prisoned had a right to an action for false imprison- tus, a host of passages from the Bible and Bacon's ment, but no such action would lie against the Essay “of Seditions and Tumults," "which whole king, who, according to the old maxim, could not essay,” he kindly says, “deserves the reading," and be a wrong-doer, ergo the king could not imprison. arrived at the conclusion that sedition was merely Thus he ingeniously endeavored to turn the most a synonym for discord. He next showed, at still despotic maxim of our books against the despot. greater length, that the word had no different sig. From this he proceeded to his main argument, viz., nification in law, and herein bore hardly upon Bracthat the cause assigned was too general and uncer- ton and his fellows, whom he termed obsolete tain, and here we have anticipated the well known authors, good for ornament but of no binding aucase of the general warrants under Geo. III. He thority, and (most fatal objection of all) too prone strongly urged that so far from “sedition” being to follow the civil law. He granted that the cause an offense known to the law, the word itself in a in the return was not traversable upon the present substantive form was not to be found in any statute occasion, but contended and cited the reports to or precedent, and quoted many authorities upon prove that there must at least be so much in the rethe vice of generality. He was followed by Mason, turn as if false would give the party aggrieved an afterward recorder of London, who did little but action in the case. Of Berkley's coercive power he reiterate Ask's able argument.

made short work, and as to the house-on-fire illusFor the king, Berkley, Serg't, answered success

tration “observe the true consequence of this arfully the objection that the sovereign could not im- gument — if my house be on fire my neighbor's prison, but calling to his aid the ancient writers, must be pulled down. Mr. Selden is seditious, Bracton and Britton, he went dangerously far, and ergo Mr. Herbert, his neighbor, must be imprisoned.” sought to establish a general coercive power, laying Finally to the Statute of Westminster, with its proit down that “in matter of government, to avoid vision that a man taken by commandment of the commotion, the king ought to use his coercive king should not be replivisable, he replied, “as oft power against those that are enraged." “ It is a as that statute is cited I will always cry out the case well known,” he said, “ that if a house be set Petition of Right! The Petition of Right! As on fire every man may pull down the next house the king of France cried out, nothing but France ! for prevention of a greater mischief, so it seems France! when all the several dominions of the concerning the incendiaries of state, they ought to king of Spain were objected to him.” No one folbe restrained lest others should be stirred up by lowed Littleton, the counsel for the other prisoners them to the same combustion.” Upon the gener-being content to rely upon bis argument. ality of the return he drew a distinction between A few days after the attorney-general, Sir Robert the certainty needed in a return and in an indict- Heath, replied for the king, but signally failed to ment, and cited the ordinary return upon certain rebut Littleton's learned and convincing discourse. writs, the very name of which amaze our modern After boldly claiming that the Petition of Right, ears, such as “the taking of an apostate, the amov- being simply a confirmation of the ancient rights ing of a leper, the burning of an heretic, and the and liberties of the subject, did not in any way afburning of an idiot," and finally returning to his fect or help the prisoners' case he endeavored to high coercive notions he urged that the prisoners rehabilitate the battered word "sedition.” Refershould be restrained of their liberty, that the com- ring, amongst his other quotations, to the town monwealth might not be'damnified. Sergeant Daven- clerk of Ephesus, “who knew not how to answer port followed in the same strain, and upon the close for this day's sedition,” he observed, in passing, of the argument the case stood over till Trinity “that he wished the greater ones, to-day, were as Term.

