the defendant had actually received usurious interest on the money loaned. The two authorities cited by the defendant's counsel, although not exactly in point, are very strong in support of the opinion of the judge. In assumpsit for money had and received, it is a rule that the plaintiff must prove that the money came into the hands of the defendant. 2 Stark. Ev. 62. In Isom v. Johns, 2 Mumf. Rep. 272, the Court held that money levied by the sheriff under an execution issuing on a judgment which is afterwards reversed, cannot be recovered back in assumpsit on a count for money had and received, without proof that the money was actually received by the plaintiff in that execution, or applied to his use. In Cator, Assignee, v. Stokes, 1 Maule Selw. 600, it was held, that the sheriff's return to a writ of fieri facias, that he has levied the money, is not sufficient evidence to prove that he has paid it over to the judgment creditor, so as to charge the latter with the receipt of it in an action for money had and received, brought by the assignees of the first defendant, a bankrupt. The defendant may have repented, and taken only the principal and legal interest; or it may be that he has never received either principal or interest. We are of the opinion, that the judgment rendered in this case was correct, and that the same must be affirmed.
PER CURIAM. Judgment affirmed.