text:
    GULF NAT. BANK v. BASS et al.
    (No. 5438.)
    (Court of Civil Appeals of Texas. San Antonio.
    March 17, 1915.
    Rehearing Denied June 30, 1915.)
    1. Appeal and Error <&wkey;101 — Judgments Appealable — Appointment oe Receiver.
    Where an order is entered dissolving a temporary injunction and denying the application for the appointment of a receiver, that part of the order refusing to appoint the receiver is not appealable; it being interlocutory, and not included within Rev. St. 1911, art. 2079, providing for an appeal from an interlocutory order appointing a receiver.
    [Ed. Note. — Eor other cases, see Appeal and Error, Cent. Dig. §§ 681-6S7; Dec. Dig. <&wkey; 101.]
    2. Garnishment <&wkey;120 — Equitable Aid to Writ — Receivership—Injunction.
    Where a valid garnishment merely reaches a debt due by the garnishee, such garnishment ■will not be aided by the appointment of a receiver to collect the debt or the issuance of an injunction to restrain the debtor from assigning it.
    [Ed. Note. — For other cases, see Garnishment, Cent. Dig. §§ 241, 242; Dec. Dig. &wkey;120.]
    3. Pledges <&wkey;56 — Sale of Collateral.
    Since the law does not require the doing of that which is useless, it is unnecessary to obtain an order to sell collateral, where such collateral was worthless, notwithstanding that the judgment upon which the order is based provided therefor.
    [Ed. Note. — For other cases, see Pledges, Cent. Dig. §§ 152-183; Dec. Dig. &wkey;56.]
    4. Creditors’ Suit <&wkey;7 — Grounds of Remedy-Garnishment.
    Since a creditors’ bill will not lie to subject a chose in action to the payment of a debt except in cases of fraud, or a trust, a judgment creditor who has garnished a debt owing to the debtor from an executrix cannot invoke the aid of equity to restrain the debtor from assigning such claim.
    [Ed. Note. — For other cases, see Creditors’ Suit, Cent. Dig. §§ 3, 9-11; Dec. Dig. &wkey;>7.]
    Appeal from District Court, Bexar County ; R. B. Minor, Judge.
    Action by the Gulf National Bank against C. D. Bass and others. From an order dissolving a temporary injunction and denying the application for the appointment of a receiver, plaintiff appeals.
    Affirmed. •
    Terrell, Walthall & Terrell, of San Antonio, for appellant. James Routledge, of San Antonio, for appellees.
   MOURSUND, J.

On November 28, 1914, appellant sued C. B. Bass and Luisa Wil-helmi, executrix of the estate of Dolores G. Wilhelmi, alleging: That on or about March 27, 1913, in the district court of Jefferson county, plaintiff recovered a judgment against C. L. Bass, T. H. Bass, and Mally Eastham for $3,468.33, with interest thereon at 8 per cent, per annum, together with costs amounting to $19.75; that execution was issued within 12 months from its date, and returned unsatisfied; that said judgment had not been appealed from, vacated, superseded, or satisfied either in whole or in part; that plaintiff is the sole owner of said judgment; that neither of the defendants therein has, within the knowledge of plaintiff, any property in this state subject to execution; that plaintiff has made diligent search to discover property out of which the judgment might be satisfied, but its efforts have been fruitless, except in this: (a) The defendant O. L. Bass has performed legal services for the former administrator and also for the present executrix of the estate of Dolores G. Wilhelmi, deceased, in connection with the affairs of said estate, and has filed in the county court of Bexar county his claim against said estate for his services, and upon a hearing and consideration of said claim the Hon. J. R. Davis, judge of said county court of Bexar county, approved the claim to the extent of $7,500, and thereupon duly entered an order in the records of said court fixing the amount to be paid defendant Bass as a second-class claim against said estate, a copy of-said order being attached to the petition, (b) Plaintiff has had a writ of garnishment sued out against the executrix of said estate. Plaintiff further alleged that the approximate value of said estate is $60,-000, and that it is informed and believes that all first-class claims against the estate have been paid and satisfied; that in due course of time the claim against Bass will be paid, and in justice and equity plaintiff should have its judgment satisfied out of the amount due defendant Bass by reason of the premises; that said Bass is now endeavoring to assign his said judgment against the estate to others, and if permitted to do so will thereby, in the judgment of affiant, remove said claim beyond the reach of his creditors in general, and this plaintiff in particular, and that unless restrained from so doing by the proper order of this court he will complete the assignment of the judgment, thereby defeating this plaintiff from the collection of its debts, and make it impossible for plaintiff to reach said claim or the proceeds thereof by any legal process whatever; that the said writ of garnishment was also issued against D. E. Potter and H. H. Shelton, parties to whom plaintiff is informed defendant Bass is endeavoring to sell said judgment; and that by the issuance and service of said writ affiant believes that plaintiff' has obtained a fixed right in and to a sufficient part of said claim to pay its judgment, but plaintiff fears that in some way said Bass may assign said claim to others who may claim to be innocent purchasers, and thereby plaintiff’s right to payment of its judgment out of said claim may be jeopardized or delayed, and plaintiff be thereby irreparably injured. Plaintiff prayed that a receiver for said fund be appointed who shall receive same when it is ready to be paid by said executrix, and that defendant Luisa Wilhelmi be required to pay such fund over to said receiver instead of to Bass; that Bass' be enjoined from assigning or in any manner transferring said claim and fund or any part thereof or interest thereon pending the trial of this case; and that the receiver so appointed be required to apply a sufficient amount out of said fund to plaintiff’s judgment to satisfy same and to pay the balance over to defendant Bass or other intervening creditors, and for general relief.

The court ordered the issuance of a writ of injunction “restraining and enjoining the defendant G. L. Bass from assigning or in any manner transferring Ms claim against the estate of Dolores G. Wilhelmi, now being administered in the connty court of Bexar county sitting in matters of probate, until the further order of this court.”

