Wilmerding v. Cunningham

| N.Y. Sup. Ct. | Jun 15, 1883

Daniels, J.

Aside from the facts which other affidavits not made or produced in this case were relied upon as establishing, the proof was insufficient to warrant an attachment. The affidavits read established the fact that within about a week after the plaintiffs goods were delivered to the defendant, amounting to the sum of $256.25, he made a general assignment for the benefit of his creditors, containing preferences to the amount of over $10,000; that his business was that of a manufacturer of cloaks and ladies’ suits, for which the goods purchased from the plaintiffs were adapted, and on the 21st of March, 1883, they could not be discovered in the store.

As the assignment was assailed by no fact or circumstance indicating it to have been in any respect inconsistent with the legal rights of the defendant’s creditors, and no probably fraudulent disposition of the goods was shown, the right to an attachment by these affidavits was not made out. But in further support of the application it was stated in an affidavit made by one of the plaintiffs that other affidavits had been made and were on file in the office of the cleric from which it appeared that the defendant had purchased goods which had in like manner disappeared, and had purchased other goods of Jaffray & Co., not in fact delivered to him. Ho extracts from these affidavits were made containing any statement of the facts referred to, and because of that omission the case was not brought within the decision of Bennett agt. Edwards (27 Hun, 252). The most that was done was to state the conclusion of the person making the affidavit, that the other affidavits proved the facts alleged. But that is not allowable in proceedings of this description, “for the office of an affidavit is to bring to the court the knowledge of facts, and therefore it should be confined to a statement of facts only as they substantially exist, with all necessary circumstances of time, place, manner and other material incidents. It is improper to state conclusions of law or legal propositions.' It must not state arguments nor draw inferences ” (3 Greenleaf on Evidence [8th ed.], sec. 381).

In these important respects the affidavit was defective, and, without these defective statements, the facts established did not permit the issuing of an attachment.

The order should be affirmed, with the usual costs and disbursements.

Davis, P. J., and Beady, J., concur.