circumspect as he was,” a remark, which read in On the first day of Trinity the writs of the other the light of the king's ultimate fate, has an appliprisoners came up, and for them Littleton (who af- cation somewhat different from that intended by the terward became chief justice of the Common Pleas, learned gentleman. Ultimately flying to his last and who, as solicitor general, argued for the crown resort, the pretended coercive power, he closed in in the Ship Money case) appeared. Admitting the this wise: "If any danger appear to you in the king's power to commit he proceeded to state, as prisoners' bailment I am confident that ye will not the main ground on which he relied, a proposition bail them, but first ye will consult with the king, which is, now we apprehend, the fundamental prin- and he will show you where the danger rests." ciple in habeas corpus cases, viz., “ that no freeman The court, to their credit, did not act in accordthat is imprisoned only for misdemeanor before ance with Mr. Attorney's suggestion. . Timid they conviction may be detained in prison without bail, undoubtedly were, as the sequel will show, but unless it be in some particular cases in which the neither so servile nor corrupt as certain historians contrary is ordained by any particular statute." have since represented then. Had they then held From this he proceeded to examine whether the re- their patents, as now, quamdiu se bene gesserint, we turn disclosed any thing more than a bailable mis- are inclined to think there would be little fault to demeanor, and at once fell foul of that unlucky find with their decisions, and till we are ourselves word "sedition.” In a lengthy disquisition as to perfectly indifferent to considerations of place and the true meaning of this term he quoted Livy, Taci- income we ought to have a little charity for their

moral cowardice. They fixed a day for judgment, BANKRUPTCY-DISCHARGE-ACTION BY BANK| and there seems to have been little doubt what

RUPT AFTER. ; their decision would be. The king at any rate felt

VERMONT SUPREME COURT. | uneasy, and resorted to the expedient of transfer; ring the prisoners to the Tower, sending an expla

LAFOUNTAIN V. SAVINGS BANK.* | natory letter to the judges. In this he told them

Uncollected usury does not pass to the assignee in bank. that he purposed that none of the accused should

ruptcy, and it may be collected by the debtor after his dis come before them “until we have cause given us charge in a suit in his own name. to believe they will make a better demonstration of A debtor, after his discharge, may sustain an action in his their modesty and civility, both toward us and own name to recover money paid under a mutual mistake, your lordships, than at their last appearance they

the assignee having settled the bankrupt estate without

attempting to enforce the claim, and the statute of limitadid.” Beneath this velvet sheathing the trem- tions having run so that it would be a bar to a second sult bling justices felt the impending sword, and on the in behalf of the creditors. appointed day, no prisoners of course appearing, they refused to give judgment

, alleging that * ASSUMPSIT in common counts. Plea, general is

sue, with an agreed statement of facts. Trial by would be to no purpose to do so, as the prisoners court, September Term, 1880, Chittenden county, Pierbeing absent could neither be bailed, delivered or

point, C. J., presiding. Judgment for the plaintiff.

The action was to recover ior usury, and for money remanded. Accordingly the nine members re

paid by a mutual mistake to the defendant. Pay. mained in durance throughout the long vacation.

ments of the usury and by mistake were admitted. Toward Michaelmas the king sent for the chief Afterward the plaintiff was adjudged a bankrupt by justice, who attended by one of his puisne justices,

the United States District Court, and an assignment of the distinguished Whitlock, waited upon him, and in

all his estate was made to the assignee in conform

ity with the provisions of the United States Bankrupt reply to his pressing questions informed him that the

Act. judgment of the court would be to bail the prison

Thereupon the assignee aforesaid undertook and ers, subject to their giving security for their good proceeded with the administration of said trust; but behavior. Although not too well pleased, Charles made no claim, nor attempted to collect of the defendput on a smiling face, telling them that “he would ant any of the aforesaid overpayments of interest; and never be offended with his judges, so they dealt

never knew of said two payments so made as aforesaid

by mutual mistake; and neither party discovered the plainly with him, and did not answer him by ora

same until after the bringing of this suit. The assignee cles and riddles."

settled the estate, and after paying some forty cents On the first day of term, Mason, of counsel for on the dollar to the creditors, was discharged. The the members, moved for judgment, and was in- plaintiff received his discharge from the court. formed of the decision of the court.

