Taylor v. Clarke

The return of an officer, to whom was delivered a notice of the desire of a person arrested to take the oath for the relief of poor debtors, set forth that he served the notice on the officer who made the arrest, “ as neither the creditor nor his attorney could be found within my precinct.” Held, that paroi evidence was admissible to show that the creditor was not a resident of the county where the arrest was made, and had no agent or attorney living or having his usual place of business therein; and that the service on the officer who made the arrest was therefore sufficient, under the Gen. Sts. c. 124, § 13.

Contract on a recognizance entered into, under the Gen. Sts. c. 124, § 10, on May 11,1874, by Benjamin Bussell as principal, and the defendant as surety. The case was submitted to the Superior Court, and, after judgment for the plaintiffs, to this court, on appeal, on an agreed statement of facts, in substance as follows: The recognizance was given to relieve Bussell from arrest on an execution against him in favor of the plaintiffs. The condition of the recognizance was that Bussell should deliver himself up for examination to take the benefit of the law for the relief of poor debtors, and give due notice to the plaintiffs of the time and place appointed for such examination. Bussell duly delivered himself up, and applied to the trial justice, who took the recognizance, to fix a time and place for the examination, and issue a citation to be served on the plaintiffs. The citation was duly issued and put into the hands of a constable of Malden for service, who indorsed the following return thereon: “ Middlesex, ss. Malden, June 3, 1874. I this day, at forty-five minutes past eight o’clock in the afternoon, served the within notice by giving an attested copy thereof to Charles H. Bhodes, deputy sheriff, he being the officer who made the arrest, as neither the creditor nor his attorney could be found within my precinct. Said service was made at Main Street, in Malden, in said county. William H. Cromack, Constable of Malden.” The only question raised in this case is whether the service of the citation upon the officer was sufficient, it only appearing by the return that the plaintiffs or their attorney could not be found iii Malden. It is admitted that the defendant can prove by paroi, if competent, that neither of the plaintiffs was a resident, or had a place of business, or any agent or attorney, within the county of Middlesex, and that the attorney of record had no residence or place of business in the county of Middlesex at the time of the service of the citation.