Columbus Iron Works Co. v. Loudon

Trippe, Judge.

1. This was a proceeding to enforce a machinist’s lien arising under a contract made in 1871, and a motion to quash the execution thereon because it had been summarily issued on a foreclosure in the manner of foreclosing liens against steamboats. The right given to machinists to enforce their liens under the act of 1853 and 1854, pamphlet, pages 45 and 46, and as contained in section 1966, Irwin’s Revised Code, is governed by the same rules as those which applied to mechanics. Sections 1963 and 1964, Revised Code, require an action on the claim in cases of mechanics, with regular proceedings to verdict, judgment, etc. The facts in this ease do not bring it within the new provisions allowing mechanics in certain cases to use summary proceedings, and those provisions cannot cover it. There was no error in the judgment of the court below on this point: See 27 Georgia, 576; 32 Ibid., 515.

2. The further objection was set up that the motion was not properly made; that there should have been an affidavit^ as set forth in section 1970, Revised Code. No point is made on the fact that the motion was in the name of the assignee in bankruptcy. It is conceded that he stood, for the purposes of this motion, in the place of the debtor. If so, then as that debtor was entitled to the motion before his adjudica*435tion as a bankrupt, his assignee can move afterwards. Section 1970 requires the affidavit to be filed in cases where the amount or justice of the claim or the existence of the lien- is contested. Here neither one of these issues is made. The motion is simply to quash an execution because it was illegally issued upon proceedings which show that fact. If an ordinary execution issue without a verdict or judgment, or variant from them, and it so appears from the record, a motion to quash may be made. If the execution is being enforced by a levy, the defendant may be compelled, in order to stop its collection, to arrest it with an affidavit or by injunction. But if the defendant, at a term of the proper court, with notice to the proper parties, has a legal ground to quash the execution for illegality appearing on the face of it or in the record, he can avail himself of that ground by-way of motion. Nor do I say that this right is limited to those'cases where there is an illegality thus apparent. There may be cases in which such right exists, and which would have to be shown by aliunde proof. That point, however, does not arise in this case.

Judgment affirmed.