On December 3, 1914 defendant O. L. Bass filed an answer consisting of a general demurrer, special exceptions, and allegations to the following effect: That the judgment against T. H. Bass, O. B. Bass, and Mally Eastham provided for an order of sale to be issued commanding the sheriff to sell 25 shares of stock of Union Trust Company of San Antonio, Tex., which shares had been pledged as security for the debt sued on; that the only process ever issued was an ordinary writ of execution; that the judgment was procured by fraud, accident, and mistake; that plaintiff in this suit knew, or ought to have known, the facts; and that this suit was brought by plaintiff maliciously for the purpose of harassing and oppressing defendant, by reason of which he prayed for the recovery of actual damages in the sum of $500 and exemplary damages in the sum of $5,000. T. H. Bass joined in the answer for the purpose of suing plaintiff for $8,000, and prayed that enough of said sum be offset against plaintiff’s judgment to satisfy the same and that he (T. H. Bass) have judgment for the remainder.

Plaintiff filed a supplemental petition consisting of a general demurrer, various special exceptions, denials of the allegations in the answer, admitting however that no order of sale commanding the sale of the twenty-five shares of stock had ever been issued, but alleging that said stock was worthless upon the date of the judgment, and ever since has been worthless. Copies of the pleadings and motion for new trial, as well as answer thereto, in the original suit, were attached as exhibits.

On January 26, 1915, defendant C. L. Bass filed a motion to dissolve the temporary injunction. Plaintiff replied to this, alleging that, since the filing of the petition for injunction and receivership, the garnishment proceedings of the defendant Duisa Wilhelmi had been regularly transferred from the Fifty-Eighth district court to the court in which the injunction suit was pending.

On February 6, 1915, the court entered an order dissolving the temporary injunction and denying the application for the appointment of a receiver. This appeal is from such order.

No formal assignments of error are presented, but appellant’s contention is that it alleged a cause of action entitling it to the epuitable relief prayed for, regardless of whether or not the garnishment proceeding had the effect of fixing a lien upon the funds in the hands of the executrix. No appeal is permitted by law from that part of the order refusing to appoint a receiver, the same being an interlocutory order. Articles 2079, 2080, R. S. 1911; Turner v. Turner, 47 Tex. Civ. App. 392, 105 S. W. 237; Swearingen v. Swearingen, 165 S. W. 17. However, as the injunction was prayed for as a part of certain equitable relief sought to be obtained, it will become necessary, in deciding whether the injunction should have been dissolved, to consider whether as a part of the relief prayed for plaintiff was entitled to such injunction, which necessarily requires consideration of the question whether the petition and answer made a case entitling plaintiff to the equitable relief prayed for.

As garnishment proceedings have been instituted for the purpose of subjecting the same fund to appellant’s debt as is sought to be subjected thereto by the equitable proceedings prayed for, it becomes necessary to consider whether such proceedings affect the remedies sought to be obtained by invoking the aid of equity. It seems clear that, if the garnishment proceeding is effective to make the executrix liable to appellant if she pays the fund to appellee, such proceeding would not be aided in the least by merely restrain ing appellee from assigning the fund. Such assignment would not injure appellant’s rights.

In the ease of Noyes v. Brown, 75 Tex. 461, 13 S. W. 36, it was held that the writ of garnishment will not be aided by a court of equity; that it will not be supplemented by injunction or other proceeding in equity. This doctrine was approved in Cargill v. Kountze, 86 Tex. 395, 22 S. W. 1015, 25 S. W. 13, 24 L. R. A. 183, 40 Am. St. Rep. 853. See, also, Price v. Brady, 21 Tex. 620; Arthur v. Batte, 42 Tex. 161. To what extent this doctrine may be modified by our injunction statute as construed in the cases of Sumner v. Crawford, 91 Tex. 129, 41 S. W. 994, and S. W. T. & T. Co. v. Smithdeal, 104 Tex. 259, 136 S. W. 1049, need not be determined in this case, because, if the fund is subject to garnishment, the assignment thereof by appellee would not be prejudicial to appellant, and appellant would not be entitled, under the statute as construed in said cases, to an injunction in aid of the garnishment restraining appellee from making an assignment of the fund. Appellant contends that the rule so broadly stated in Noyes v. Brown was modified in the case of Carter Bros. v. Hightower, 79 Tex. 135, 15 S. W. 223, in which the court held that a simple creditor could not subject choses in action to the payment of his debt by means of receivership and injunction, and in discussing the case said:

“It is true that in a general sense a creditor who brings an action at law to recover a debt seeks to subject all of defendant’s property to the payment of his claim. But he cannot obtain relief as against any particular article or class of property, unless a lien be acquired upon it by the levy of an attachment or the service of a writ of garnishment.”

The court also stated, apparently with approval, that in Noyes v. Brown it was held that, even where a creditor has garnished a chose in action belonging to a debtor, equity-will not aid him to enforce it. We conclude that, if said case of Carter Bros. v. Hightower modifies the rule stated in Noyes v. Brown, such modification extends no further than that, in cases in which property of the debtor is reached by the writ of garnishment, circumstances may be shown which would entitle the creditor to invoke the aid of equity to preserve his rights in the property. When the writ- of garnishment reaches effects, the statute authorizes a judgment requiring the garnishee to deliver such effects to the sheriff to be sold in satisfaction of the judgment. Our courts have held that in such cases a lien or quasi lien similar to an attachment lien is created upon such effects. But this is a case in which a debt is sought to be reached by garnishment, and no lien is created thereon by service of the writ, but a money judgment may be taken against the garnishee (if the debt is subject to garnishment), which judgment is to be enforced like other judgments. Noyes v. Brown, supra; Wilson Hdw. Co. v. Duff, 54 Tex. Civ. App. 285, 117 S. W. 440; Bank v. Floeck, 17 Tex. Civ. App. 418, 43 S. W. 589; Focke v. Blum, 82 Tex. 436, 17 S. W. 770. In the last-cited case, it was held that a lien is created upon effects; but the court stated that it was important to beaif in mind the distinction between cases in which he holds effects. The very nature of the relief obtainable under the statute against a garnishee who is merely a debtor shows that a court would be doing something unnecessary and futile if he appointed a receiver to collect the debt and granted an injunction restraining the debtor from assigning it. There is no warrant in our law for such relief in aid of a valid garnishment which merely reaches a debt due by the garnishee. But, if the court were given such power, its judgment refusing to exercise it would not be reversed, where it is not made to appear that the legal remedy needs to be supplemented.

