Case Name: William H. Bessom vs. George T. McLaughlin
Court: Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court
Jurisdiction: Massachusetts
Decision Date: 1896-05-26
Citations: 166 Mass. 296
Docket Number: 
Parties: William H. Bessom vs. George T. McLaughlin.
Judges: 
Reporter: Massachusetts Reports
Volume: 166
Pages: 296–298

Head Matter:
William H. Bessom vs. George T. McLaughlin.
Suffolk.
March 11, 1896.
May 26, 1896.
Present: Field, C. J., Allen, Holmes, Knowlton, & Morton, JJ.
Poor Debtor — Recognizance.
A debtor arrested on mesne process recognized with surety before a magistrate within thirty days to deliver himself up for examination by some authorized court. The recognizance contained a recital that he desired to take the oath for the relief of-poor debtors, and that he did not intend to leave the Commonwealth, -but that he did not then desire a time fixed for his examination. Within the thirty days the debtor applied to a municipal court, to take the oath that he did not intend to leave the State, which, after due notice to the creditor, who was present at the time and place appointed for the examination, was refused, and a certificate to that effect was attached to the writ. The debtor, having waited after the examination until the certificate was attached to the writ, and until the court had stated that its duty in the matter was ended, during which time the officer had an opportunity to again take him into custody, then departed. Held, in an action against the surety on the recognizance, that the debtor’s neglect to give notice within thirty days of his desire to take the poor debtor’s oath was no breach of the recognizance.
Contract, against a surety upon a poor debtor’s recognizance. The case was submitted to the Superior Court, and, after judgment for the defendant, to this court on appeal, upon agreed facts, the nature of which appears in the opinion.
W. F. Kimball, for the plaintiff.
J. W. Corcoran, for the defendant.

Opinion:
Morton, J.
This is an action upon a recognizance entered into by the defendant before a master in chancery, under Pub. Sts. c. 162, § 28, as amended by St. 1888, c. 419, § 6, as surety for one Hillman, who had been arrested on mesne process in a suit brought against him by the plaintiff. The recognizance recites, amongst other things, that the defendant, " being interrogated by me, [the master in chancery,] says that he desires to take the oath for the relief of poor debtors, (and the oath that he does not intend to leave this Commonwealth, as alleged in the affidavit annexed to said writ,) but does not now desire any time fixed for his examination, and requests that his recognizance, with surety, may be accepted; that within thirty days from the day of his arrest he will deliver himself up for examination before some court authorized to act," etc.
The condition of the recognizance is that said Hillman, " some time within thirty days from the day of his arrest, as above mentioned, will deliver himself up for examination before some court authorized to act, as provided by chapter 419, Acts of 1888, giving notice of the time and place thereof in the manner provided by law, and appear at the same time and place fixed for his examination, and from time to time until the same is concluded, and not depart without leave of said court, making no default at any time fixed for his examination, and abide the final order of said court thereon."
Shortly after the arrest and recognizance, Hillman applied to the Municipal Court of Boston to take the oath that he did not intend to leave the State. Due notice was given to the plaintiff, who was present at the time and place appointed for the examination. The oath was refused, and a certificate to that effect was attached to the writ. Hillman waited in court until after his examination had been concluded and the certificate had been attached to the writ, and the sheriff had had ample and reasonable opportunity to take him into custody, and then departed, after a statement by the court that its duty in the matter was ended.
The plaintiff contends that Hillman's neglect to give notice within thirty days of his desire to take the poor debtor's oath is a breach of recognizance.
We do not think so. When Hillman was arrested, there were several courses open to him. He could give bail for his appearance at court, or go to jail and give notice of his desire to take the poor debtor's oath or the oath that he did not intend to leave the State, or both, or he could recognize with surety that he would deliver himself up for examination within thirty days. He chose the latter course. It was open to him under it to give notice of his desire to take either or both oaths. He gave notice of his desire to take the oath that he did not intend to leave the State. The recital in the recognizance did not bind him to attempt to take both oaths. What the recognizance bound him to do was to submit himself to examination, and that he did. If he had given notice of his desire to take both oaths, and had taken either, the surety would have been discharged. Pub. Sts. c. 162, § 30. Pending the recognizance and examination, the authority of the officer to hold him in arrest was suspended. Morgan v. Curley, 142 Mass. 107. Upon the refusal of the court to administer the oath, the officer was empowered to take him into custody again, but did not, though the debtor waited for him to do so; and there was ample and reasonable opportunity for the officer to take him, and the debtor then departed, as he had a right to do. There was therefore no breach of the recognizance. We think that the entry must be, judgment affirmed, and it is So ordered.