Case Name: ELI ROBINSON vs. JOSIAH COLLINS and ELIHU HASTING
Court: Delaware Superior Court
Jurisdiction: Delaware
Decision Date: 1835
Citations: 1 Harr. 498
Docket Number: 
Parties: ELI ROBINSON vs. JOSIAH COLLINS and ELIHU HASTING.
Judges: 
Reporter: Delaware Reports
Volume: 1
Pages: 498–498

Head Matter:
ELI ROBINSON vs. JOSIAH COLLINS and ELIHU HASTING.
Service of a summons before a justice of the peace must be at least four days before" the return, exclusive of both the day of service and of return.
Certiorari to Justice Griffith.
Record. Copy of cause of action. “November 4, 1830, Balance due to Eli Robinson from us $29 46.
(Signed) JOSIAH COLLINS.
Witness, ELIHU HASTING.”
ELIHU HASTING.

Opinion:
Robinson vs. Collins and Hasting. Summons August 30, 1833, on a note of settlement dated November 4, 1830, whereon $34 47 is demanded, returnable 6th September next. Returned served personally on both, September 3, 1833. Defts. not appearing, judgment by default for $34 47; the constable having duly verified the service.
Exceptions. First. That the cause of action appears to have been a due bill showing a balance due the said Eli Robinson on settlement of $39 46, and judgment is rendered by default for $34 47. Second. For that the summons was not served on the exceptants at least four days before the day designated for them to appear before the justice, as the law requires.
The court reversed the judgment on the. second exception. The law requires (Sec. 3) that service of the summons shall be made at least four days before the day appointed for the defts'. appearance; which must be exclusive of both' the day of service and the day of return. The service here was on the second of September, and the day of appearance the sixth. It was therefore not in time.
Judgment reversed.