15 Wend. 652 | N.Y. Sup. Ct. | 1836
By the Court,
Neither attorney objected to the authority of the other, and the justice neither required nor took any proof of their authority pursuant to the 2 R. S. 233, § 45. I think, however, that non-objection must be received for admission, within the meaning of the statute. That declares expressly that admission shall be equivalent to proof. 2 R. S. 233, § 45. Ackerman has adopted the acts of his own attorney in appearing and making questions in the cause, by now insisting on the objections as his own. The attorney was equally his for the purpose of waiving objections. The statute requiring proof was passed for the security of the x opposite party, and a man may always waive a law introduced for his benefit. But it is different with regard to the summons. As to that the objection was made. This process is given by the act to abolish imprisonment for debt, and its return is reduced in time : it shall be made returnable in not
Under the old law, any person might have a warrant against a non-resident, ■ simply because he was so. The statute here made no distinction. 2 R. S. 228, § 17. So under the old statute, though you were a non-resident, you might take a warrant against a non-resident of course. This was your only process. So here you may take a short summons of course. If the defendant was a non-resident, it never was allowed, under the old law, that you could cut off his right to the usual adjournment, by coming yourself as a non-resident and giving security. That would not help you at all. So here, giving security was a deed of supererogation. The process is founded on the defendant’s character—not the plaintiff’s. In this case it could make nothing against the plaintiff, that he applied for process as a non-resident. His own estimation of his character could detract nothing from his legal rights. Utile per inutile non vitiatur. The oath of indebtedness and regular security, had it been given, could only be regarded as greater caution. His right to this very summons was perfect without it.
It is clear that a justice cannot, by amending a proceeding in a particular which is necessary to give him jurisdiction, acquire an authority nunc pro tunc. But here was no defect.
• The judgment of the common pleas should be affirmed.
Judgment affirmed.