25 Neb. 372 | Neb. | 1889
This is an action in attachment, brought by the plaintiff in error against the defendant in error in the district court of Hitchcock county.
The grounds laid for the attachment by the plaintiff are those provided for in section 198 of the code, as follows: That the defendant has absconded with the intent to defraud his creditors; and has left the county of his residence to avoid the service of a summons; and so conceals himself that a summons cannot be served upon him; and is about to remove his property, or a part thereof, out of the jurisdiction of the court, with the intent to defraud his creditors; and is about to convert his property, or a part thereof, into money for the purpose of placing it beyond the reach of his creditors; and has property rights in action which he conceals; and has assigned, removed, or disposed of, or is about to dispose of, his property, or a part thereof, with intent to defraud his creditors; and fraudulently contracted the debt or incurred the obligation for which suit has been brought;
Defendant moved to dissolve.the attachment.
First. Because the facts stated in the affidavit are not sufficient to justify the issuing of the same.
Second. Because the facts stated in the affidavit are untrue.
Upon a hearing the judge found in favor of the defendant, and ordered the attachment to be dissolved.
The plaintiff alleges error in said proceedings and order, as follows:
First. The court erred in deciding that the plaintiff was not entitled to open and close the case, which was to their prejudice.
Second. The court erred in overruling the motion to
Third. The court erred in not sustaining the said attachment under the evidence, in that the said defendant, at the time the attachment issued, was about to convert his property, or a part thereof, into money for the purpose of placing it beyond the reach of his creditors.
Fourth. The court erred in not deciding that, under the evidence, it was shown that at the time the attachment issued the defendant had property and rights in action which he concealed with intent to defraud his creditors.
Fifth. The court erred in not deciding that, under the evidence, it appeared that at the time the attachment issued the defendant had assigned, removed, and disposed of, and was about to remove and dispose of his property, or a portion thereof, with intent to defraud his creditors.
Sixth. The court erred in not deciding that, under the evidence presented, it did appear that at the time the said attachment was issued the said defendant had fraudulently contracted the debt and incurred the obligation for which this suit had been brought.
Seventh. The court erred in not sustaining the attachment under the weight of the evidence upon the part of the plaintiff.
The question raised by defendant's motion to dissolve . the attachment was tried before the district judge at chambers, on affidavits traversing the grounds and order of the attachment. There was no bill of exceptions from the district judge, but the affidavits came up with the record to this court. Here the defendant moved to strike the affidavits from the files, for the reason that they were not preserved by bill of exceptions. Counsel for plaintiff
All of the evidence, upon which the decision of the judge dissolving the attachment in the court below was based, being thus stricken from the files and left out of consideration by this court, the only remaining question is that presented by the plaintiff in error, the first of its assignments, that the district judge erred in deciding that the plaintiff was not entitled to open and close the case, which was to their prejudice. In support of the proposition, “that the plaintiff having the burden of proof was entitled to open and close the argument,” the plaintiff cites Sec. 283 of the civil code, and several authorities and cases. The statute cited applies to the trial of causes particularly, and is scarcely applicable in this instance. But the eases cited from our own court sustain the position of the plaintiff in error.
In Hilton v. Ross, 9 Neb., 406, the case was similar to the one at bar, though there was a bill of exceptions, showing not only a positive denial of the grounds of attachment, but very conclusive circumstances establishing the falsity of the original affidavit. I quote from the syllabus of Judge Lake’s opinion : “An affidavit setting forth the existence of the grounds of attachment in the words of the statute, unaccompanied by any facts showing them to be
It follows, therefore, that in denying the plaintiff its right, the district judge erred, for Avhich error his order dissolving the attachment is reversed, and the cause remanded to the district court for further proceedings according to Uav.
Reversed and remanded.