Court Opinion

ID: 6574328
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-07-20 19:32:50.478649+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T15:57:01.748170
License: Public Domain

The opinion of the court was delivered by
Redfield, J.
In this case the petitioner asks to be discharged, for the reason, that he is committed on mesne process, issued against his body by a justice of the peace, upon the affidavit of the creditor, when he offered himself to be examined, under the late statute, [Acts of 1845, p. 17,] in regard to the grounds, upon which the writ issued as a capias, and the justice declined examining him,— and also for the reason, that the creditor has already brought suit for the same cause of action, and attached property to twice the amount of the sum due.
It seems to as, that neither of these grounds is sufficient to entitle the petitioner to his discharge. The last ground alleged is matter of abatement merely, and should be presented in a traversable form, and as a direct answer to the suit, and not in this collateral manner. We might, with almost as much propriety, be" called upon to discharge one upon habeas corpus, committed on mesne process, because there was nothing due, — and so the suit was mere oppression.
In regard to the second ground urged, — the statute upon this subject is very broad undoubtedly, and the case of Hathaway v. Holmes, 1 Vt. 405, where the subject is very elaborately discussed by Prentiss, J., shows, that this remedy is of very extensive application. But we are not aware, that it has ever been resorted to and sustained in a case like the present. The refusal of the justice to ex*365amine the defendant in the process and the other proofs, and malte the proper determination of the matter, and, if favorable to the debtor, (or defendant,) give a certificate accordingly, may be, and, as the proof appears before us, would seem to be, improper. But we could not grant the certificate, because the legislature have given us no such authority; and to discharge the petitioner, upon the mere refusal of the justice to proceed to the hearing, might do injustice upon the other side. It would certainly be an unauthorized proceeding. The only effectual remedy in such case would seem to be a mandamus, commanding the justice to proceed in the matter. Certainly this is not the appropriate remedy.
Prisoner remanded and petition dismissed.