In view of the fact that it is an open question in this state whether the appellee’s claim against the estate of Wilhelmi is subject to garnishment, we must also consider whether appellant is entitled to the equitable remedies if his garnishment proceeding is without legal effect. If we decide that appellant would be entitled to equitable relief if the garnishment proceeding is of no effect, then we must pass upon the question whether the claim against the estate is subject to garnishment ; but if we conclude that, regardless of whether or not the garnishment proceeding is effective, appellant could not be granted the remedies prayed for in this suit, it will not be necessary to decide questions which will arise in the garnishment suit. If the fund is not subject to garnishment, it cannot be contended that a fruitless effort to secure the payment of appellant’s debt, by instituting garnishment proceedings, precludes appellant from invoking the equitable remedies sought to be obtained. The garnishment proceedings, if ineffective, would not place appellants -in any worse position than they were before the writ was 'served. Carter Bros. v. Hightower, 79 Tex. 136, 15 S. W. 223.

Under the equity rules relating to creditors’ bills, a receiver could be appointed for the benefit of one creditor. Beach on Receivers, c. 19. The law does not require the doing of that which is useless. Therefore it was unnecessary to sell the stock foreclosed upon in the judgment before issuing execution, said stock being shown to be worthless.

The petition being sufficient in so far as it shows that plaintiff is a judgment creditor who has exhausted his legal remedies .without avail, that is, if the garnishment is ineffective, we pass to the question whether in this state choses in action of the debtor can be subjected to the payment of a, judgment by the aid of equity. In the case of Price v. Brady, 21 Tex. 619, a doubt was expressed whether assistance would be given a judgment creditor to reach choses in action of his debtor in the absence of fraud or a trust. This doubt arises from the sharp conflict in both the English and American cases on the subject, each of the two lines of authority being supported by many able opinions. See note to Hall v. Henderson, 63 L. R. A. 673; also, note to Raymond v. Blancgrass, 15 L. R. A. (N. S.) page 977; Pomeroy’s Equity Jurisprudence, § 1415. The editor of L. R. A., summing up in his note (63 L. R. A. 673), says:

“The idea which has seemed to possess the minds of most of the American judges appears to have been that things in action of a judgment debtor should, in justice, be liable to be subjected to the payment of his debts; and the opposite idea that such an one might, through having his means invested in property of this character, be enabled to live in affluence, while his creditor might be in need of the necessaries of life, was so repugnant to their sense of right that there was a straining- for means to take and subject such property to its naturally legitimate function of satisfying its owner’s indebtedness. This desire on the part of such judges led them to cast about for a remedy, and the only power that appeared to afford it was equity. They began by saying, in effect, that, inasmuch as choses in action are not liable to seizure on an execution against property, they should be included in what were known as equitable assets, and as such might be subjected to the satisfaction of the judgment. The result has been that in a considerable majority of the American jurisdictions the right to thus subject things in action in equity has been approved.”

In the case of Taylor v. Gillean, 23 Tex. 517, the conflict in the authorities was discussed, but the question was left undecided. The cases of Railway v. McDonald, 53 Tex. 515, Railway v. Butler, 56 Tex. 509, and Railway v. Hume, 59 Tex. 47, involved a trust, and in such cases both lines of authority agree that equity will aid the judgment creditor. In the case of White Sewing Machine Co. v. Atkeson, 75 Tex. 330, 12 S. W. 812, the case of Railway v. McDonald, supra, was discussed and distinguished. The question was again briefly discussed, but no conclusion announced; the court contenting itself with an expression of doubt whether the remedy by equity to subject choses in action to the payment of a judgment should be held to exist.

In the cases of Noyes v. Brown and Garter Bros. t. Hightower, supra, it was held that plaintiff who has no lien upon choses in action cannot through the equitable proceedings of an injunction and a receivership subject such choses in action to the payment of his debt. But in neither of the cases was plaintiff a judgment creditor, and it was a general rule in equity that a creditor’s bill would not be entertained unless the claim had been reduced to judgment. Pomeroy’s Equity Jurisprudence, § 1415; Beach on Receivers, § 612.

In the ease of Cargill v. Kountze Bros., 86 Tex. 395, 22 S. W. 1015, 25 S. W. 13, 24 L. R. A. 183, 40 Am. St. Rep. 853, it was held that bills of discovery were abolished in Texas, and the court in discussing the question said:

“And it seems to us the general trend of our decisions is to confine creditors to their statutory remedies, and not to aid them in a court of equity, except in cases of trusts and frauds. Our courts will at the instance of a creditor set aside a fraudulent conveyance of a debtor, so as to subject the property to sale under execution, and to enable the creditors to realize at such sale a fair price. But this court has never countenanced a proceeding to make the debtor apply his assets to the payment of a judgment against him, or to compel him to disclose his assets, so that an execution may be levied or a writ of garnishment served to reach them; and we are of opinion that, in the absence of a statute conferring authority for the proceeding, it should be held that none exists.”

This bolding was based largely, if not entirely, upon the fact that law and equity were blended into one system by our statutes at the same session of the Congress of the Republic at which the common law was adopted, and. at the same time a system of procedure established which was borrowed from the practice, both of the courts of law and those of equity, and writs peculiar to courts of equity were prescribed for by statutory regulation. That the statutory remedies are not adequate to supply those known to equity, we think, is clear, and that there is room for a difference of opinion as to whether our lawmakers ever intended to do away with the proceedings by creditors’ bills in aid of execution and to discover assets. The other side of the question is ably presented in the opinion of Chief Justice Garrett in said case of Cargill v. Kountze Bros. See 22 S. W. 227. The question is not presented to us as an original one, but as one upon which our Supreme Court took a decided stand more than 20 years ago, and no legislation has been passed to meet that decision. That decision did not directly deny the right of a judgment creditor to subject choses in action which cannot be reached by statutory remedies to the payment of his debt by means of a creditors’ bill, nor have we found anj-ease in which that question has been directly decided, but the statements made therein, and in other cases cited above, have been generally accepted by the bar as settling, the question by denying the aid of equity, except in cases of fraud or a trust. Our Supreme Court appears to have been of the opinion that the laws of _this state did not permit any remedy, the effect of which would be to make the debtor apply his assets to the payment of a judgment; but cases arise in which the chose in action could be subjected to the payment of the debt without any proceedings against the debtor, except to enjoin him from assigning the same and no good reason exists, ir£ our opinion, why in such cases the chose in action should not be applied to the payment of a judgment just as property subject to execution is applied to such purpose.

