18 Barb. 407 | N.Y. Sup. Ct. | 1854
In August, 1853, Mrs. Staats, the landlord, made an affidavit for the purpose of commencing proceedings to remove Cook, her tenant, upon the ground that he held over without permission, after rent was due and unpaid. In her affidavit the words with permission were used, instead
The error, in using the word with instead of without, in the affidavit of Mrs. Staats, was, I have no doubt, a mere clerical error; but I am not prepared to say that we should disregard it, or that we could treat the affidavit as sufficient. Tt does not appear that Cook has been prejudiced by the error, or that he took the objection. The certiorari was not applied for until about four months after the proceedings before the justice. Under the circumstances I think that Cook’s proceedings should be strictly correct. And in my opinion the affidavit upon which the certiorari was granted is not sufficient. Affidavits should, by the universal practice, contain a venue ; and it is said to be an essential part of an affidavit. (1 Barb. Ch. Prac. 601. 6 How. Pr. Rep. 394.) It is important that it should indicate the county in which it was taken, in reference to a prosecution for perjury ; and the venue in an affidavit is prima facie evidence of the place where it was taken. An affidavit with one county as a venue, sworn to before an officer in another county, having authority to take affidavits in his county, cannot be read. (See 2 How. Pr. Rep. 86,127, 181.) And see 6 How. Pr. Rep. 394, where it was held that an affidavit without a venue, taken before a commissioner of deeds, whose residence is not mentioned, is a nullity. In the present case, the commissioner states that he is
I think the certiorari should be quashed or superseded.
Ordered accordingly.
Marvin, Bowen and Green, Justices.]