Case Name: Simeon Cate versus R. E. Pecker & Samuel Bickford
Court: New Hampshire Superior Court
Jurisdiction: New Hampshire
Decision Date: 1833-12
Citations: 6 N.H. 417
Docket Number: 
Parties: Simeon Cate versus R. E. Pecker & Samuel Bickford.
Judges: 
Reporter: New Hampshire Reports
Volume: 6
Pages: 417–418

Head Matter:
Simeon Cate versus R. E. Pecker & Samuel Bickford.
In assumpsit against two defendants after a verdict against one of them it appeared by the record that a nolle prosequi had been entered as to the other, but it did not appear that he had interposed any defence that was personal to himself so as to justify a nol. pros. On a motion in arrest of judgment for this cause it was held that as a nol. pros, is always entered by leave of the court, it must be presumed to have been entered in this case upon a proper occasion and the motion in arrest was overruled.
Assumpsit. The plaintiff had entered a nolle prosequi as to Bickford. And after a verdict returned in favor of the plaintiff against Pecker, I. Bartlett moved the court to arrest the judgment, because it did not appear by the record that Bickford had interposed any defence that could warrant a nolle prosequi as to him. He insisted that a nolle prosequi as to one of two defendants in assumpsit could be entered only in cases when lie interposed a clef, . ,.«t w ■, , d Lhi -elf, as infancy, basikrupt-cy, &e. tie cited trie ease oí Harineas v. Thompson, if a. 5 Julius. 160, and Wood-ward v. Newhall, 1 Pickering, 500.
Nesmith, for the plaintiff.

Opinion:
Richardson, C. J.
delivered the opinion of the court.
In our practice, leave to enter a nolle prosequi is always obtained from the court. The practice seems to be the same in Massachusetts. 1 Pickering, 500.
In cases where one of several defendants interpose a defence which is personal to himself, as infancy, &c. it is a matter of course to grant leave to enter a nolle prosequi as to him. 1 Pickering, 500; 5 Johns. 160; 1 Peters S. C. R. 75, Minor v. The Bank of Alexandria; 2, M. & S. 444, Moravia v. Hunter; 1 Chitty's Pl., 32—33; 1 Saunders, 207, note (2); 1 Tidd's Prac. 631; 1 Wilson, 89, Noke v. Ingham.
But when counts are misjoined, the mistake will not be permitted to be cured by a noils prosequi. 1 H. Bl., 108, Rose v. Bowler; 4 D. & E. 360, Drummond v. Dorant.
When there are several counts, to one of which there is a demurrer, the plaintiff may have leave to enter a nolle prosequi as to that. 6 Taunton, 444; 1 B. & P. 157.
In this case a nolle prosequi has been entered by leave of the court, and we must now presume ¡that there was a proper occasion for entering it until the contrary appears. There is then no ground for arresting the judgment.
If leave to enter the nolle prosequi was improve¡ently granted, the proper course is to move to set it aside.
Judgment on the verdict.