Case Name: McEWAN a. BURGESS
Court: New York Superior Court
Jurisdiction: New York
Decision Date: 1863-05
Citations: 15 Abb. Pr. 473
Docket Number: 
Parties: McEWAN a. BURGESS.
Judges: 
Reporter: Abbott's Practice Reports
Volume: 15
Pages: 473–475

Head Matter:
McEWAN a. BURGESS.
New York Superior Court; At Chambers,
May, 1863.
Supplementary Proceedings.—Debtor’s Place oe Business.
It is sufficient to support an order under section 292 of the Code, for an examination supplementary to judgment, that the debtor had a place of business in the county in which execution was returned, although his principal place of business is in another county.
Motion to set aside an order for the examination of a judgment-debtor in supplementary proceedings.
Judgment had been recovered, in this action, in favor of John McEwan, plaintiff, against Nathan G. Burgess and W. James, for $196.86. On the return of an execution, unsatisfied, the plaintiff obtained, from a justice of this court, an order for the examination of Burgess on an affidavit setting forth the usual facts, and that Burgess had a place of business in New York city. The defendant, Burgess, moved to set aside the order on the ground that his place of business. and residence were in the city of Brooklyn. It was conceded, however, on the argument, that he might be found in Hew York part of each day in the bonded warehouses, Ho. 56 Broadway.
Gordon L. Ford, for the motion.
Rosevelt D. Hatch, opposed.

Opinion:
Monell, J.
The facts sworn to and admitted on this motion are, that the defendant Burgess, one of the judgment-debtors, was at the time of issuing the execution and now is a resident of the city of Brooklyn, where he also had and has a place of business. That he also had a desk in and occupied a part of an office in the building Ho. 56 Broadway, in this city, where he usually was for-almost an hour each day, and where he transacted a part of his business. His principal business, however, which was the manufacture of chemicals for photographers, was carried on in the city of Brooklyn, the office on Broadway being used for receiving orders and conducting correspondence, &g.
To give jurisdiction to the judge who issues an order for the examination of a judgment-debtor, the execution must have been'issued to the sheriff of the county where the debtor resides " or has a place of business." Upon proof of the return of execution issued to the sheriff of this county unsatisfied, the creditor is entitled to an order from a justice of this court, requiring'the debtor to appear and answer concerning his property.
•The only question to be determined on this motion is, whether the justice who issued the order had jurisdiction. The language of the Code is, where the debtor "resides" or "has a place of business."
The Code does not require the judge to determine which is the principal place of business, where there are two or more, but it is sufficient if it appears that he had a place of business in the county to which the execution was issued. The object of the Legislature, doubtless, was to prevent unnecessary annoyance to the judgment-debtor, who, without.some protection, might be summoned to remote and distant parts of the State, at the instance of creditors who might resort to such means to extort something from their debtors. Hence, originally, it was required that the execution should go to the sheriff of the county where the debtor "resided." By an amendment which exhibits the benign intention of the Legislature, the words " or has a place of business" were added. Before the amendment, debtors residing in adjoining counties, but whose business was carried on, and greater portion of whose time yms passed in this city, were ordered to appear before a county judge of the debtor's county, to the annoyance and great loss of time of the debtor.
The facts in this case show that the debtor had a place of business in this city, and that is sufficient to give the justice jurisdiction, and make it proper for him to issue the order.
The motion to discharge the order must, therefore, be denied.