Brown v. Hinchman

9 Johns. 75

• Court: New York Supreme Court
• Decided: January 15, 1812
• Status: Published

Opinion

Per Curiam.

The warrant was obtained by virtue of the plaintiff's oath; and the act (sess. 31 c. 204. s. 4.) says, that if the plaintiff" shall prove to the satisfaction of any justice, that the defendant is about to depart," &c. he may have a warrant, though the defendant be a freeholder or inhabitant, having a family. Proof here, means legal evidence; and that cannot he the party's own oath, unless the statute expressly says so. Whenever the statute, as it does in several other places, admits proof by the party's own oath, the language of it is explicit; and the former ten pound act of 1801, relative to this point, said that the plaintiff should "prove, upon oath, to the satisfaction of the justice, that he was in danger of losing his debt, or really believed so," &c. All these emphatic words, which show that the party's own oath was intended, are omitted in the new act. Probably, the right had been abused, and the legislature considered it dangerous to allow an interested, or prejudiced person, or angry plaintift to sue out a warrant against any freeholder or inhabitant with a family, on his own oath. The temptation might be too strong to vex and op. press. The plaintiff was, the,refore, properly nonsuited, though upt for the reason assigned by the justice.

Judgment affirmed.