March v. Barnfield
March v. Barnfield
Opinion of the Court
This is an action on a bond given under R. S., ch. 114, sec. 49, to secure the release of a debtor of the plaintiff
Before the last day of the term named in the bond the debtor went to the jail to which he was liable to be committed, and offered to surrender himself, informing the jailer that he did so to save his sureties on a poor debtor bond; but he produced no copy of the bond or of the execution. The jailer at first declined to receive him but later did receive him as requested and locked him up in the jail without such copy or any precept. The plaintiff was notified of such surrender and that he would be held responsible for the debtor’s bond. The debtor also made written complaint, under section 81 of ch. 114, R. S., of his inability to support himself or furnish security for his support in jail. After remaining in jail some three weeks, his board not being paid, the debtor was allowed to go free at his own request.
The plaintiff contends that the debtor’s delivery of himself into the custody of the jailer without any copy of the bond, or execution or other precept, is not such a delivery as is contemplated by the statute and the bond given in pursuance of the statute. His argument is substantially as follows : An arrest upon execution is allowed to compel payment or a disclosure of the debtor’s property affairs. If the debtor, instead of making such payment or disclosure, gives the bond permitted by the statute, and again fails to pay or disclose during the term of the bond, he should so deliver himself into the custody of the jailer that he can be lawfully held in jail against his will, so that he may be compelled to make the desired payment or disclosure to obtain his release. If the jailer receives the debtor without any precept or papers showing authority to hold him in jail, the imprisonment is without authority, the debtor is under no compulsion and the purpose of the arrest and bond is defeated.
This action, however, is upon the bond and is to be determined by the terms of the bond, whatever the result. In the bond it is
Whether the jailer should have received the debtor without any papers, or having received him should have kept him in custody until he made payment or disclosure, are questions not before us.
Judgment for the defendants.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- Ernest B. March v. Francis Barnfields.
- Status
- Published