25 How. Pr. 429 | The Superior Court of New York City | 1863
There are two questions in this case : First, whether the court has jurisdiction to grant a discharge where the debtor is at large upon the limits;
In regard to the first question, the term used in the statute is “ imprisoned,” and the discharge is from “ imprisonment.” (2 R. S., 31, § 1.) The sixth section provides that the court where the application is made shall “ order the applicant 'to be brought before it” on a day to be assigned, and on such other days as it may appoint during the same term. (Id., 32, § 6.)
The sheriff is required to discharge the debtor, on the order of the court. (Id., 33, § 11.) The assignees are required, out of the property assigned, to pay “ the jail fees on the imprisonment and discharge.” In the same statute, if a person “ charged in execution” has not applied for three months to be discharged, the creditors may apply to compel an assignment.
These various provisions seem to point out a party in close custody, particularly that which relates to the direction to bring the party before the court, and do not seem to be intended to relieve a party having the privilege of going at large over the whole island of New York. For such cases the previous article to relieve insolvent debtors from imprisonment furnishes sufficient relief.
The other question of a loss of jurisdiction I think is still more clear. Proceedings upon the return of an execution unsatisfied are analogous in regard to jurisdiction, and the failure to adjourn the same regularly in that case has been held to amount to a discontinuance. (Squire agt. Young, 1 Bosw., 690.) In cases like the present, the court is required to assign the days during the same term in which the application is made when it will hear the applicant. It is also authorized to adjourn the proceedings to the next term, on the application of a creditor, and then all objections to form must be waived, (§ 8,) but not beyond that time. (2 R. S., 32, § 7.) These specific di
The motion must be denied.