The prison

William G. Shaw, for defendant. ers however were now in the mind of St. Paul at W. L. Burnap and E. R. Hard, for plaintiff. Philippi, and by no means willing to secure their Ross, J. The exceptions, on the facts agreed upon liberty by compromise. Mr. Selden, speaking for by the parties, present two questions for considera. all, demanded to be bailed in point of right, “if it

tion. be not grantable of right we do not demand it,"

1. Did the uncollected usury paid by the plaintiff to

the defendant before the adjudication of bankruptcy, said he. Serg't Ashley offered his own bail for his

pass under the late general bankruptcy law to the as son-in-law, Hollis, but Hollis refused to join in the signee of the plaintiff? The solution of this question bond, and Long, whose sureties for good behavior depends mainly upon the wording of the statute of were actually in attendance, discharged them and Vermont in regard to usury, and the decisions of the cast in his lot with his brethren. Thus they all

court construing and interpreting that statute. The

language of the bankrupt act is broad and comprehencheerfully returned to prison, esteeming loss of lib

sive; and probably the language, “all his rights of acerty a lighter thing than voluntary surrender of

tion for property or estate, real or personal, and for their rights. The victory was theirs, and although any cause of action which he had against any person some died in prison, none were conquered. Doubt- arising from contract, or from the unlawful tak. less they looked for speedy deliverance from Par

ing or detention or injury to the property of the bankliament, but for ten years no Parliament was sum

rupt,” is broad and comprehensive enough to include

usury as it exists under most of the State laws. moned. Their captivity became gradually relaxed,

Many decisions, both by State and United States and at length merely formal, and when at length courts, cited by the defendant's counsel, have ad the king was compelled to call his commons to- judged that usury under the statutes brought under gether, and the famous Long Parliament met, their

consideration passed to the assignee, and that he alove turn came. That Parliament forgot no old scores,

had the right to recorer it for the benefit of the estate

of the bankrupt. In some of the cases the statute did and in the midst of all its pressing labors found

not give the right to recover the usury paid to any one time to recompense the sufferers of 1629.

Each

in terms. This is the case under the National Banksurvivor received £5,000, and to the deceased Sir ing act. In other cases the statute gave the right to Miles Hobart a monument was erected. The noble recover to the person paying the usury to freedom which our race on both sides of the Atlan

his legal representatives. These decisions fur-
nish but little aid

whether tic enjoy to-day remains the common monument of

in determining

usury under our statute passes to the assignee in bankall its builders, amongst whom are numbered our

ruptcy. The language of our statute confines the right pine members.

