Case Name: John P. Webb, plaintiff in Error. against Richard T. Brown, defendant in Error
Court: New York Supreme Court of Judicature
Jurisdiction: New York
Decision Date: 1822-02
Citations: 19 Johns. 453
Docket Number: 
Parties: John P. Webb, plaintiff in Error. against Richard T. Brown, defendant in Error.
Judges: 
Reporter: Johnson's Reports
Volume: 19
Pages: 453–455

Head Matter:
John P. Webb, plaintiff in Error. against Richard T. Brown, defendant in Error.
ro^Ju^not be thltroundte" no transcript of tne record had. been returned without a reguiar notice of n*® mot'°n for
turned 'IZtZ the record had not been filed, £&%$**** CXCl,Se for the (,Clay showa’ the writ W» dismissed, wirn^hcuS
WOODS, for the defendant in error, on a certificate of the clerk of this Court, that no transcript of the record had been returned or filed, moved {January 28th) that the writ of error be dismissed with costs.
The Chancellor observed, that as nearly a month had , 1 • .1 • - „ _ J , elapsed since the session ot the Court commenced, he was inclined to grant the motion ; but the question was, whether notice of rhe motion ought not to have been given to the plaintiff in error.
Spencer, Ch. J. said, that the third rule of the Court, (16 Johns. Rep. 603.) did not apply to this case, but to cases where the plaintiff in error had neglected to assign errors. At any rate, he thought the motion ought not to be granted without a previous notice to the adverse party; for aught that appeared to the Court, the delay might arise from the consent of the parties.
The Chancellor thought the case clearly within the first rule of the Court; but it might be proper to require previous notice of the motion.
The Court denied the motion ; but gave leave to the party to renew his application, on giving eight days notice to the plaintiff in error.
Feb. 11th.—Woods, this day, again moved to dismiss the writ of erorr. He read an affidavit stating that no errors had been assigned, and produced the certificate of the clerk of this Court, to that effect. He, also, read an affidavit of ser vice of notice of this motion, on the adverse party, more than eight days since.
Bronson, contra,
read an affidavit stating, that the writ of error, and bail in error, had been duly filed in the Supreme" Court, and a transcript of the record made out, &c. but that on diligent inquiry no such person as Richard T, Brown, the defendant in error, could be found to exist, and he was believed to be a fictitious person. On this ground, he contended, that the notice ought not to be granted; or, at least, that the Court would give further time to assign errors.

Opinion:
Spencer, Ch. J.
Though the Judges of the Supreme Court have no vote to give on the final decision of this cause, it is proper for them to express an opinion on this collateral matter. It seems to me that the plaintiff in error is too late to make the objection stated in the affidavit read by his counsel. The writ of error was returnable at the last session of this Court; and the plaintiff in error has been guilty of great laches. When the motion was made the other day, I was against granting it, without notice. The plaintiff in error now comes, after notice, with a very insufficient excuse. I am clearly of opinion, that the motion ought to be granted.
Per totano Curiam. Motion granted.
Note. Woods, then, moved, that the Court would award one hundred dollars in addition to the taxable costs, as in the case where the judgment is affirmed, (17 Johns. Rep. 356.)
'Spencer, Ch. J. said, this case did not come within the principle of the one referred to, as here had been no affirmance of the judgment below; but merely a dismissal of the writ of error, under one of the rules regulating the practice of the Court.