34 Ind. 353 | Ind. | 1870
This was an action to recover the. possession of two cows, commenced by the appellee against the appellant, before a justice of the peace. The appellant, appeared before the justice, and moved to dismiss the suit, for the reason that there was no valid and legal bond, filed by the plaintiff, before the writ was issued. The motion was overruled. There was a trial before the justice, resulting in a finding and judgment for the plaintiff The defendant, appealed to the common pleas court, in which- court he renewed his motion to dismiss the action, because.there.was.no. such bond as was required by the statute. The motion was overruled, and an exception taken to such ruling. There was a trial by jury; verdict for plaintiff; motion for a new trial'made and overruled, and an exception. The appellant then moved in arrest of the judgment, which motion was overruled, to which ruling the appellant excepted.
The appellant has assigned and argued two errors. The
This action is based upon section seventy-one of the jutice’s act, 2 G. & H. 598. This section reads as follows: “ Whenever any plaintiff shall, by complaint in writing, verified by affidavit, set forth that his personal goods, not exceeding in value one hundred dollars, have been wrongfully taken, or are unlawfully detained by any other person, specifically describing such property, giving the value thereof, and alleging that the same has not been taken by virtue of any execution or other writ againt him, or if so taken, that the same is ex-exempt from execution by virtue of the laws of this State, and claiming damages for the detention or taking the same, not exceeding one hundred dollars in addition, and shall file with such justice a bond with surety, to be approved by such justice, and payable to the defendant in a sum double the value of such goods, conditioned that he will prosecute such complaint to effect, and return such goods to such defendant, if judgment of return be awarded to him, and pay all damages awarded such defendant, the justice shall issue to some constable of the county his writ, commanding him to take the property described and deliver it forthwith to such plaintiff, and that he summon said defendant to appear at a time and place therein named before such justice to answer such complaint.”
It seems quite clear to us, that the filing of the complaint in writing, and verified by affidavit, and the bond as required •in the above section are necessary to confer jurisdiction upon
We are of opinion that the court below erred in overruling the motions to dismiss, and in arrest of judgment.
The judgment is reversed, with costs, and the cause remanded, with directions to the court below to arrest the judgment: