Case Name: Manhattan Company v. Smith, in custody
Court: New York Supreme Court
Jurisdiction: New York
Decision Date: 1803-04
Citations: 1 Cole. & Cai. Cas. 168
Docket Number: 
Parties: Manhattan Company v. Smith, in custody.
Judges: 
Reporter: Coleman & Caines' Cases
Volume: 1
Pages: 168–168

Head Matter:
Manhattan Company v. Smith, in custody.
THIS case was brought up from the mayor’s court; The application was to prevent the discharge of the defendant on account of the plaintiffs’ not proceeding to execution in due time, according to the act for the relief of debtors with respect to the imprisonment of their persons; the counsel for the plaintiff relied on Brantingham’s case, ante, p. 48. The court, without hearing any argument for the defendant, said the authority cited was conclusive.

Opinion:
Livingston, J.
acquiesced because it had been so decided, but confessed he did not believe the legislature intended the construction put upon the act by the court, should .ever be given to it. The rigour of the practice was, in his opinion, enough to condemn it, for he thought the neglect in the plaintiff ought to accrue to the advantage of the prisoner.