Case Name: Rew against Barker
Court: New York Supreme Court
Jurisdiction: New York
Decision Date: 1823-10
Citations: 2 Cow. 408
Docket Number: 
Parties: Rew against Barker.
Judges: 
Reporter: Cowen's Reports
Volume: 2
Pages: 408–410

Head Matter:
Rew against Barker.
On error from the court of c. in the rCe°of the law, for Mng^amended by that court, remains in the court otherwise°this court have mencfit them-
^ . framing a spen.aI n ict in be amended rorI6’tofterth¡s court, joinder eeveraTnotfces especmUy-6nt i where tKe delay ia accounted for*, as where, by mistake, a sale, in question upon the trial below was in the special verdict, stated to have been after, instead of before, the suit brought.
After joinder in error, the party cannot allege diminution, and have a certiorari
Error, from the Common Pleas of the county of Onon- - mt . , . . . , _ , _ daga. The action was brought, in the Court below, by Barker against Rew, on a warranty of title in a horse, bought by Barker of Rew. . A verdict having been found for the plaintiff, a motion was made for a new trial, on a case. The motion was denied, and leave given, by the Court, to turn . . , _. , . , , the case into a special verdict; on which the present writ error was brought. In making up the special verdict, the purchase of the horse was, by mistake, stated to have been on the 19th November, 1819, being after the time when the suit, as appeared by the record, was commenced in the Court below; whereas it should have been Nov. 1818. An issue of in nullo est erratum, had been joined here, and the cause noticed for argument several times, when the defendant in error discovered this mistake; and, as soon after as possible, moved for, and obtained an amendment, according to the fact, in the Court below. This was at August term °f that Court, 1823; and now,
S. A. Foot,
moved to amend the return, so as to make it correspond with the amended verdict in the Court below. He referred to 2 Dunl. Pr. 703, and the cases there cited, and Tillotson v. Cheetham, (3 John. Rep. 95)
S. Van Rensselaer, contra.
A writ of error, to an inferior Court, removes, in judgment of law, the record itself; (2 Tidd. 1089,90 ; 3 Caines’ Rep. 86, 7; 3 John. Rep. 444;) though it is otherwise of a writ of error to the Supreme Court. (3 John. Rep. 98.) In both cases, execution issues from the Supreme Court: in one, because the record is removed there—in the other, because it remains there. If, then, the record was removed, the Common Pleas had no right to amend ; (1 R. L. 127;) and there is nothing to amend by in this Court. It is too late to move for an amendment, after having pleaded in nullo est erratum. The defendant in error, could not, at this stage of the proceedings, even allege diminution, which is merely for the piupose of supplying defects. This is never allowed in order to question the truth of the record certified. (Bac. Abr. Error, (E.))
If the Error is merely formal, there is no need of an amendment. If it is matter of substance, and yet may be amended, there is no need of a Court for the correction of errors. The Court below may amend away the plaintiff’s rights, at discretion.
Again : the objection, of laches, is sufficient. Not only is there an issue joined, but the cause has been several times noticed for argument.

Opinion:
Curia.
The delay of,making this motion is fully accounted for; and the objection, of laches, fails. It is true, as contended, that here is a joinder in error, which admits the return to be perfect. It is, therefore, too late to allege diminution.| and no certiorari can be awarded. But that objection does not reach the case. The office of a certiorari is to bring Up matter of record, omitted in the return. The object here, is to amend, by the alteration of a date, in such a manner as plainly to subserve the ends of justice; and we think the case of Tully v. Sparkes, (2 Ld. Raym. 1570; 2 Str. 369,) fully justifies the motion. That case Was error from the K. B. to the Exchequer Chamber. A motion was made in the latter Court, for leave to amend imperfections in the record. They refused this, in the first instance, but gave time for applying to the K. B. which amended; and the Exchequer Chamber afterwards made a corresponding amendment in the transcript, and this too, after a joinder in error and argument in that Court. It is said, the Court below could not amend, because the record was brought up by the writ of error. But this is not so. For the purposes of amendment, it remains in the Court below; and the Exchequer Chamber considered it so, in Tully v. Sparkes, and proceeded accordingly. This case, with others to the same point, are cited as sound law, in Tillotson v. Cheetham, (3 John. Rep. 95.) The Court below have amended, as in Tully v. Sparkes. But suppose the record here, we would amend it ourselves. (Pease et al. v. Morgan, 7 John. Rep. 468.) The principle of this case was acted upon in Price v. M Evers, (Col. Cas. 41,) in the Court of Errors. The inaccuracy of the special verdict arises from the mere oversight of the Judge in the Court below. It comes within the very common-principle of amendments, that it is a mistake of an officer; and the motion must be granted.
Rule accordingly.