Case Name: Spafford against Griffen
Court: New York Supreme Court of Judicature
Jurisdiction: New York
Decision Date: 1816-08
Citations: 13 Johns. 328
Docket Number: 
Parties: Spafford against Griffen.
Judges: 
Reporter: Johnson's Reports
Volume: 13
Pages: 328–328

Head Matter:
Spafford against Griffen.
A person who holder ais fresfmprisonméfiitm issufn|outUof°a although .fe réntincounty“’ wh”h tfejudgment was renclered.
But the justice’srefusal to endorse, the defendant’s expoeundi/oriSrt“ wM»g the Judgement.
IN ERROR, on certiorari to a justice’s court. ■
? Judgment having beéri given in the coni^t below: against tne plaiptiiT in error,. he claimed exemption from’ imprisonment: ori. the' ground-that he had a family, and was'.not a freeholder ¿. but, appearing that'he was an inhabitant of another county, the justice refused to'grant it, and execution: was issued agdinst him in tlie usual form. ■ - ' .. - . - - ; ■'

Opinion:
Per Curiam.
The -proviso in the- 11th -section of the act, (1 N. R. L. 393.,) provides, " that if the defendant shall, on the .'hearing-bf-the- Cause, prove that he has a family in this state, for. which he provides, and is. not a.freehblder, then the justice shall, at the time of. issuing execution, endorsé such proof thereon," which shall exempt the defendant from Imprisonment, upon his paying'by monthly instalments, &c, /
It appears that the justice, -id this casé, improperly refused to endorsé that proof upon the execution; but his mistake, or misconduct, in not making thát endorsement, is no ground, for " reversing the judgment. ' Whether an action will lie against the justice, or the plaintiff below, for that omission, is-a question not now before us,. (Percival v. Jones, 2 Johns. Cas. 49.,) • - ,
Judgment aiFfrnied.