6 How. Pr. 338 | N.Y. Sup. Ct. | 1851
The question in this case is, whether the plaintiff, in an action to recover the possession of personal property, can have the defendant arrested and held to bail under § 179 of the Code, and have the property delivered to him, before judgment in the same action?
The action to recover the possession of personal property, is one peculiar in its character and object. The Code has given it in place of the former action of replevin, and its design is to sub-serve the same purpose. It is regulated by ch. 2, of title 7 of the second part of the Code (§§206 to 217 inclusive). There are other provisions which have an incidental and collateral application to it. .
The first chapter of the same title contains provisions respecting arrest and bail in personal actions generally, and among them is the case mentioned in the 3d subdivision of § 179, which authorizes an arrest “ in an action to recover the possession of personal property unjustly detained, where the property or any part thereof has been concealed, removed, or disposed of, so that it can not be found or taken by the sheriff, and with the intent that it should not be so found, or taken, or with the intent to deprive the plaintiff of the benefit thereof.” That is the only provision authorizing the arrest of the defendant, in an action to recover possession of persona] property. The first subdivision of the same section, authorizes the arrest of the defendant, where the action is for an injury to person or character, or for injury, or for wrongfully taking, detaining or converting property; by which is intended, an action to recover damages for such injury, taking, detaining, or converting; answering to our late actions of trespass, case, trespass de bonis asportatis and trover, and not an action to recover the possession of personal property.
Cases may arise, where the plaintiff has his election to proceed under ch. 2, title 7, to recover possession of the property, or to recover damages .for the taking or detention; and, I think, in
The plaintiff’s course was to have pursued the proceedings pointed out in chapter 2, above referred to, which do not authorize the defendant’s arrest; and if the property could not be found, and the case is within the 3d subdivision of § 179, to obtain an order and have the defendant arrested; but in that case.he can not afterwards obtain the possession of the property pending the action.
■ Having in this case elected to have the defendant arrested and held to bail in the first instance, under one of the subdivisions of § 179,1 think the plaintiff was bound to wait until he was entitled by the judgment of the court to the possession of- the property, before causing it to be delivered to him. I am not able to perceive that the defendant has done any thing by which he waived the right to have the property restored to him.
The motion must be granted, but without costs; as this is the first time, of which I am aware, that the question has arisen.
Note.—Abbey agt. Abbey. The Supreme Court at the last January general term (1852), in the second judicial district, dismissed an appeal in this action taken from an order at special term granting temporary alimony. The appeal was sought to be sustained upon the ground that the order granted a “provisional remedy” and was therefore appealable under § 349 of the Code. The court, Morse, Justice, held that such an order was not a provisional remedy within the provisions of the Code; that it was no more appealable asa provisional remedy than as an order not involving the merits or some part thereof. It was of a class of orders which depended upon the discretion or favor of the court.
Another appeal in the same action, taken from an order granting an attachment for disobedience to the order for temporary alimony, was dismissed on the same grounds.
