Case ID: johns_3/html/0086-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "\n      Per Curiam.\n    ", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

Whitney against Camp and Townley, tertenants of Crosby, deceased.
    A adre fadaa issued, on a judgment obtained against mid Tnafte^ tenants of C, which was re-sheriff tlfat'he had given noantsofthekndj of which C was seised See* to appear, &c. On ISO^amlewas entered for the tertenants to appear; on the 1807°theVde faults were en-thee<15thnCof0n May, 1807, the cd final judgment. It was held, that the tertenants were too late, after a judgment by default, to move to set aside the sdre fadas, on the ground, that the heirs and personal representatives of C, had not been previously warned, or because they were not such tertenants, as ought to liave been summoned, especially, when they disclosed no merits in behalf of themselves, or the representatives of C; and that the proceedings on the sd. fa. were regular, and tlje tertenants duly warned.
    STEWART, for the defendants, moved to set aside , . the scire facias issued m this cause, and all the subsequent proceedings thereon. The following are the material facts, as stated in the affidavits, which were read. A judgment having been obtained in favour of the plaintiff, aSa'mst Crosby, on a demurrer to the declaration, in August term, 1805, the same was signed the 16th August, 1805, and was revived, the 15th February, 1807. On the 2d March, 1807, a scire facias was issued on the said judgment, ** %* against Camp £? Townley, as tertenants of Crosby, decease<h directed to the sheriff of the county of Broome, who returned that he had, by two good men, noticed the tertenants of the land, whereof Crosby was seised, on the the judgment, to appear, &c. On filing the scire facias and return thereon, a rule was entered, the 5th May, *807, requiring the tertenants to appear. On the 9th May, 1807, their defaults were entered, and on the 15th May, the plaintiff entered a rule for final judgment. On the 13th July, 1807, the judgment-roll was signed and filed, and on the 29th July, a fieri facias was issued.
    ALBANY,
    Feb. 1808.
    
    Hoffman, contra.
    Though it is said, in the English books, that where judgment is had against one who dies before execution, that a scire facias will not lie against his heirs or tertenants, until a nihil has been returned on a scire facias, against the executors or administrators; yet the practice in this court has been different, and seems countenanced by the language of the 7th section of the act for the amendment of the iaw. where it is said, that on assessment or the damages, m actions on bonds ior the performance of covenants, &c. the plaintiff may have a scire facias upon the judgment against the defendant, or against liis heirs, devisees or tertenants, or executors or administrators, suggesting other breaches, See. thereby giving the plaintiff his election against which to issue his scire facias. But whatever may be the rule in this respect, the defendants come too late after a judgment by default, to make their objection. They ought to have availed themselves of it by plea.
    
    The proceedings on the scire facias, and the entry of the judgment, have been regular, and according to the practice of the court.
    
      
       2 Tidd, 1059. 2d ed. Carthew, 107.
    
    
      
      
        Laws of N.Y. vol. 1. p. 350.
    
    
      
       2 Saunders, by Wms. 9. note 10.
    
   Per Curiam.

This is a motion, made on the part of the defendants, to set aside the scire facias, and all subsequent proceedings. On a consideration of the facts, wc are of opinion, that the motion must be denied. The proceedings on the scire facias were regular. The defendants, as tertenants, were duly warned, and suffered judgment to pass against them by default. The return to the scire facias by the sheriff of the county, where the lands lie, states them to be “ tenants of the lands in his bailiwick, whereof Crosby was seised, on the day of the rendition of the judgment in the original suit.” If the rule be, as stated in the books, that the heir and the personal representatives of Crosby ought to have been previously warned, yet the tertenants ought to have availed themselves of this omission by plea, and they come too late, after judgment by default. (2 Saunders, by Williams, p. 9. note 8. and 10.) They are also equally too late to-be heard upon the allegation, that they were not such tertenants as ought to have been summoned upon the scire facias. There is the more reason for denying the motion, as there are no merits disclosed, or averred by the defendants, either in behalf of themselves-, or of the legal representatives of Crosby ; and from the affidavit of the attorney of the defendants, it appears, that a previous scire facias against the executors, or the heirs of Crosbyj would have been unavailing and fruitless, for it is stated, that neither of them have resided within this state, since January, 1806.

Some circumstances are mentioned, in the affidavits on the part of the defendants, relative to the original judgment, but as the motion before the court does not apply to that judgment, it becomes unnecessary" to take notice of those suggestions^,

Rule refused,