Alexander v. Brown

2 Disney (Ohio) 395

• Court: Ohio Superior Court, Cincinnati
• Decided: November 15, 1858
• Docket: No. 9,263
• Status: Published

Opinion

Storer, J.,

delivered the opinion of the court.

Several objections have been made as to the sufficiency of the affidavit, which in our opinion, should more properly be urged on the trial of the action. We suppose the right to sue, the morality or immorality of the claim, the adequacy of the consideration, in fact, the entire cause of action, are subjects for inquiry.in another stage of the proceedings, and can not, with any propriety, be considered on a motion to discharge an order of attachment. If we were permitted in this summary way to inquire into the merits of the controversy, we should forestall all future action, and virtually deprive the plaintiff’ of a full investigation of his right. This rule is but the ordinary course pursued by all dourts, when motions are made to quash a writ, or to set aside a process, not authorized by law, or which was improvidentially issued.

"Where a claim is asserted, and the usual evidence submitted to the clerk to entitle a plaintiff to his order of attachment, or of arrest, or for the recovery of personal property, the nature, validity or justice of the cause of action, is not a matter of inquiry: all that can be demanded is the ordinary proof of indebtedness, by the defendant, his fraudulent conduct, or unlawful detention of the property. The affidavit is made at the plaintiff’s peril; and the undertaking he is required to give, is the defendant’s indemnity for any injury he may sustain by the procedure.

This view of the ease disposes of the objection, that the bank was not legally incorporated; and the territorial legislature which granted the charter had no power to grant such a franchise. It is asserted in general terhis, the grant was made, and until the contrary is proved, we must presume such is the fact. To permit, then, an issue to "be made, in this stage of the cause, to test the validity of the charter, would result in a trial in advance, before any plea or answer setting up a defense is filed; compelling us meanwhile to take judicial notice of what are called territorial. statutes, which we would not permit in ordinary cases, unless specially pleaded and proved as ordinary facts.

The same remark will apply to the objection taken to the liability of the bank, upon the note made by the president, copies of which are exhibited with the petition. Whether the signature of that officer is genuine, or whether he was empowered to enter into the contract, or whether its form or execution is such as is required by law, are questions not now before us, and were very properly disregarded by the judge at special term.

If we should suppose the corporation referred to was not legally created, it does not follow that those who were instrumental in bringing it into life — its stockholders and officers — are not still responsible for its issues. When we find such a state of things to exist, the pretended corporators have been regarded as partners, or joint stockholders, liable, individually, to fulfill what the corporate body would have been compelled to do if it had a legal existence.

The argument of the defendant’s counsel, therefore, could not be sustained, if the hypothesis he ha3 urged be true.

"We do not discover any error in the ruling at special term upon the general sufficiency of the affidavit. It states an indebtedness, and the amount actually due by the defendant; his non-residence, also, is averred, and the usual formalities, required by the code, are pursued.

The defendant, in every case where an order of attachment has issued, may deny by affidavit, the specific acts charged by the plaintiff, to entitle him to the process. If fraud is alleged, he may contradict it, and so of non-residence, as these apply solely to the remedy, not to the right of action. Here no exception is taken to the affidavit upon any such ground. If any exists in reality, it is, as we have already said, such as can only be determined on the final hearing of the cause.

Judgment affirmed.