Case: James M. Gibson and John P. Brown, plaintiffs in error, vs. Hewes Scull, defendant in error
Abbreviation: Gibson v. Scull
Decision Date: 1826-04
Docket Number: 
Citation: 1 Ark. Terr. Rep. 36
Volume: 1
Reporter: Reports of Cases Argued and Determined in the United States Superior Court for the Territory of Arkansas, from 1820 to 1836
Court: Superior Court of the Territory of Arkansas
Jurisdiction: Arkansas
Parties: James M. Gibson and John P. Brown, plaintiffs in error, vs. Hewes Scull, defendant in error.
Judges: 
Pages: 36–37

Head Matter:
James M. Gibson and John P. Brown, plaintiffs in error, vs. Hewes Scull, defendant in error.
Defendants in attachment may appear and plead without entering special bail to the action, and then the property attached is considered as a substitute for bail.
April, 1826.
— Error to Arkansas Circuit Court, determined before Benjamin Johnson and Andrew Scott, judges.

Opinion:
Opinion ob the Court. — The only question which we have to consider is, whether Gibson and Brown, the defendants in the court below, had the right to appear there and plead to the attachment, without first filing special bail to the action. We have no doubt this right is given to defendants in all cases upon attachment. The act of 1823 (Acts 1823, p. 6) provides, " that in all cases upon attachment, the defendant may appear and plead the same as in other cases, provided that when such defendant does not enter into special bail as is now prescribed bylaw, the property shall be and remain in the hands of the sheriff until the final determination of the suit." From the provisions of the above act, we think it clear, that defendants in attachment may in all cases appear and plead without giving bail, and that the property attached by the sheriff is considered as a substitute for bail. We are, therefore, of opinion that the court erred in refusing to hear the defendants unless they filed special bail to the action. Reversed.