We conclude that the ancient remedies in equity have been denied to such an extent by our Supreme Court that it may be accepted as settled that a creditors’ bill will not lie to subject a chose in action to the payment of a debt except in cases of fraud or a trust. But surely, if our statutory remedies must be depended on to accomplish the purposes accomplished by the broad powers of equity, a liberal construction thereof to promote justice should be given as is required by section 3 of the final title of our statutes.

■ We conclude that, under the decisions of our courts, the trial court was correct in holding that the equitable relief prayed for should not be granted regardless of whether or not the fund was subject to garnishment.

The judgment is affirmed.
      ©^For other oases see same topic and KEY-NUMBBR in all Key-Numbered Digests and Indexes

      <@E5>For other cases see same topic and KEY-NUMBER in all Key-Numbered Digests and Indexes


source: Caselaw Access Project

author: MOURSUND, J.

license: Public Domain

text:
    CITY OF SAN ANTONIO v. STEINGRUBER.
    (No. 5528.)

    (Court of Civil Appeals of Texas. San Antonio.
    June 9, 1915.
    On Motion for Rehearing, June 30, 1915.)
    1. MUNICIPAL CORPORATIONS <&wkey;165 — OE-eicebs — Salary—Actions—Defenses.
    Where a municipal officer, who was removed from office without warrant of law before expiration of his term, sued for the salary of his office, it is for the municipality to plead and prove that the salary was paid to a de facto officer, and the petition need not in the first instance deny that fact.
    [Ed. Note. — For other cases, see Municipal Corporations, Cent. Dig. §§ 373, 374; Dec. Dig. <&wkey;>165.]
    2. Municipal Corporations &wkey;»162 — Officers — Salaries.
    The salary or emolument annexed to a public office is incident to the office and not to its occupation and exercise, and hence, where plaintiff was removed without authority of law, the fact that another discharged his duties will not deprive plaintiff of the salary attached to the office.
    [Ed. Note. — Eor other cases, see Municipal Corporations, Cent. Dig. §§ 357-367, 869, 372, 374; Dec. Dig. &wkey;162.]
    3. Municipal Corporations @=150 — Officers — Actions por Salary.
    That a municipal officer wrongfully removed did not, before the end of his term, institute proceedings to test the validity of the removal, does not show an abandonment of the office as a" matter of law, precluding recovery of salary after the expiration of the term.
    [Ed. Note. — Por other cases, see Municipal Corporations, Cent. Dig. §§ 383-337; Dec. Dig. @=3150.]
    4. Municipal Corporations @=165 — Officers— Salaries — Defenses.
    Where no proceeding was brought by an officer of a municipality to test the validity of his removal, an action after the expiration of his term to recover salary incident to the office, cannot be defeated on the ground that it was merely a proceeding collateral to the right to the office, and so could not be maintained until that was adjudicated.
    [Ed. Note. — Por other cases, see Municipal Corporations, Cent. Dig. §§ 373, 374; Dec. Dig. @=165.]
    5. Municipal Corporations @=162 — Officers — Salaries .
    An officer who was unlawfully removed, and whose place was taken by another, may recover the salary incident to the office, regardless of the ability of the city to recover from the unlawful incumbent.
    [Ed. Note. — Por other cases, see Municipal Corporations, Cent. Dig. §§ 357-367, 369, 372, 374; Dec. Dig. @=162.]
    6. Municipal Corporations @=150 — Officers — Abandonment.
    Where plaintiff voluntarily turned over his office, though the order of his removal was not valid, thereafter making no claim on the city for salary, although he informed his friends that he was ready to return to the office, and did not during the remainder of his term institute any proceedings to establish his title, there was an abandonment, precluding recovery of the salary incident to the office.
    [Ed. Note. — For other cases, see Municipal Corporations, Cent. Dig. §§ 333-337; Dec. Dig. &wkey;>150.]
    On Motion for Rehearing.
    7. Municipal Corporations @=162 — Officers — Salary.
    An officer who discharged no duties cannot recover salary incident to the office because of the defective appointment of his successor.
    [Ed. Note. — Por other cases, see Municipal Corporations, Cent. Dig. §§ 357-367, 369, 372, 374; Dee. Dig. &wkey;162.]
    Appeal from District Court, Bexar County; S. G. Tayloe, Judge.
    Action by Henry Steingruber against the City of San Antonio. Prom a judgment for plaintiff, defendant appeals.
    Reversed and rendered.
    Geo. R. Gillette and Robert G. Harris, both of San Antonio, for appellant. Ryan, Mat-lock & Reed and Theodore E. Simmang, all of San Antonio, for appellee.

       writ of error pending in Supreme Court!

   MOURSUND, J.

This is a suit by Henry Steingruber against the city of San Antonio. Thirty-five pages of the record are filled with pleadings, many exceptions being urged by each party, and supplemental pleadings as well as trial amendments being liberally indulged in. Por the sake of brevity, we will make a statement from all of the pleadings sufficient to show the issues of fact presented, and will not undertake to show what the exceptions were, until we reach them in disposing of the assignments of error.

Steingruber sued to recover money alleged to be due him as salary accruing to him as park commissioner of the city of San Antonio for the period beginning September 1, 1912, and ending May 31, 1913. It was alleged and admitted that he was duly and legally appointed to such office; that he had the qualifications prescribed by law; that he duly qualified, his commission was duly issued, and he entered upon the discharge of the duties of such office; that all necessary steps were taken to make his appointment legal and to provide for the payment of the salary of the office; that the office was legally created by ordinance, which gave such park commissioner the “direct supervision, control, and direction of all city parks and cemeteries, under the supervision of the mayor,” and fixed the salary at $1,500 per an-num ; that he continued to discharge the duties of the office until about August 30, 1912, when the mayor of said city attempted to discharge him, but that he was not discharged in the manner required by the charter of said city, no written reasons being filed with the city clerk, nor was the mayor’s act confirmed by the city council. Plaintiff also made the following allegations, which were denied by defendant, viz.: That he was ready, willing, and able to perform the services of said office until the expiration of the term on June 1,1913, but that the city refused to accept same, and illegally prevented him from so serving, and that about August 30, 1912, under orders of the mayor, one S. R. Walker forcibly took possession of said office and of the property of the city in plaintiff’s possession and under his control as park commissioner, and unlawfully ousted plaintiff therefrom, and defendant took plaintiff’s name off of the pay roll of the city.

