Case Name: Fitch v. Hall
Court: Connecticut Superior Court
Jurisdiction: Connecticut
Decision Date: 1786-02
Citations: 1 Kirby 18
Docket Number: 
Parties: Fitch v. Hall.
Judges: 
Reporter: Connecticut Reports
Volume: 1
Pages: 18–19

Head Matter:
Fitch v. Hall.
A surrender of tlie principal in court by tlie bail, is to be proved only by tbe record, and cannot regularly be pleaded as matter in pais.
AotioN by' tbe sheriff oh a bail bond. Tlie defendant pleaded, that on tbe 1st day of April, A. D. 1779, while the action -was pending in court, and before final, judgment was rendered, the defendant did tender his principal to the plaintiff (he then being sheriff, etc.) to be taken into custody in discharge of his bond; but the sheriff refused to receive him. And that afterwards (to-wit), on the first Tuesday of April, 1779, while the action was still pending against his principal, the defendant did deliver him up in open court in discharge of his bond, and requested to be discharged therefrom; but the court neglected to make any record thereof, or to receive him into custody.
The plaintiff demurred specially. 1st. Because of duplicity. 2d. For that the several matters pleaded were insufficient.

Opinion:
By the Court.
The plea in bar is insufficient, not on the .ground of duplicity; for though two matters are plead, they are not sufficient matters: Averments immaterial require no traverse, and are mere surplusage. But the fault is in pleading a surrender of the principal in court as a matter in pais, and not a matter of record. Croke Ja. 402; 3 Buls. 192, Austin v. Monk; Hobart, 210; 1 Levinz, 211; Raymond, 50; Vin. A. P. B. A. 492, pl. 8; Poph. 185, 186; Keb. 761, 816. Every transaction in a court of record, pertaining to a process, of which the surrender of the principal in discharge of bail is one, regularly becomes a matter of record, and must be shown by record only, and plead accordingly.