Jones v. Martin

Sullivan, J.

Scire facias against the defendant as replevin-bail. The facts of this case are, that the plaintiffs, Jones & Wolf, by their partnership name, obtained a judgment by confession against H. H. Greenup before a justice of the peace, which was replevied by the defendant, Martin. Execution issued against the goods and chattels of Greenup, which was returned nulla Iona. Scire facias was then issued by the justice, requiring the defendant to appear and show cause why execution should not issue against him. It appears from the writ that on, &c., Mark. Jones and David Wolf, by the name and description of Jones & Wolf, obtained a judgment 'against Henry H. Greenup, by the name of H. H. Greenup, &c. Judgment against the defendant by. default before the justice. On appeal to the Circuit Court, the defendant had leave to file the plea of n,ul tiel record. On the trial, the plaintiff introduced .in evidence the transcript of the judgment of the justice of the peace, and offered to prove by the justice, that the parties named and described in the scire facias, were the same persons who were the parties to the original suit before him, but the Court rejected the testimony. Judgment for defendant. ■

The judgment of the justice, and all the proceedings before him in the original suit, were irregular, but the judgment is not a nullity. It may be made the foundation of other proceedings, and by proper averments a clear right in the plaintiffs to recover upon it may be shown. All the averments, necessary to show that right in the pr'esent case, are contained in the scire facias before us, and the testimony offered by the plaintiffs would have proved them/ The Court erred in rejecting the proof offered (1) .

W. M. Jenners, for the appellants.

Per Curiam,

The judgment is reversed with costs. Cause remanded, &c.

Vide Barrackman v. J. M. Worthington & Co., ante, 213. —Downard et al. v. Sluder, and Codding v. Moore et al., May term, 1841. —Tanner v. Swearengen & Co., Nov., term, 1842.