Case ID: nc_77/html/0325-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "PeáRSON, C. J.", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

H. T. BAHNSEN v. F. A. CHESEBRO.
    
      Arrest and Bail — Suffieieney of Affidavit — Praetiee.
    In an action for arrest and bail, the plaintiff alleged in substance that the defendant had sold him a certain patent right, representing the same'to be genuine and no infringement upon any prior patent, which representations were false and intended to deceive plaintiff; that he had been damaged the amount of the purchase money paid to defendant; and that defendant was a non-resident; Held, that the order of arrest was properly issued.
    Motion to vacate an Order of Arrest heard at Chambers on the 3d of April, 1877, before Kerr J.
    
    The plaintiff instituted an action against the defendant in the Superior Court of Eorsythe County, demanding payment of $1,100, and at the same time filed the following affidavit in support of an allegation in his complaint: “ That in April or May, 1876, the defendant sold to plaintiff a certain patent known as ‘Donaldson’s Inhaler,’ for which this affiant paid from time to time the sum of about $1,100 ; that this affiant made the purchase upon the representations of defendant that the said patent was genuine and no infringement on any patent heretofore obtained, which representation caused the plaintiff to make the purchase; that said representations were false, and as this affiant is informed and believes, were knowingly false at the time they were made, and intended to defraud plaintiff and induce him to buy ; that by reason of said patent being an infringement on a patent previously granted, it was worthless to the plaintiff, he not being allowed to deal in the same without subjecting himself to an action for damages by the prior patentee; that by reason of said false and fraudulent representations, the plaintiff has been damaged ■ to the amount of $1,100; and that the defendant is not a resident of this State, but claims to be a citizen of Baltimore.”
    Upon this affidavit the Clerk of the Superior Court of Eorsythe County ordered the arrest of the defendant, who insisted at the hearing of this motion ; (1) that the controversy was one arising under the Patent Laws of the United :States, and as such the State Courts had no jurisdiction ; (2) that he was acting as agent of his father and sold said “Iu-Raler” as an improved instrument and not as an original invention, and that plaintiff bought with a knowledge of this fact; and (3) that no fraud was practiced on plaintiff and that there was no evidence of an infringement on any other patent. His Honor after argument refused the motion and the defendant appealed.
    
      Messrs. Watson Glenn, for plaintiff.
    
      Messrs. J. C. Buxton, J. M. Clement and J. M. McCorkle, for ■defendant.
   PeáRSON, C. J.

Upon reading the affidavits filed in the complaint, we are satisfied that there was probable cause to support the allegation that the contract was obtained by means of false and fraudulent representations. We concur with His Honor in the conclusion that the motion to vacate the order of arrest ought not to be granted.

No error.

PER Curiam. Judgment affirmed.