Hickey v. Forristal

Mr. Justice Walker

delivered the opinion of the Court:

One Parkhurst was arrested on a capias ad respondendum, issued by Forristal, a justice of the peace, and executed by Keys, as city marshal of La Salle. Hickey, appellant herein, entered himself as special bail, and an execution was after-wards issued against him under the statute, upon a judgment rendered against Parkhurst. He then filed a bill in chancery to enjoin the levy of the execution, upon the ground that the city marshal had no power to make the arrest under the capias, as it was addressed “to any constable of said city.” The court below dismissed the bill, and the complainant brings the record here.

In our opinion the complainant was entitled to his decree. There can be no question but that the arrest was illegal. The writ was issued by Forristal in the capacity of a justice of the peace, and was addressed only to a constable, and the city marshal had no more authority to make an arrest under it than would the sheriff or any private person.

But it is said the complainant has a remedy at law. Without stopping to inquire whether the remedy in this case would be complete at law, it is sufficient to say, that question should have been made in the court below. As it was not made, and as the subject matter of the bill is not foreign to the jurisdiction of a court.of equity, the complainant should have had a decree.

The decree is reversed and the cause remanded.

Decree reversed.