*To appear in 56 Vermont Reports,

or

to recover back usury to the person paying the same. right of redress which is personal to the party injured,
The decisions bave never extended this right beyond and which he may decline to euforce at his election);
such person. It was early held that it could not be at- and though the statute has given a form of action in
tached by trustee process. Barker v. Esty, 19 Vt. 131. assumpsit by which a party who has paid usury may
As this process is the only one by which a creditor can recover it back, yet tbis remedy, iv legal contempla-
avail himself of uncollected usury, this decision tion, is no less a mode of redressing an injury caused
places it beyoud the reach of the creditors of the per- / by personal wrong and oppression than if the action
son paying it. If the creditor cannot, while the per- sounded wholly in tort."
son paying usury is solvent, avail himself of it in sat- The construction thus placed upon tbe statute in re-
isfaction of his debt, it is difficult to comprehend bow, gard to usury by the highest court of the State, and
when he becomes insolvent, his assignee can avail him- adhered to for so many years, is not only binding upon
sell of it for the benefit of the creditors of the bank- this court and the citizens of the State, but upon the
rupt. In this early leading case usury is held, not to Federal courts. The Federal courts have by repeated
be a debt or credit of the person who has paid it, iu- decisions acknowledged the binding force and effect of
trusted or deposited in the hands or possession of the the decisions of the highest State court in constru-
person receiving it, but rather a personal statutory ing the statutes of its owu State when such decisions
right given to the person paying it to redress a wrong | had been uniformly the same way. The only decis-
personal to himself, and to punish the person receiv- ions of this court which in tendency and holding are
ing it, for the commission of the wrong, as a part of the claimed not to be uniform with the cases already cited
police regulations of the State; in legal essence a tort, are Roberts v. Burton, 27 Vt. 396, in; which it is held
as for money extorted by duress, iu form of remedy that a claim for usury survives against the estate of
ex contractu-assumpsit for money had and received, the party recovering it, and Ewing v. Griswold, 43 Vt.
or goods sold aud delivered. Whether he will enforce 400, in which it is held that usury paid may be pleaded
the remedy, redress the wrong, and recover back the in set-off to an action on contract. The latter decis.
money paid as usury, is at the option and election of iou can well be placed upon the ground that its allow-
the person against whom the wrong has been commit- ance would produce no incongruity in pleading, the
ted, the person paying the usury. Low v. Prichard, remedy prescribed for the recovery back of usury
36 Vt. 191. The statute against usury is for the pro- being assumpsit or contractwise, though for the re-
tection of the borrower only. Austin v. Chittenden, 33 dress of a tort in essence. The former decision is
Vt. 553. Money paid as usury, eo nomine, that is, placed upon the common ground that the receipt of
when it is not included in the security, nor paid as a the usury has increased the assets of the estate, and so
part of the debt, a surety cannot avail himself of, in re- survives the debt of the intestate. Neither decision
duction of the debt. Ward v. Whitney, 32 Vt. 89; | gives a character to usury different from that stated in
Churchill v. Cole, id. 93. For recent cases holding that Nichols v. Bellous, supra. Whatever may have been
the right to recover usury is strictly personal, and con- decided by other courts in regard to usury under other
fined to the person paying the same, see Cady v. statutes passing to the assignee under the late bank-
Goodnow, 49 Vt. 400; Reed v. Eastman, 50 id. 67; La- rupt law, we adhere to the doctrine announced in
moille County Nat. Bank v. Bingham, id. 105; Spauld- Nichols v. Bellows, supra, that right to recover back
ing v. Davis, 51 id. 77; Richardson v. Buker, 52 id. 617. usury under the provisions of the statute is but a
There is an unbroken line of decisions of this court, in right to redress a wrong personal to the party paying
whatever light and form the question has been pre- it, to be exercised or foregone at his option alone, and
sented, holding that the right to recover back usury is did not pass to the assignee under the provisions of
strictly personal, confined to the payer.

the late National bankrupt law. It is not a right of
The language of the National bankrupt law of 1841 action, arising from the unlawful taking, detention
in regard to what property of the bankrupt passed to or injury to the property of the bankrupt," but a
the assignee was quite as broad and comprebensive right to redress a personal wrong, which the bankrupt
as that of the recent bankrupt law. In its language alone can exercise. On these views the plaintiff is
"all property and rights of property of every name entitled to recover in his own name the amount which
and nature, whether real, personal or mixed,” of the the parties have agreed he paid the defendant, as in-
bankrupt passed to the assignee. Under this act Judge terest in excess of six per cent.
Prentiss, as United States District judge, held that un- 2. The other question presented is, can the plaintiff,
collected usury, under the statute of this State, passed on the facts and circumstances detailed, recover for
to the assignee of the bankrupt. Moore v. Jones, 23 the money which he paid to the defendant by mutual
Vt. 739. This decision was rendered in 1848. The mistake prior to the time he was adjudged a bank-
year following the same question came before this rupt? This is a claim for money or property, the
court in Nichols v. Bellows, 22 Vt. 581, and on full con- right, title and estate to which, by the adjudication in
sideration it was held that it did not pass to the as- bankruptcy, vested in and passed to the assignee. Im-
signee. This latter decision has been recognized and mediately upon the payment of the money by mutual
approved, although the question was not then before mistake the law implied a promise from the defendant
the court, in Churchill v. Cole, 32 Vt. 93; Low v. Prich- to repay it to the plaintiff. The right to recover this
ard, 36 id. 191; Ewing v. Griswold, 43 id. 400; Streit claim therefore accrued to the plaintiff. The question
V. Waugh, 48-id. 301.