Defendant made the following allegations, which were admitted by plaintiff, viz.: That plaintiff at no time brought suit for a mandamus to compel the restoration of the office he claims, nor did he at any time file a proceeding in the nature of quo warranto to oust the said S. R. Walker; that plaintiff at .no time after his alleged illegal discharge applied to the city auditor for the warrant for his salary of office, each month, such monthly warant being provided for by section 111 of defendant’s charter, effective for the full term of the office plaintiff claims the salary for.

Defendant made the following allegations, upon which issue was joined by plaintiff in accordance witli tlie statute, viz.: Tiiat by ¡ reason of tbe matters above pleaded, plaintiff abandoned and intended to abandon tbe office; tbat plaintiff delivered to Walker tbe possession of tbe office without demurrer and abandoned tbe office and any claim thereto; tbat until tbe filing of this suit plaintiff has in no way asserted any claim to said office, nor taken any steps to assert bis right thereto, but has acquiesced in bis discharge and engaged in other pursuits, and by reason of such facts intended to abandon and has abandoned tbe office, and is not entitled to the salary; tbat one S. R. Walker was duly appointed by the mayor of defendant city, and tbe appointment duly confirmed by the city council thereof, to the said office of park commissioner, on August 30, 1912; that immediately thereafter Walker qualified by taking the oath of office, a commission was duly issued to. him, and he entered upon tbe discharge of the duties of tbe office and continued to discharge tbe same until the expiration of the term, namely, May 31, 1913; that suqh appointment was for the portion of tbe term for which plaintiff claims salary, and said Walker applied monthly to the city auditor and received a warrant for the salary of such office, in the sum of $125; that by reason of the matters so alleged plaintiff is not entitled to recover the salary he sues for, but his action, if any he has, is solely against Walker. i

Plaintiff replied with the following allegations, which were admitted by defendant: That on or about August 29, 1912, plaintiff was directed by letter signed by the city clerk to turn over his office to S. R. Walker, but he refused to do so, although the city clerk purported to act for the mayor and under his orders; that thereafter, about August 30, 1912, A. H. Jones, mayor of said city, directed a written communication to plaintiff, stating that he had that day appointed S. R. Walker park commissioner of the city, beginning September 1, 1912, and directing plaintiff to deliver to said Walker all city property in plaintiff’s possession or under his control; that such communication was handed plaintiff by Walker; that under the ordinance creating the office held by plaintiff, he (plaintiff) was under the supervision of the mayor, who was the chief executive officer of the city; that pursuant to said instructions plaintiff delivered to Walker the property mentioned; that on or about November 3, 1913, plaintiff served notice on the city, through its clerk, that he demanded and prayed for payment of the salary of such office from September 1, 1912, which petition was refused or ignored. Plaintiff also made the following allegations, upon which issue was joined, viz.: That plaintiff was bound to obey the instructions given by the mayor as aforesaid, and the delivery of the property by him was compulsory; that he protested against the same, and never abandoned the office or any claim thereto, and has continuously asserted his title thereto; that said Walker on August 30, 1912, was, and ever since has been, insolvent; that the appointment and confirmation of Walker, as alleged, if true, was without authority of law for this, that plaintiff was the regularly appointed, qualified, and acting park commissioner of said city, had never been removed legally, and was the de jure officer, and that said alleged appointment of Walker was a trespass, and was fraudulently done for the purpose of illegally ousting plaintiff from said office, and in law constituted a fraud upon the part of said Walker, said mayor, and said city.

Defendant replied with the following allegations, upon which issue was joined, viz.: That plaintiff at no time after his removal until November 3, 1913, gave notice to the mayor, city auditor, or city council in any direct or formal way, or in a manner to actually charge defendant with notice, that he intended to sue for and was claiming the salary for his alleged term of office; that Walker possessed, at the time he was appointed and during the entire term of office, the necessary legal qualifications for appointment to such office; that said Walker’s appointment was designated as an appointment to the office of “park inspector,” when in fact it was an appointment to the office of “park commissioner,” and his confirmation was in fact to the office of “park commissioner,” although the confirmation was rqade to the position designated “park inspector”; that Walker took the oath of office in fact for the office of “park commissioner,” although such oath designates the office as that of “park inspector”; that said Walker, for the period of time beginning September 1, 1912, and ending May 31,1913, performed the duties of the office of “park commissioner”; that Walker received the salary incident to the office of park commissioner for such period of time, and during said time no person, other than Walker, performed the duties of the office of park commissioner, nor received the salary thereof. Defendant also alleged, and it was admitted, that there is no such office as “park inspector” in the city of San Antonio, the city council of said city never having created such office by ordinance.

The court rendered judgment in favor of plaintiff for $1,244.28, with interest from its date at the rate of 6 per cent, per annum.

Appellant contends that the general demurrer should have been sustained to plaintiff’s pleadings, because he failed to allege that the salary of the office in question was never paid to a de facto officer occupying and discharging the duties of the said office and receiving the salary incident thereto. We do not think it is necessary for plaintiff to allege that payment of the salary was not made to a de facto officer. If such payment is to be given the effect of releasing the city from paying plaintiff, we think it would be a matter of defense to be pleaded by the defendant. The first assignment is therefore without merit, but by assignments 9, 10 and 11 the appellant, having pleaded such payment as a matter of defense, contends that the undisputed evidence shows that the salary for the period sued for by plaintiff was paid to Walker, who during said time discharged all the duties of the office, and thus was a de facto officer, and contends further that, in view of such evidence, the judgment is erroneous. Our courts follow the rule that the salary or emolument annexed to a public office is incident to the title, to the office, and not its occupation and exercise. Beard v. City of Decatur, 64 Tex. 7, 53 Am. Rep. 735; Robinson v. State, 87 Tex. 562, 29 S. W. 649; Bastrop County v. Hearn, 70 Tex. 563, 8 S. W. 302; City of San Antonio v. Micklejohn, 89 Tex. 79, 33 S. W. 735; Brown v. Galveston Wharf Company, 92 Tex. 520, 50 S. W. 126.

