Merrill v. Near

5 Wend. 237 | N.Y. Sup. Ct. | 1830

By the Court,

Sutherland, J.

We are of opinion that the action was trespass, and that the plea was joint, because, although those facts do not conclusively appear upon the face of the pleadings, yet fairly, and we think necessarily, they are to be inferred from the whole record.

Forbes did not act in aid or assistance or by commandment of the constable, within the meaning of the act for more easy pleading in certain cases. He was not called upon by the constable to assist him. His interference was voluntary. He accompanied the constable and pointed out the property in question, and directed him to take it. It was decided in Herrick v. Manley, 1 Caines, 252, that a plaintiff who delivered to a constable a writ in his own suit, and directed him to take and imprison the defendant upon it, could not, in an action against him by the defendant for false imprisonment, give the matter in evidence in justification under the statute. His participation in the arrest was held not to be in aid or assistance of the officer. There should either be a request from the officer, or it should appear that aid or assistance was necessary, from which a request may be implied. Nothing of that kind appears in this case, and Forbes must be considered as having officiously and voluntarily intermeddled with the execution of this process, and cannot justify or protect himself under the statute; and Mear, the constable, having united with him in his plea, cannot set up a separate justification ; for nothing is better settled than that on a joint plea in trespass no separate justification can be set up. 2 Wils, 384. 2 Strange, 993. I Saund. 28, n. 2. Schermerhorn v. Tripp, 2 Caines, 108. This rule is not confined to a technical plea of justification, but extends to the plea of not guilty, which, under the provisions of our statute, is equivalent to a plea of justification. This was expressly decided in Schermerhom v. Tripp, 2 Caines, 108, in Bradley v. Hunt, 7 Cowen, 330, and in Wales v. Hart, 2 Cowen, 426. Upon a joint plea in such case, each defendant waives any privilege or defence peculiar to himself, and must share the fate of his associate as to any matter of justification. A constable even forfeits his right to double costs, under the statute, by uniting in a plea with a defendant who has not the same right. Wales v. Hart, & Dodd, 2 Cowen, 426.

The evidence objected to was therefore inadmissible for the purpose for which it was offered. It might perhaps have been proper, within the case of Herrick v. Manley, 1 Caines, 252, for the purpose of showing that the property was not taken in consequence of the instructions of Forbes, but by virtue of legal process; but it was not offered for that purpose.

Judgment reversed as to double costs, and court below ordered to award single costs to defendants.