Case Name: BAYARD GRUBB vs. HUMPHRY PYLE
Court: Delaware Superior Court
Jurisdiction: Delaware
Decision Date: 1842
Citations: 3 Harr. 493
Docket Number: 
Parties: BAYARD GRUBB vs. HUMPHRY PYLE.
Judges: 
Reporter: Delaware Reports
Volume: 3
Pages: 493–494

Head Matter:
BAYARD GRUBB vs. HUMPHRY PYLE.
A landlord proceeding against his tenant under § 9, Dig. 366, and § 20, Dig. 51, on the ground that he is about to leave the State, must satisfy the court that he had good cause for believing this; or be condemned in costs.
Attachment to secure rent under section 20, of the act of 1770. (Dig. 51.)
The plaintiff in this case filed an affidavit, that defendant was his tenant of a mill property, at a yearly rent of $150, which would be due on the last day of March, 1843; and that he did, on good grounds, elieve, that the said tenant intended to leave this State, and would epart from the same before the rent would fall due; that there were pot goods, &c., of the tenant that could be attached, sufficient to se-ure said rent, and that the tenant did not intend to make any provi-ion for the payment of said rent, (Dig. 366, 51,) and thereupon he ssued a writ and had the defendant arrested.
Rogers, jr., now obtained a rule to show cause why the writ should oi be quashed; stating, that he moved for the rule merely to bring n the hearing, as it was incumbent on the plaintiff to make out a ase for an order on his client to give security.' He referred to Dig. 1, sec. 20; and Burrows vs. Dumphy, 2 Harr. Rep. 308.
The plaintiff was sworn, and stated that the tenant neglected his usiness, and lost the custom of the mill. He had heard reports of is going away. He had a lease on the mill for three years at $150 er year, payable at the end of the year. He said to a son of Adam rubb, as witness understood, that if he did’nt get board he should o away.
Rogers, jr., for defendant.
A landlord taking this special remedy ought to be held strictly to show his right to take these proceedings. In this case the defendant has a lease on this mill for three years, and the tenancy had but just commenced when the landlord, without any grounds now shown, caused his tenant to be arrested. He was bound at the return of the writ, to make out the grounds of his belief that the defendant was about to leave the State. He comes now without any proof, and himself swears only to a vague rumor derived from one boy, that the defendant meant to leave the mill, and not the county, or State. We now proffer the oath of the defendant that he had no intention of leaving the State. (See Burroivs vs. Dumpily, 1 Harr. Rep. 308.)
Rogers, jr., for defendant.

Opinion:
The Court,
without hearing the defendant's testimon)', gave judgment against the plaintiff, and adjudged him to pay the defendant his costs, viz: the office and witnesses costs, sheriff's fees, and the appearance fee of the plaintiff's attorney. The legislature has given to a landlord a special remedy against his tenant, where he has grounds to believe an intention to leave the State. The plaintiff made oath before the protbonotary, and took out a writ and held the defendant to bail. He was bound to follow up that proceeding by showing to this court such a state of facts as would entitle him to an order for better security for the rent. He has failed to do so, and the court are of opinion that there was not a sufficient cause for demanding better security of the defendant
Mr. Rogers moved the court for the allowance of "charges" under the act of assembly (Dig. 52,) in addition to the legal costs; which the court refused.