In said case of Beard v. City of Decatur, it was held that municipal authorities cannot place the money of the city in the hands of the mayor to be by him disbursed,, and thereby defeat the right of the treasurer to commissions on money which should have been delivered to him and disbursed by him, and that the treasurer could recover from the city his commissions. The case of Bas-trop County v. Hearn was one in which proceeds of a bond issue had been disbursed by the county judge under order of the commissioners’ court, and it was held that the county treasurer could recover his commission. In the case of City of San Antonio v. Mickle-john, a city office was attempted to be abolished, but this was not done by ordinance as required by the charter, but merely by resolution, and the officer having offered to continue the performance of his duties, and having continued in possession of the books and records of his office, was held entitled to recover the salary. The case of Brown v. Galveston Wharf Company was one in which it was held that the president of a corporation was entitled to recover the salary of his office, as fixed by its by-laws, so long as he remained president, although incapacitated on account of illness from performing the duties of his office, and absent from the state. No question relating to emoluments was involved in the application for writ of error in the case of Robinson v. State. The court, in discussing the question of dismissing an application because the term of office had expired, stated that it had held in the case of Beard v. Decatur that an officer de jure, who has been illegally ousted, may maintain an action for the recovery of the fees of the office. In none of these cases, nor any others in. this state so far as we have been able to ascertain, was the question decided whether payment of the salary to a de facto officer releases the city from liability to the person illegally ousted. ' '

Mr. Dillon, in his work on Municipal Corporations (5th Ed.) § 429, after stating that in many jurisdictions the rule is as contended for by appellant herein, says:

“But the right of recovery under these circumstances is not denied in all jurisdictions. In some it is held that the salary annexed to a public office is incident to the title to the office ahd not to its occupancy and exercise, and that the right to compensation is not affected by the fact that an usurper — an officer de facto — has discharged the duties of the office and received payment.”

In McQuillin on Municipal Corporations, § 518, the statement is made that the rule contended for by appellant has often been applied, but further on in the same section it is said:

“However, the more reasonable rule has often been applied, namely, allowing the de jure officer the salary from the public fund, although it has been received by the de facto officer.”

An examination of the eases discloses that, even in jurisdictions in which it is held that the salary is incident to the title to the office and not to its occupancy and exercise, it has been held that payment of the salary to a de facto officer is a good defense to an action by the de jure officer to recover the same salary after he has acquired or regained possession. The courts so holding base their action upon the ground that it is in accord with public policy.

We have considered the cases cited, and conclude that in a case like this the fact alone that the salary is paid to a de facto officer should not affect the rights of the party legally entitled to the office. In a case where the de jure officer is wrongfully ousted, to hold that the mere fact that the salary is paid to. a de facto officer should deprive the de jure officer of his right to recover the same, regardless of whether or not such payment was made over his protest and despite reasonable efforts to prevent it, would be unjust, and we do not think such a rule should be announced by our courts. For an interesting discussion of this question see the case of Rasmussen v. Commissioners, 8 Wyo. 277, 56 Pac. 1098, 45 L. R. A. 295. Said assignments are overruled.

Appellant’s second contention is that the general demurrer to plaintiff’s pleadings should have been sustained, because there is no allegation to the effect that plaintiff instituted judicial proceedings to recover the possession of the office during the term thereof from the alleged illegal intruder therein, and that the said term expired before the determination of such proceedings, which allegation is asserted by appellant to be necessary when there is no allegation to the effect that the salary has not been paid to a de facto officer occupying and discharging the duties of said office. We do not think there is any merit in this contention. The institution of judicial proceedings, or the failure to institute the same, may be considered in deciding whether plaintiff abandoned the office, but we see no good reason for giving it conclusive effect. If proceedings bad been instituted prior to tbe expiration of tbe term tbe city would bave derived no benefit, unless sucb proceedings could bave been conducted to a final determination before tbe term expired. Tbe contention, as made, is an admission that the plaintiff’s rights would be preserved if be instituted a suit before the expiration of tbe term, even though the suit was not finally determined before tbe end of the term. We cannot see the justice in making the failure to institute legal proceedings conclusive evidence of abandonment, especially when the plaintiff, if he did not succeed in having the ease finally determined before the expiration of his term, would have bis case dismissed, and thus would be burdened with the payment of costs. McWhorter v. Northcut, 94 Tex. 86, 58 S. W. 720; Riggins v. Richards, 97 Tex. 526, 80 S. W. 524. It would reasonably ’follow, if such rule should be adopted, that the failure of the person ousted to secure a final adjudication during the remainder of his term, if attributable to his negligence, should prevent him from recovering. Also, that if the remainder of the term was so short as to make it apparent that a final adjudication could not be procured, the suit would be maintainable, for .the law would not require the doing of a useless thing. The second assignment is overruled.

Tbe contention made in tbe third assignment is that this is a collateral proceeding to recover an incident to the title; that it cannot be maintained until there has been an adjudication of the title, or such adjudication has become impossible to procure by reason of the expiration of tbe term. Such a rule is impracticable in view of the cases cited in disposing of the preceding assignment of error. The assignment is overruled.

The fourth assignment complains of the overruling of a special exception raising the same point discussed in considering the second assignment of error. The failure to institute proceedings to recover the office within the period of time covered by tbe term of office 'does not as a matter of law estop plaintiff from recovering the salary, or show a waiver of the right to recover the same, or constitute an abandonment of tbe office and its emoluments. Tbe assignment is overruled.

The fifth and seventh assignments are without merit and are overruled.

The sixth assignment complains of the overruling of a special exception directed against the allegation that Walker was and is insolvent. This allegation was in direct response to appellant’s pleading to the effect that plaintiff’s cause of action, if any existed, was against Walker. The allegation, we think, is immaterial, as we think the right to recover the salary is not dependent upon the solvency or insolvency of Walker, but appellant could not bave suffered any injury from the ruling of the court. The assignment is ■overruled.

By the eighth assignment it is contended that the evidence established the fact, as a matter of law, that plaintiff abandoned the office, and therefore he should not have been awarded a judgment for the salary.

Plaintiff construed the communications addressed to him by tbe city clerk and the mayor as notice that he was removed from the office of park commissioner. This is fully shown by his testimony. He told the city clerk that' the discharge would have to be signed by the mayor. On September 1, 1912, he told Walker he would not turn over the office unless he had a written direction from the mayor. After Walker presented the communication from the mayor, stating that he had appointed S. R. Walker “park inspector” of the city, beginning September 1, 1912, and directing plaintiff to deliver to said Walker all city property in plaintiff’s possession or under his control, plaintiff did deliver to Walker all such property. It took several days to turn the property over to Walker, said property consisting of tools and animals in the various parks. Plaintiff put in a claim for this time and was paid for the same at the rate of $125 per month. He testified that he thought he received pay for four days. Walker testified, and his testimony is not contradicted, that he and plaintiff got into a buggy and went out together to the parks; that they checked over and took an inventory of the tools, stock, and things of that kind-; that he assumed control at that time and has since held the same; that plaintiff introduced Walker to all the men working under him as the man that would take his position; that plaintiff made no protest against turning over the property. Plaintiff admitted that, although his salary was payable monthly and he had always collected the same at the end of the month, he never, after turning over the property to Walker, applied to the city auditor for a warrant for his salary. His explanation in regard to this matter was. as follows:

“I knew I was entitled to my salary every month. I didn’t think it was necessary to apply for my salary every month because at the end of my term I thought I was entitled to my salary. I thought so because I was appointed for two years. I thought at the end of the term, that it would be time enough then to apply for the salary. I expected that at the end of the term I would get all the salary.”

