Danenhower v. Lippincott
Danenhower v. Lippincott
Opinion of the Court
The opinion of the court was delivered by
The writ recites a willingness to be certified of certain proceedings in the Court of Common Pleas, wherein it was refused to reinstate an appeal from a judgment of a justice of the peace, which appeal was dismissed by the Common Pleas upon the ground that the justice had not sent up his transcript to that court within the time limited by law. The writ commands the Common Pleas to certify the proceedings on file, with all things touching and concerning the same. The return sends us the summons in the court for the trial of small causes, the return thereon, the state of demand, the transcript- of the justice’s docket, the notice of appeal, appeal bond, the order dismissing the appeal and the order denying the motion to reinstate.
The recital suggests that the prosecutors may have intended to review only the refusal to reinstate the appeal, and this, as counsel for the defendant contends, cannot bé done by certiorari. But a. careful reading of the recital in the writ shows that what was intended to be brought up was the proceedings in the cause in which there was a refusal to reinstate. This language is sufficient to embrace all the proceedings, and such.is the command of the writ. In Hoxsey v. Paterson, 10 Vroom 489, a vagueness in the command of the writ was disregarded because the recitals indicated what was sought to be reviewed. We certainly should not limit the command of the writ by reference to the recitals, where no misunderstanding could arise, especially in a case like the present, where the recital itself, when carefully read, is as broad as the command of the writ. We think the propriety of the order dismissing the appeal is properly before us.
The order shows, on its face, that the reason for dismiss
It is now urged by the defendant that the appeal was improperly taken because the record does not show a judgment in the court for the trial of small causes. It shows a judgment for the plaintiff for $11.43 debt, and a judgment for the defendant for $2 costs. This was irregular, but it was a judgment against the plaintiff for the costs, from which he had the right to appeal. •
The order of dismissal should be set aside, and the cause remitted to the Common Pleas for further proceedings according to law.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- JOHN C. DANENHOWER, PARTNERS v. JOHN W. LIPPINCOTT
- Status
- Published