Ackley & Dana v. Chamberlain

Field, C. J. delivered the opinion of the Court Cope, J. concurring.

This is an action to recover the possession of certain premises situated in Placer county. The plaintiffs claim title by virtue of a conveyance from the Sheriff of that county, bearing date in March, 1859, executed upon the purchase of the premises at a sale under judgment and execution against one Daniel Guión. The judgment was recovered in August, 1858, and the sale was made in September following. At the time, and for nearly a year previous, the premises were the property of Guión, and the principal building erected thereon was occupied as the residence of himself and family, and at the same time was used as a hotel. Subsequent to the sale, and in January, 1859, the premises were . conveyed by the joint deed of Guión and wife to the grantor of the landlord of the defendant.

If the premises in controversy acquired the character of homestead by the residence of Guión and his family, the judgment of the plaintiffs never became a lien thereon, and the sale upon the execution was void. [183]The lien of a judgment is purely the creature of statute, and in this State the statute only provides that a judgment shall become a lien from the time it is docketed upon the property of the judgment debtor “ not exempt from execution,” which means, upon property which is not subject to forced sale. The homestead is not subject to such sale, either on execution or any other final process of the Court. The only question then for consideration is, whether the premises, from the fact that the principal building thereon was used as a hotel, ever acquired the character of a homestead.

The premises consist of a ranch, or farm, of one hundred and sixty acres, and the building used as a hotel, with the usual bam, store-house and out-houses appurtenant thereto. The building was originally designed for a family residence and store-house, but in the progress of erection the design was changed so as to adapt it to the purposes of a hotel. It was not completed until January, 1858, but was occupied in its unfinished state by Guión and his family as their residence from November previous. It was situated on a mountain road, and its owner kept boarders and lodgers, and furnished accommodations to travelers. The value of the entire premises did not exceed two thousand dollars.

A homestead is the residence of the family—is the place where the home is—and it would seem unreasonable, upon first impressions, that premises should be regarded as a homestead, unless devoted principally to such residence and home. It would seem unreasonable, for example, that a gas factory should be impressed with the character of a homestead, because the owner resided with his family in the upper story of the building, or that a store-house should become exempt from execution, because the owner occupied the basement in the same way. The question whether property devoted chiefly to business purposes can be subject to a homestead claim is full of embarrassment, and we are not required to lay down any positive rule on the subject in the present case. In tills case the building was intended for a dwelling-house, as well as a hotel. It was the intention of the owner in its construction to make it his residence. It was occupied by him and his family as such residence before it was ever used as a hotel. The nature and extent of the business did not interfere with its general character as a dwelling house. The keeping of boarders and accommodation of lodgers and travelers were not inconsistent with the main purpose of taking up the one hundred and sixty acres, and the erection of the building.