Case Name: Urban Ewing v. James Thompson
Court: Kentucky Court of Appeals
Jurisdiction: Kentucky
Decision Date: 1802-04-29
Citations: 1 Sneed 128
Docket Number: 
Parties: Urban Ewing v. James Thompson.
Judges: 
Reporter: Kentucky Reports
Volume: 2
Pages: 128–129

Head Matter:
APRIL 29, 1802.
Urban Ewing v. James Thompson.
Upon a writ of error to reverse a judgment of the Court of Quarter Sessions of Logan county.
1. Sheriffs are only liable for escapes when they are willfully or carelessly permitted by them, and the facts must be ascertained by a jury in an action on the case before the court can render a judgment.
2. In an action on a bond, payable in foreign currency, the value thereof in the currency of this state must be specified in the writ, otherwise there can be no judgment by default.

Opinion:
It appears in this suit that a common order and judgment has been taken against Morris, the defendant in the court below, and against Ewing as sheriff, the return on the writ being " executed and escaped." The court is of opinion that those proceedings against Ewing were not authorized by law, and may be highly unjust; because by law sheriffs are only culpable when escapes are -willfully or carelessly permitted by them, and such facts must be ascertained by a jury in a special action on the case. And it further appears that this suit is founded on a bond for foreign currency, and the value thereof in the current money of this state is not specified in the writ, which the court is of opinion was indispensable, this being a judgment by default. Therefore, it is considered by the court that the judgment aforesaid be reversed and set aside, and that the plaintiff recover of the defendant his costs in this behalf expended, which is ordered to be certified to the said court.