Pindar v. Black

| N.Y. Sup. Ct. | Aug 15, 1849

Harris, Justice.

-—-The requisites of an affidavit upon which an order of arrest is to be founded, are prescribed in the 181st section of the code.

Two things must be made to appear. First. That a sufficient cause of action exists; and then, that such cause of action is among those specified in the 179 th section. Let us try the sufficiency of the affidavit in this cause by this test. And, first, as to the cause of action. It is stated positively, that the sloop Hornet, while under the command of the defendant, wrongfully ran into the seine net of the plaintiff, and injured it to the extent of $125. This I regard as equivalent to saying that the defendant had wrongfully injured the plaintiff’s property. If this be so, “ a sufficient cause of action is shown to exist.” Then, is it a a case within the 179th section ? If a cause of action exists at all, it is, as we have seen, for injuring property, and is therefore within the very letter of the first subdivision of the section last mentioned. It cannot be necessary, indeed, I do not think it would be sufficient, for the party making the affidavit, to state that “ his case was one of those mentioned in section 179. It is enough that the judge can see from the facts stated, that it is such a case; and unless facts enough to show this are stated, the affidavit is insufficient. Assuming the facts stated in the affidavit to be true, the plaintiff had a sufficient cause of action against the defendant, and that cause of action was one upon which he had a right to have the defendant arrested. I do not think it necessary that the affidavit should state that an action has been, or is about to be commenced. By the 183d section, it is provided, that the order of arrest may be executed when the summons is served, or at any time after-wards. To require the party, when he applies for the order, to state that he is about to commence an action, would be equivalent to requiring him to say he intends to make use of the order; but it is enough that the statute does not demand such a statement.

The next ground of objection is, that the affidavit does not show who committed the injury. It is true the name of the party against whom the order was sought, was not given. The plaintiff states that it was unknown to him. But he says his cause of action is against the person whatever his name, who, upon the occasion of the injury, had command of the vessel. He thus identifies the defendant, and with as much, perhaps greater accuracy, than he would, if he had merely given his name. The judge, accordingly, makes his order to arrest the defendant—not, indeed, to arrest James Black—but to arrest the man who was in command of the sloop Hornet when the injury was done—which as well describes James Black, as though he had been called by name. In either case the officer would have to rely upon information aliunde, to determine who was the defendant. In the one case, he must ascertain what person bore the name of James Black; and, if he should happen to find several designated by that name, he would then be under the further necessity of ascertaining as best he might, which James Black was intended. In the other case, he would only have to ascertain who was, at the time specified in command of the sloop Hornet. The plaintiff being ignorant of his name, was authorized by the 175th section to designate him by any name, in any pleading or proceeding. He might as well call him “ the man in command of the sloop Hornetas by any other name, more brief, but less distinctive.

The only remaining point urged by defendant’s counsel in support of his motion, which it is necessary to notice, is, that the affidavits is entitled in a cause which as yet had no existence. Under the former practice, this objection might have been fatal to the proceedings. It seems to have been settled by authority, though I have never been able to perceive the soundness of the reason upon which the rule was founded, that affidavits to hold to bail must not be entitled. The only reason that has ever been assigned for the rule is, that as the affidavit purports to be made in a suit when in fact no suit is pending, an indictment for perjury could not be sustained, if the affidavit should prove to be false. I can see no difficulty, however, in sustaining an indictment, containing proper allegations, in such a case. But whatever should have been the rule under the former practice, it is enough to say now, that the error or defect, if it be one, “ does not affect the substantial rights of the adverse party,” and I am, therefore, required by the 176th section of the code to disregard it. The motion must be denied; but as the questions are new, the defendant ought not to be charged with the costs of the motion.