He testified that he did not institute judicial proceedings of any kind to recover the office or prevent the payment of the salary to Walker; that he made no protest against his removal to the mayor or city council, and made no application to the mayor or city, council for reinstatement. He knew that Walker entered upon the discharge of the duties of the office, and admitted that thereafter he (plaintiff) did not discharge any of the active duties of the office. He did tesüfy that he went out and looked around to see “how things went on,” that he was interested to see how things went on; but did not direct or supervise any of the work after that, and did not offer to do so to Mr. Jones, the mayor.

He also testified as follows:

“After I was removed and received this letter I wont up to the city clerk’s office almost every day for communications addressed to me, for letters and mail. Before I was removed I always reported to the mayor’s office, and to the city clerk’s office, too. I reported every day. After Mr. Walker presented that communication I was not up there every day, but very often. X did report to Alderman Richter, who was the mayor pro tern., and to Alderman Mauermann, who was chairman of the finance committee, and to Alderman Wicke-land, who was chairman of the committee on parks and plazas. They were all members of the city council at that time. I often talked to them. I reported to Mr. Wickeland, chairman of parks and plazas committee, that I was ready at any time to take the position, and that I would take the office at any time. That always came out in conversations we had about the parks. He was very much interested in them because he was the chairman. I did not meet Mr. Richter every day. I did not go to the city clerk’s office every day after Mr. Walker presented the mayor’s letter to me, but did go pretty often. I went up the same way as I did before Mr. Walker presented the mayor’s letter to me. I asked for communications, mail, and if there was anything new. I was at all times willing, able, and ready to serve the balance of my term.”

On cross-examination, he testified he did not know for how long after his discharge he went up to the city clerk’s office, but went up there for weeks afterwards, that he could not remember exactly for how many weeks. He also testified that he never attempted to get any orders from Mr. Jones, the mayor, after his discharge, but still considered that he was the legal officer after that time, and that he told Mr. Wickeland, one of the aider-men, and Mr. Richter, alderman and acting-mayor, that he was ready to receive orders at any time. He gave asa reason for not applying to Mr. Jones, the mayor, that the latter was awfully busy at that time. Pie did not testify during what period of time his conversations with said aldermen took place, or how long the mayor was so busy as to prevent him from applying to that official for orders.

Each officer, when he drew his salary at the end of the month, signed his name on the pay rolls of the city opposite a statement showing to whom, for what services, and what amount was paid. These pay rolls showed that plaintiff drew salary and signed the receipt as park commissioner for each month, beginning June, 1911, up to and including August, 1912, and that Walker drew the pay for such office for the period beginning September 1, 1912, and ending May 31, 1913. It was admitted that plaintiff never addressed a written communication to the mayor or city council after his removal and discharge, except the letter dated November 3, 1913, referred to in the pleadings. Said communication was as follows:

“The undersigned was unlawfully discharged as pax-k commissioner on September 1,1912, and he therefore pi-ays that he is paid his salary as such from that date at the rate of $125 per month.”

On September 23, 1912, the city council confirmed various appointments, among them that of S. R. Walker as “park inspector.” In the oath of office taken by Walker the office was designated as that of “park inspector." The commission issued to Walker designated the office as that of “park inspector.” There was no such office as “park inspector” of the city of San Antonio.

We conclude that the testimony conclusively shows that plaintiff abandoned the office to Walker. He did not ask for his salary for the month of September as park commissioner, but put in a claim for the few days he was engaged in delivering possession to Walker and acquainting Walker with the em-ployés engaged in caring for the parks. It is useless to contend that he merely delivered the property to Walker because Walker had been appointed “park inspector” and the mayor had ordered him to deliver the property to Walker. In other words, to contend that he made the delivery in the belief that he was being shorn of some of his duties, but not of his office. He understood that he was being discharged, that Walker was to have his office, and, as is indicated by the pleadings, he doubtless never realized until long after his term expired that Walker’s appointment read “park inspector” when it should have read “park commissioner.” It is immaterial on this question of abandonment what effect is to be given in law to the mistake in designating the office in making Walker’s appointment. Appellee ceased the performance of the duties of the office. He ceased to demand his salary, which was payable monthly; he did not seek to prevent the payment of same to Walker, or to protest against such payment. He never notified the mayor or the city council that he did not consider himself discharged.,. It is true that he reported to three of the aldermen who voted against the confirmation of Walker’s appointment that he was ready to receive orders at any time. He also told one of them, who was chairman of parksy and plazas committee, that he was ready to take the office at any time. The time when these conversations took place is not given. 1-Ie did testify to going to the city clerk’s office for mail and communications for weeks after his discharge, but could not tell how many weeks. Walker’s appointment was not confirmed until three weeks after it was made by the may- or, and then by the mayor voting off a tie, so it is probable that plaintiff was hopeful that he might get an opportunity to “take the office,” and duringj said time assured his friends among the aldermen that he was ready at any time to take the position. Hia testimony fails to show that he communicated to any one the fact that he regarded himself as still in office and entitled to the salary. The position taken by him, to the effect that he still considered himself as an incumbent of the office of park commissioner is the result of an afterthought, haying its origin in the discovery, after his term expired, of the fact that his discharge was made irregularly because not confirmed by the council, or else it is clear that he intended all along to wait until after his term expired, and then try to collect nine months’ salary without' performing any services, and without taking any steps which would put the mayor or city council upon notice that, if his discharge was not confirmed by the council, he would claim salary. If, after abandoning the office to Walker, he changed his mind, and decided that his act in doing so was induced by mistake, and that he intended to try to take back his office, or try to be reinstated, he failed to notify the mayor, who had the supervision of his department, or the city council, and his vague statements concerning his visits to the clerk’s office for weeks and the expression to two of the aldermen of his willingness to take the office, are insufficient to show notice to the city that he regarded his discharge as illegal, and that he intended to claim the salary.