is, is the plaintiff on the facts and circumstances of The opinion in Nichols v. Bellows was delivered by this case barred from the exercise of this right? The the then Chief Justice Ryce, who with his usual defendant contends chat he is; that inasmuch as the clearness and force, in speaking of the language of the "title and estate " to this claim by the adjudication bankrupt act of 1841, above quoted, and of usury as ex- in bankruptcy passed to the assignee, he alone, until isting under our statute, characterizes them in the fol- he has parted with the claim, cau exercise the right to lowing language:

recover back the money. The industry of the defend“This sweeping enactment undoubtedly extended ant's counsel has produced a large number of cases, to everything which would go to make up a full inven- both English and American, in which it has tory of the bankrupt's estate-all his means consisting beert held that the assignee

the proper, of tangible property and rights of property, which

aud the only

proper party to recover such could be expected to be made available for the pay- a claim. In nearly all the cases cited the assignee ment of debts. But the right to sue for torts is not a was in the active exercise of the functions of his office. right of property in any such sense. It is simply a In some the bankrupt had commenced & suit on the

was

a

*

*

*

*

*

com

ground that the claim did not pass to the assignee,and bly pass by force of the decree in bankruptcy to the the question was who was the proper party to prose- assiguee by operation of law, and become vested in cute the suit? To whom did the claiın belong? A him as soon as he is appointed. But though the legal careful examination of all the cases cited by the de- title passes to the assignee, he is not bound, said Judge fendant's counsel on this point, with certain excep- Ware, to take possession of all property. Leasehold tious hereinafter noticed, shows simply this and noth- estates pass to the assignee under the English banking more, that if the claim in contention passed to rupt laws; but the assiguee is not bound to take the the assignee, and the defendant plead the adjudica- lease and charge the estate with the payment of the rent tion in bankruptcy, the appointment of the assignee, as the reut may be greater than the value of the lease, and that the claim passed to him, standing on that plea, and thus the estate may be burdened instead of being the defendant was entitled to judgment. The defend- benefited; and in such a case the claim may be abanant's counsel contends that after the adjudication of doned by the assignee. He is not bound in such a case bankruptcy such claims must be prosecuted in the to take the property; it remains in the bankrupt; and name of the assignee.

no one certainly, except the assiguee, has a right to It is evident however that the defendant's implied dispute his possession. Copeland v. Stephens, 1 Barn. promise in this case, and wherever the action is upon

& Ald. 603; Fowler v. Down, 1 Bos. & Pul. 44." contract and an actual promise, such promise is to the bankrupt. On general princi- “Robison says it has long been a recognized principles it would not seen that the defendant should ple of the bankrupt law that the assignees of a bankbe allowed to object to such promise or contract being rupt are not bound to take property of an onerous or enforced iu the name of the person to whom he act- unprofitable character, or property which will be a ually or impliedly made it, provided he could be pro- burden instead of a benefit. They are on that subject tected against a re-enforcement of it.

regarded as being in a very different position from In Cook v. Lansing, 3 McLean, 571, cited by de- that of the executors of a deceased testator, as the forfendant's counsel, it is said: “But all suits

mer take the property by operation of law, while the menced after the appointment of the assignee should latter claim title through their testator, and are bound be brought in his name, or at least prosecuted for the to perform his obligations to the extent of his assets. benefit of the creditors whom he represents.” It is the Robison's Bankruptcy, 822. Where the assiguee right of the assignee to have the avails of the claim to elects not to take the rights of the bankrupt, and distribute among the creditors of the bankrupt. If charge the estate with the burden of uncertain litigathe assignee elects to collect it in the name of the bank- tion, the right, whatever it is, survives in the bankrupt, what legal objection can the defendant raise? rupt, and some of the authorities hold that it may be His legal obligation is to pay it to the bankrupt in the pursued by any creditor not a party to the proceedings first instance, but the bankrupt law intervenes and de- in bankruptcy. Smith v. Gordon, 6 Law Rep. 317. clares that the title and estate therein shall vest in the Persons acting as assignees in such a case are required assignee for the benefit of his creditors in the first in- to elect within a reasonable time; and the rule is that stance, and the surplus, if any, for the benefit of the if they refuse to elect when required to do so it is bankrupt.

