Case Name: Jacob Stults, Mary Obart, and John Stults against John F. Outcalt
Court: New Jersey Supreme Court
Jurisdiction: New Jersey
Decision Date: 1822-02
Citations: 6 N.J.L. 158
Docket Number: 
Parties: Jacob Stults, Mary Obart, and John Stults against John F. Outcalt.
Judges: 
Reporter: New Jersey Law Reports
Volume: 6
Pages: 158–158

Head Matter:
Jacob Stults, Mary Obart, and John Stults against John F. Outcalt.
ON CERTIORARI.
Ill an action against three, the return of the summons must shew on whom it was served, and on whom not; and such return cannot be dispensed with, unless all the defendants appear.
The opinion of the court was delivered by Justice Eord.
Boggs, attorney for plaintiff in certiorari.

Opinion:
Ford, J.
A summons issued in this case against all three of the defendants upon contract, and was returned by the constable " duly served," without certifying on whom he served it, or on whom he did "not, although the statute is positive on him to endorse the time and manner of service. Jacob Stults was the only one who appeared oh the return day of the summons, and he pleaded for himself alone, and the other two being proceeded against in their absence, and no return by - the constable under his oath of office, that they could not be found. This court has uniformly and repeatedly decided, that such return cannot be dispensed with, unless all the parties appear. 1 Pen. 155, Shinn v. Earnest; 1 South. 108, Studdiford v. Ferris. Therefore,
Let the judgment be reversed.