Case Name: Amos Lentz vs. Richard Callin
Court: New Jersey Supreme Court
Jurisdiction: New Jersey
Decision Date: 1857-02
Citations: 26 N.J.L. 218
Docket Number: 
Parties: Amos Lentz vs. Richard Callin.
Judges: 
Reporter: New Jersey Law Reports
Volume: 26
Pages: 218–219

Head Matter:
Amos Lentz vs. Richard Callin.
1. It must clearly appear, by the constable’s return to an attachment, that some property was attached, or the justice cannot appoint a day for the hearing of the cause, and render judgment for the plaintiff.
2. It must be stated on the docket that proof was made of the due advertisement of the attachment.
Certiorari to Justice Parsons, in a case of attachment.
Argued before Justices Elmer and Haines.
Skillman, for plaintiff.

Opinion:
By the Court.
The judgment and proceedings must be set aside. It appears that the constable first endorsed on the writ a return that he had attached and inventoried a quantity of coal; and then immediately below, under the same date, he says he returns the writ for want of goods and chattels whereon to seize, to which he signs' his name. The justice appointed a day for the trial, and having heard witnesses, rendered a judgment for the plaintiff. It does not appear that he gave any direction in regard to the safe keeping of the coal, and whether it was in fact re tained by the constable, or, as is probable, given up to some person who claimed it, does not appear. To justify the justice in appointing a day of trial, some property must be attached, and this must appear by the explicit return of the constable.
Besides this defect, it does not appear that there was any proof of the advertisement of the attachment, as required by the statute. This being essential to entitle the justice to try the case in the defendant's absence, ought to be stated on the docket, as was held in the case of Conover v. Conover, 2 Harr. 187.