deemed an election to reject the estate. Lawrence v. If A. holds a non-negotiable claim against B., Knowles, 5 Bing. (N. C.) 399; Carter v. Warne, 4 C. & and sells it to C., and C. notifies B. of such P. 191 ; Graham v. Van Dieman's Land Co., 11 Exch. purchase, by such sale all the title and estate 101; E. parte Brand, 1 Dea. 321; Tuck v. Fyson, 6 in such claim passes to C., and B. thereafter can Bing. 321.". The authorities cited fully sustain the doclegally discharge it only by payment to C. C. could trine announced by the learned judge. not, as the assignee in bankruptcy can, sue the This doctrine has been followed and applied in Towle claim in his owu name, but by the sale took the right v. Rowe, 58 N. H. 394, and Ramsey V. Fellows, to enforce it in the name of A. He also conferred upon id. 607. It shows that both under the English and B. the right and legal duty to pay it to C., and he American bankrupt laws the right to enforce a con. could insist that A. should not enforce it in his own tract or legal duty in the name of the bankrupt is not right. Because the title and estate in the claim in taken away by the adjudication in bankruptcy and the contention passed to the assignee, and by force of the appointment of an assignee; that this still exists so far bankrupt law the assignee was empowered to bring a as the defendant is concerned or interested by consuit upon it in his own name, it does not follow that tract or legal duty and obligation, and that the dethe defendant was thereby clothed with the right to fendant is only concerned, and has the right to be proobject to its enforcement in the name of the plaintiff, tected against the danger of being subjected to two except that it should be so enforced that it could not suits and a double payment of the claim transferred by again be enforced against him in the name of the as- operation of the bankrupt law to the assignee. When signee. Suppose the claim is burdened with an oner- that danger has passed his right to object to a suit in ous condition, so that it is doubtful if any thing will

the name of bankrupt is gone. This is consonaut with be gained to the estate by its enforcement, the decision of this court in Udall v. School District,

that it is of doubtful character, and 48 Vt. 588, in which it is held that on the sale of a nonthe assignee refuses to accept the burden or to incur negotiable claim by the assignee to the bankrupt, the the expense of the litigation, and for that reason re

baukrupt could maintain a suit thereon' in his owu nounces his right to the claim, is it in the power of the

As the bankrupt law did not make a non-nedefendant to say that his duty or contract obligations | gotiable claim negotiable, even in the hands of the asto the bankrupt are thereby discharged, and that the

signee, but simply empowered him to sue it in his own bankrupt is barred from calling on him in that be

name, when the assignee's right to the avails of the half?

claim became extinguished as between him and the In the well-considered case of Amory v. Laurence, 3 bankrupt, the right of the defendant to object to Cliff. 527, Judge Clifford, speaking on this subject, says a suit in the name and for the benefit of the bankrupt the bankrupt’s "title, in case of onerous property also ceased. None of the cases cited by the defendwhere the assignee elects not to take it into possession, ant's counsel contravene the doctrine announced by is good against all the world, except the assignee or Judge Clifford, supra; but some of them recog. some one to whom he conveyed the property.” Smith nize it. v. Gordon, 6 Law Rep. 317 “All property and rights In Gay v. Kingsley, 11 Allen, 345, Chapman, J., says: of property belonging to the bankrupt, unquestiona- “He (the bankrupt) might hold it (the note) as his own

or

a

name.

to any other person, and that it the right became INJUNCTION against opening an alley. The opin