Swann v. Shemwell , 2 H. & G. 283 ( 1828 )

Buchanan, Ch. J.

delivered the opinión of the Court. It appears in this case, that a capias in withernam was sued out on a return by the sheriff' to a writ of replevin, that the goods were eloigned, and that on the return of the withernam, there was a voluntary appearance by the defendant in the replevin; which case was thereupon regularly proceeded in to trial, and Verdict for the plaintiff. But the verdict was set aside by the court, and the plaintiff non grossed, and judgment for costs entered for the defendant, on the ground, as stated, that the writ of withernam iras irregularly issued, because it did not appear that the sheriff had summoned the defendant in the replevin. We do not, however, think, as the case is presented to us, that there was sufficient ground for the decision of the court.

. Whether the capias in withernam irregularly issued or not, Was not a question properly before the court. The subsequent proceedings and trial were not founded upon the withernam, but were in the action of replevin; and though regularly the sheriff, in taking the goods in the replevin, should summon the defendant according to the mandate of the writ, yet if he neglects to do so, and the defendant voluntarily appears ip court and defends the suit, as was done in this case, the omission by the sheriff to summon him, is thereby cured.

The object of the Summons is to bring him .into court, to answer why he' tookthe property mentioned in the replevin; and if he chooses to appear and plead to issue, without being summoned, he thereby waives ail objection to the want of the formal notice prescribed by the writ; and it does not lie with him. afterwards to say, that he was not summoned by the sheriff, and that no day was given him in court. The capias in withwnam is not a proceeding in the replevin, but as a punishment on the taker or distrainer of the goods mentioned in the replevin, for his improper conduct in putting them out of the way, so that the replevin cannot be proceeded in. “It is distress against distress; one being taken to answer the other by way of reprisal.” If the defendant, before the return of the withernam, appears to the writ of replevin, and offers to plead non cepit, it will stay the withernam; as the defendant is not concluded by the return of an elongatit, {the only return the sheriff can make, where the goods cannot be found,) the sheriff’s being unable to find them not htinj of itself such proof that they were eloigned by the defendant, (which could not be unless he also took them,) as to subject him to the irrepleviable distress by writ of withernam, except when he holds out, and will not appear to the writ cf replevin, to show that he did not take them. But all this has nothing to do with the proceedings in the replevin, which if in themselves regular, progress as if no withernam had issued, and are unaffected by any irregularity in the issuing or return of the withernam; which is a proceeding separate and distinct from the replevin.

We therefore think, there iras no sufficient ground in this case, growing out of any supposed irregularity in issuing the capias in withernam, for setting aside the verdict; and that the plaintiff was entitled to a judgment on the verdict.

JUDGMENT REVERSED, AND JUDGMENT FOR THE APPELLANT ON THE VERDICT, &C.