Opinion
December Term, 1838.
Lien Upon Land of Levy of an Attachment.
The levy of an attachment upon land creates such a lien upon it that, if there be a subsequent judgment of combination and a sale of the land under a writ of venditioni exponas, the title of the purchaser will supersede that of one claiming under a judgment and fieri facias posterior to the date of the levy of the attachment, but prior to the judgment of condemnation and venditioni exponas.
THIS was an action of ejectment, tried at Davie, on the last circuit, before his Honor, Judge Dick. Both parties claimed title under one Bennet Austin. The lessors of the plaintiff produced a judgment against the said Austin, entered up at August Term, 1836, of Rowan County Court, an execution thereon returnable to the ensuing term in November, and a deed from the coroner to themselves for the lands in controversy, which were sold under the said execution. The defendant showed in evidence the proceedings in an original attachment issued by himself against the said Austin, on 27 April, 1836, levied on the lands in controversy the same day, and returned to May Term, 1836, of Rowan County Court. He then showed a regular final judgment entered up on said attachment at the ensuing November term of the said court, a writ of venditioni exponas thereon, returnable to the ensuing term in February, under which the said lands were sold, and a deed to himself therefor from the sheriff.
No counsel appeared for either party in this Court. (524)
The only question presented to the court was whether the title passed to the lessors of the plaintiff by virtue of their purchase, under the execution issuing upon the judgment at August Term, 1836, or whether the levy of the attachment upon the lands in April, 1836, created such a lien as when consummated by a judgment of condemnation and a sale under a venditioni exponas issuing thereon, gave the defendant the better title. His Honor being of opinion in favor of the lessors of the plaintiff the jury found a verdict for them, upon which they had judgment and the defendant appealed.
The only question in the case submitted for the decision of this Court is, whether the levy under the defendant's attachment in April, 1836, which was prior to the date of the plaintiff's execution, created such a lien on the land as when condemned and sold under the writ of venditioni exponas, gave to the defendant the better title. We are of the opinion that it did. The case of Den on dem. of Amyett v. Backhouse 3 Murph., 63, establishes the proposition contended for on behalf of the defendant. We think that there must be a new trial.
PER CURIAM. Judgment reversed.
Doubted: McMillan v. Parsons, 52 N.C. 166.