We conclude that the evidence conclusively shows such an abandonment of the office as precludes appellee from recovering the salary thereof. In support of this conclusion we cite: Phillips v. City of Boston, 150 Mass. 491, 23 N. E. 202; Byrnes v. City of St. Paul, 78 Minn. 205, 80 N. W. 959, 79 Am. St. Rep. 384; Healy v. Partridge, 75 App. Div. 511, 78 N. Y. Supp. 392; Cote v. City of Biddeford, 96 Me. 491, 52 Atl. 1019, 90 Am. St. Rep. 417; Wardlow v. Mayor, City of New York, 137 N. Y. 194, 33 N. E. 140.

In coming to this conclusion we do not overlook the fact that the trial court found in favor of plaintiff upon this issue, but the evidence to our minds so conclusively establishes abandonment of the office, that we are satisfied the judgment was .wrong, and that it should be set aside.

The judgment is reversed, and judgment rendered in favor of appellant.

On Motion for Rehearing.

The contention is made in appellee’s motion for rehearing that this court is inconsistent in overruling the assignments relating to exceptions to the plaintiff’s pleadings, and then sustaining the assignment wherein it was contended that the facts showed abandonment of the office. In order to show this supposed inconsistency to exist appellee takes as true the contentions made by appellant in regard to the pleadings of appellee. We were fairer to appellee and took his pleadings as they actually existed, and not appellant’s conclusion, in regard to the effect which should be given to particular paragraphs thereof, and, applying the special exceptions, held that the pleadings were not subject to such exceptions. Appellee pleaded with great care that Walker forcibly took possession of the office and the property in plaintiff’s possession, and that the delivery of the property by him to Walker was compulsory, and that he protested against the same, and never abandoned said office. We held that such allegations did not show abandonment and overruled the special exceptions. But the undisputed evidence showed that plaintiff made no protest, that the delivery was not compulsory, and that Walker did not forcibly take possession of the office and the property appertaining thereto, but, on the contrary, plaintiff went with Walker and turned over to him all the property, introduced him, as his successor, to all the men working in his department, and applied for and received pay for the time spent by him in turning over his office and the property to Walker. There is nothing inconsistent in sustaining the overruling of the exceptions to plaintiff’s pleadings which negative all idea of acquiescence on the part of plaintiff, and sustaining the assignment of error directed at the evidence which wholly fails to sustain such allegations.

Appellee stresses the fact that Walker’s appointment reads “park inspector,” and seems to think that the statement of Fries establishes conclusively that no mistake was made in this matter. Fries testified that it did not occur on account of any clerical mistake made by him, but it is evident that it did occur on account of a mistake made by some one. Neither the mayor nor council was attempting to create a new office, but Walker was put in charge of the office of park commissioner, received the salary of said office, and discharged the duties thereof, and in his amended original petition appellee alleges that Walker forcibly, under order of the mayor, took imssession of the office of park commissioner, and ousted plaintiff therefrom. This pleading is strangely inconsistent with the theory now advanced that plaintiff merely gave up the property to a person appointed to a different office. Appellee, at the time he filed his pleadings, appeared to regard the question of abandonment of the office as a very vital one, but now contends that, regardless of his conduct as shown by the evidence, which flatly contradicts his pleadings, he did not abandon the office because a mistake was made in naming the office in Walker’s appointment, commission, and oath of office. He contends that the question of abandonment is one of intent, and yet seeks to protect himself from his voluntary acts, which show that intent, by invoking the aid of something which it is clear he did not know at the time of his acts, nor when he filed his original petition, namely, that the office was designated as that of “park inspector” instead of “park commissioner” when Walker was appointed.

He contends that, as a resignation would not be effective until a successor was appointed and qualified, abandonment, which is a species of resignation, could not take place because of the mistake made in designating the office to which Walker was appointed. We are cited to no case which holds that an officer who resigns could recover salary for a long period of time because of irregularities in the appointment of his successor, and we do not believe that had appellee handed in his resignation he could have collected salarj' for nine months in which the duties were being performed by Walker, even though an error was made in designating the office to which Walker was appointed. The cases relied upon hold that an officer whose resignation is accepted is not released from the discharge of the duties and responsibilities of his office until his successor is appointed and qualified. The public has a right to have the duties of the office discharged, but when another person takes charge of the office and performs the duties thereof, and his occupancy of the office is of such character as to protect the public, we see no reason why irregularities in making the appointment, though of a eharacter to prevent his recovery of the salary by suit, should inure to the benefit of the man who has given up the office and entitle him to recover unearned salary.

Appellee contends that additional testimony can be procured, that the aldermen with whom he conversed can be put upon the stand, and therefore the case should he remanded instead of judgment being rendered by this court. Appellee abandoned the office to Walker according to his own testimony and according to the testimony of Walker, which he did not dispute, although having ample opportunity to do so. After abandoning it he failed to take any steps to recover the office or to prevent the payment of the salary to Walker, and did not even protest to the mayor himself,- or notify the mayor or the council that he intended to claim the salary. He does not contend that he even told any alderman he would claim the salary, but he did tell some of them he was willing to take the office. His plea that the mayor was “awfully busy at the time” is unworthy of attention. Surely he could have seen the mayor if he had tried, but he does not contend that he ever demanded an audience. Nine months passed by without a verbal or written protest by him to either the mayor or the council. He waived all irregularities in his discharge and in the appointment of his successor, and, under his own testimony, should be estopped from recovering salary, and we see nothing to be gained by having the aldermen with whom he conversed either corroborate or deny his testimony that he told them he was willing to take the office.

Appellee has requested that additional findings of fact be made. We regard this as unnecessary. In fact, most of the additional findings requested to be made relate to matters not shown in the statement of facts, but based upon pleadings and charter provisions.

Tho appellee’s motion for rehearing, supplemental motion for rehearing, and motion to correct findings of fact, are overruled; also the appellant’s motion for rehearing.
      <S=»IPor other oases see same topic and KEY-NUMBER in all Key-Numbered Digests and Indexes

      (@=For other cases see same topic and KEY-NUMBER in all Key-Numbered Digests and Indexes