Case Name: Matthew McCartney vs. Henry H. Betts
Court: New York Supreme Court
Jurisdiction: New York
Decision Date: 1845-02
Citations: 1 How. Pr. 73
Docket Number: 
Parties: Matthew McCartney vs. Henry H. Betts.
Judges: 
Reporter: Howard's Practice Reports
Volume: 1
Pages: 73–74

Head Matter:
Matthew McCartney vs. Henry H. Betts.
The original affidavit accompanying a plea must be served, a copy served is not a compliance with the rule.
Motion by defendant to set aside default, fyc., imth costs.—Action, assumpsit, declaration contains a count for goods, wares, &c., sold and delivered and the usual money counts; venue laid in Livingston county; declaration served on defendant 21st November last. On the 11th December last a plea and affidavit were drawn and sworn to by defendant, and copies were served on the clerk at Albany, (defendant’s attorney residing at Troy), for plaintiff’s attorney residing in Livingston county. Plaintiff’s attorney had entered default and judgment, before receiving the copy plea and affidavit. On their receipt, (the 19th December, 1844), he immediately wrote defendant’s attorney, and closed the copy plea and affidavit, with objections to the affidavit, stating that the rule required the original affidavit to be served, See., and offered to open default on conditions, one of which wTas that judgment should stand as security, to which defendant’s attorney refused to accede and insisted he was regular. It is not questioned that this was a case in which the plea should be sworn to under the rule.
A. K. Hadley, Defts Counsel. A. K. Hadley, Defts Atty.
P. Gansevoort, Plffs Counsel. S. Hubbard, Plffs Atty.

Opinion:
Beardsley, Justice.
If service of copy affidavit w7as not sufficient, then the default was regular, and defendant must be let in on terms, the judgment standing as security. The original affidavit should have been served, a copy was not a compliance with the rule (22 Wend., 644, note; Laws 1840, p. 333, §7 ; 25 Wend., 699). On payment of the costs of entering the default and all subsequent proceedings, including the costs of opposing this motion, the defendant may be let in to plead, the judgment standing as security.
Rule accordingly.