Mandeville v. McDonald

16 F. Cas. 589, 3 D.C. 631, 3 Cranch 631

Opinion

Cranch, C. J.

The question is, whether the motion to quash, the scire facias is the proper remedy.

After looking at all the cases cited, and many more, I think it is.not. The only case which seemed to justify that course is Hillier v. Frost, 1 Str. 401, but that case has been misunderstood. It was not a rule to amend the sheriff’s return of the writ, but to amend the writ of scire facias itself, by making it returnable on Saturday instead of Friday, which was the feast of St. Martin. The motion was made by the plaintiff; but Sir John Strange, who was the plaintiff’s counsel, remarks that “ he had'little t<? say for it,” “ so it was discharged; and he moved to quash the writ, which was ordered accordingly.’!

I have seen no case in which a scire facias has been quashed, on motion of the defendant, for a defective return of the sheriff, there being no fault in the writ itself.

[633] The defendants may lay a rule on the plaintiff to declare. The marshal’s return will make part of the declaration, and the defendants will have time to plead such pleas as they may be advised to plead.

The other judges assented.

In this cause, at the last term, the Court decided that W. A. Bradley, one of the tenants summoned, had a right to'plead in delay of execution, that there were other terre-tenants, of other-lands, not summoned ; and that the plea offered by him, when put into proper form, should be received.

At the present term, Mr. Morfit, for the plaintiff, moved for judgment by default against all the terre-tenants summoned, and against “John G. McDonald, one of the'trustees, and administrator of the same lots,” and against “ Wm. Brent, one of the trustees,” and against “ Frederick May, one of the trustees.”

Mr. W. A. Bradley now offered his amended plea; and W. Brent, F. May, and John G. McDonald offered to plead.

After considering the cases and authorities cited in the note below,

The Co ürt received the plea offered by Mr.,, Bradley, and permitted the defendants to plead, and overruled the motion of Mr. Morfit for judgment by default.1

The cause was then continued, to make up the issues, and was continued from terrp to term until term,

when it was placed by consent upon what is called the stet docket, where it has remained ever since.1

[634] Upon the subject of scire facias against terre-tenants, and the lien of a judgment upon the lands of the debtor, see the following cases and authorities:

Hillier v. Frost, 1 Str. 401; Panton v. Terretenants of Hall, Garth. 105; Registrum Judiciale, 57; Bicknold v. Owen, Dyer, [635]*635207, (b) ca. 15; Smarte v. Edsun, 1 Lev. 30; Adams v. Terretenants of Savage, 2 Salk. 601; 6 Mod. 199, 226; Tidd, 1032; 2 Saund. 7, n. 4; Beresford v. Cole, Comb. 282; Jefferson v. Morton et al. 2 Saund. 7; Gwinn v. Lloyd and Bold, 1 Keb. 54, 351; Michell v. Croft, Terre-tenants of Rivet, Cro. Jac. 506; Phelps v. Lewis, 2 Saund. 210, e, in note 1; Harbert’s case, 3 Co. 14, (b); Dyer, 331, (b,) pi. 23, 24; Clark v. Hardwicke, Moore, 524; 2 Har. Ent. 174, 257, 444, 496, 534, 583, 749, 763, 765; Co. Ent. 619, 620, 621, 622, 623, 624; Stat. 5 Geo. 2, c. 7; Chancellor Kilty’s Report on the English Statutes, 29 Car. 2, c. 3, § 16, (p. 241,) and on 5 Geo. 2, c. 7, § 4, (p. 249); Ridgeley’s Executor v. Gartrell, 3 Har. & McHenry; 2 Inst. 396; Palmer’s case, 4 Co. 74; Heath’s Maxims, 3; 2 Hawk. 153, 253, § 119 123, 126; Barnes’s Notes, 207, 210, 213, 214, 218, 221; Cro. Jac. 119; Dyer, 208; Nicholson v. Sligh, 1 Har. & McHenry, 434; Arnott and Copper v. Nicholls, 1 Har. & J. 471, 473, n. a; Hindman v. Ringgold; McElderry v. Smith, 2 Har. & J. 72; Tidd, 1046; Eyres v. Taunton, Cro. Car. 295, 312; Baker v. French, in this Court, December term, 1824, (2 Cranch, C. C. 539); 2 Saund. 8, note 10; Tidd, 1003, 1021; App. 437; Stephen on Pleading, 63, 126, 128, 239, 430; Owens v. Norwood, 2 Har. & J. 101; Beatty v. Chapline, 2 Har. & J. 26.

Footnotes

That is to say — That the president, directors, and company of the Bank of Washington were, at the said time of the said return, and now are, tenants of the lots numbered in the said city, of which said lots the said Samuel Eliot was seized in his demesne as of fee at the time of the said rendition of the said judgment.

And that one Anthony Preston was, and yet is, tenant of lot in the said city, of which said lot the said Samuel Eliot was seized in his demesne as of fee, at the said time of the said rendition, of the said judgment.

And that one Peter Lenox was and is tenant of, &e.

And that one Lewis H. Machem was and is, &c.

[634] And that one William Douglass was and is. &e.

And that one Tobias Simpson was and is, &c.

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Mandeville v. McDonald, 16 F. Cas. 589, 3 D.C. 631, 3 Cranch 631 (circtddc 1829).

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Arnott v. Nicholls
1 H. & J. 471 (General Court of Virginia, 1804)
Beatty's v. Chapline
2 H. & J. 7 (Court of Appeals of Maryland, 1806)
M'Elderry v. Smith's Lessee
2 H. & J. 72 (Court of Appeals of Maryland, 1806)
Baker v. French
2 F. Cas. 460 (U.S. Circuit Court for the District of District of Columbia, 1825)