Sompeyrac v. Cable
Sompeyrac v. Cable
Opinion of the Court
The plaintiff brought his action against Long and Walker, on their promissory note, and on his affidavit, that they were indebted to him $378 87 cents, bail being demanded from Walker, Cable, Brown and Johnson, executed a bond with him to the sheriff, as required by the 12th section of the act of 1805, C. 26. 1 Martin's Dig. 476. conditioned, that the defendant shall not de
His counsel assigns, as errors apparent on the record:—
1. That no law authorises it.
2. That the bond is not proven to have been endorsed by the sheriff.
3. That the defendant is only liable for one third of the debt.
4. That the breach of the condition is not proven.
I. The bond which has been taken, is that which is required by the act of 1805; the prerequisites of it are, that the plaintiff satisfy one of the judges, by oath, of the truth of his debt; and make oath further, that he verily believes that the defendant is about permanently to remove from the territory before judgment on the petition can be obtained, &c.; the law requires the assignment of this bond by the sheriff.
This bond is to be retained by the sheriff; and if the condition shall appear to have been broken, there shall be judgment on notice against the surety, for the amount of the judgment. Id. 484. There is nothing said of any assignment, and this court has lately determined that none is essentially required.
Admitting that the error committed in taking the bail prescribed by the act of 1805, under the oath prescribed by the act of 1808, is not fatal, the assignment of the bond is expressly required by law, and we cannot dispense with it.
The bond taken requires proof of the defendant's departure from the state; and it is only shewn that he cannot be found in the parish of Natchitoches.
These two objections appear to me fatal, and I think the judgment ought to be reversed, and ours must be for the defendant, as in
Concurring Opinion
I concur, being satisfied with the reasons of this opinion.
It is therefore ordered, adjudged and decreed, that the judgment of the district court be annulled, avoided and reversed, and this court proceeding to give such a judgment as in their opinion ought to have been given in the court below; it is ordered, adjudged and decreed, that there be judgment as in case of non-suit, and that the plaintiff pay costs in both courts.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- SOMPEYRAC v. CABLE
- Cited By
- 1 case
- Status
- Published