Case Name: The People, ex rel. Knapp, against The Judges of the Court of Common Pleas of the County of Westchester
Court: New York Supreme Court
Jurisdiction: New York
Decision Date: 1825-05
Citations: 4 Cow. 403
Docket Number: 
Parties: The People, ex rel. Knapp, against The Judges of the Court of Common Pleas of the County of Westchester.
Judges: 
Reporter: Cowen's Reports
Volume: 4
Pages: 403–403

Head Matter:
The People, ex rel. Knapp, against The Judges of the Court of Common Pleas of the County of Westchester.
Alternative mandamus to th0 judges of tlle c-js in cause, may be served in, vaca?on s.h?w: mg the original and delivering judgeT^houW return without waiting to re- and the retador bec^6
The defendants not having yet made return to the alter- .. . . n . . . - , . , native mandamus issued in this cause, for which purpose time was given them at the last term, (vid. ante, 73, S. G.)
Jas. Smith, now moved for a peremptory mandamus.
E. Williams, contra,
said the Judges could make no re- ° - turn till they were possessed of the writ itself; and he read affidavits that this had not been furnished. They deemed this essential.

Opinion:
Curia.
The Judges did not understand the purpose for which we made the rule giving time at the last term. We considered the alternative mandamus in the nature of a rule to show cause; that it might be served by showing the original, and delivering a copy in vacation. It follows, that the Judges might have made a return without the writ. We give them to the next term, at which time they are to make a return. The relator must then file the original writ.
Rule accordingly.