Case Name: Smith, use of Higden, v. Nicholas L. Queen
Court: United States District Court for the District of Columbia
Jurisdiction: United States
Decision Date: 1808-06
Citations: 1 Cranch 483
Docket Number: 
Parties: Smith, use of Higden, v. Nicholas L. Queen.
Judges: 
Reporter: Reports of cases argued and determined in the Supreme Court of the District of Columbia (District of Columbia - reported by Mackey)
Volume: 1
Pages: 483–483

Head Matter:
Smith, use of Higden, v. Nicholas L. Queen.
In an action of debt on a sealed note, if the verdict be reduced below twenty dollars by payments proved at the trial, judgment of nonpros, must be entered.
Debt, on a note under seal. There were payments proved which reduced the amount due to seventeen dollars and thirty cents.
The verdict is, “we find for the plaintiff and find the sum due on the note to be seventeen dollars and thirty cents.”
Mr. Van Horne, for the defendant,
moved for judgment of non pros., under the Act of Maryland, 1796, c. 68, § 9.
Mr. Caldwell. The courts in Maryland are expressly limited. The jurisdiction of this Court is general. See the Act of Congress, February 27, 1801, § 5, [2 Stat. at Large, 106,] and May 3, 1802, § 4, [2 Stat. at Large, 194.]

Opinion:
If the defendant can defeat the plaintiff before a justice of the peace, by not pleading discount, &c., and can defeat the plaintiff in this Court by pleading discount, the plaintiff would be totally defeated.
The plaintiff cannot always ascertain what sum he ought to credit. The defendant may refuse to settle accounts, &c. Curia advisare vult. December term, 1808, judgment of nonpros, was entered. See Woollet v. Cloutman, Doug. 244; Wase v. Wyburd, Id. 246; Ailway v. Burrows, Id. 263; Wiltshire v. Lloyd, Id. 381, 382; Pitts v. Carpenter, 2 Str. 1191.