Case Name: The Phœnix Fire Insurance Company against Mowatt
Court: New York Supreme Court
Jurisdiction: New York
Decision Date: 1827-02
Citations: 6 Cow. 599
Docket Number: 
Parties: The Phœnix Fire Insurance Company against Mowatt.
Judges: 
Reporter: Cowen's Reports
Volume: 6
Pages: 599–599

Head Matter:
The Phœnix Fire Insurance Company against Mowatt.
The defendant having put in special bail to this action, was afterwards convicted of a conspiracy, and sentenced to the New-York penitentiary for the term of two years.
wif1p“1ta{)e ⅛! charged, be. c¡pai ⅛ imprisoned on convic-Ss^itbefor life; or for a long term in another state.
S. M. Hopkins, now moved that an exoneretur be entered on the bail piece.
„ , S. A. Foot, contra.

Opinion:
Curia.
We have not relieved special bail in this way, by reason of their principal being in prison, unless for life, or for a long term of years in another state. (1 John. Cas. 28. 18 John. 35.) A temporary imprisonment for any cause, might as well be urged, as the ground now taken. Bail take the risk of such an event. Time, perhaps, may be given to surrender, where they are pressed with a suit; but to grant an exoneretur at once, for every imprisonment, would render the security worthless.
Motion denied.