Case Name: Avery v. Wetmore - (Sheriff.)
Court: Connecticut Superior Court
Jurisdiction: Connecticut
Decision Date: 1786-03
Citations: 1 Kirby 48
Docket Number: 
Parties: Avery v. Wetmore — (Sheriff.)
Judges: 
Reporter: Connecticut Reports
Volume: 1
Pages: 48–49

Head Matter:
Avery v. Wetmore — (Sheriff.)
If a sheriff be attached in a civil suit, the process is abatable.
This action was instituted against tbe sheriff, for tbe default of one of bis deputies, by writ of attachment, and tbe sheriff’s body arrested. He pleaded in abatement, that during bis continuance in tbe office of sheriff, bis person was not liable to arrest or imprisonment, by civil process; and for cause alleged, that as tbe sheriff is eos-officio beeper of tbe prison, an imprisonment .of bis person would operate as a release to tbe prisoners of tbe county. On the plea of abatement, tbe case was appealed to tbe Superior Court — and for tbe reason alleged in tbe plea tbe process abated.

Opinion:
If'was then contended on tbe part of tbe plaintiff, that tbe suit ought to proceed as a summon, and to cease only in its operation against tbe person of tbe sheriff. But tbe court said, that the mode of process being improper, it must abate, in toto.
Note. — The substance of this report was given me by Mr. Huntington.
N. B.— It is the practice of all courts in the state of Connecticut, to try pleas in abatement without any answer. If'the plaintiff chooses, he may demur or traverse, but if he' does not choose, he informs the court, ore ienus, what parts of the plea he denies, and the court direct an inquiry; but otherwise, it stands demurred to, and the record is, "plea in abatement sufficient, or insufficient."
Note.— In this county, March term, 1784, the court established a standing rule for computing interest on obligations, where one or more payments have been made — Which follows — Compute the interest to the time of the first payment; if that be one year or more from the time the interest commenced; add it to the principal, and deduct the payment from the sum total. If there be after payments made, compute the interest on the balance duo to the next payment, and then deduct the payment as above; and in like manner from one payment to anotlier, till all the payments are absorbed; provided the time between one payment and another be one year more. But if any payment be made before one year's interest hath accrued, then compute the interest on the principal sum duo on the obligation for one year, add it to the principal, and compute the interest on the sum paid, from the- time it was paid, up to the end of the year; add it to the sum paid, and deduct that sum from the principal and interest added as above. If any payments be made of a less sum than the interest arisen at the time of such payment, no. interest is to be computed but only on the principal sum for any period.