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1 Yeates 248

Finney v. M'Mahon

Supreme Court of Pennsylvania

Decided April 15, 1793

Supreme Court of Pennsylvania · decided 1793-04-15

The record stated the demand of the plaintiffs to be under forty shillings, and that the justice, on due proof made before him, had given judgment for the plaintiffs for seven stillings and sixpence and costs. The nature of the demand did not appear from the record, but on the defendant’s application to the justice, he had certified to the court a state of the facts as they appeared before him on evidence.

Decided 1793-04-15

By the court.

¶1It would be unreasonable to expect of justices of the peace a return to a certiorari drawn up with strict legal precision. It is obvious that they must be unacquainted with the forms of action. Care must be taken that they do not exceed their jurisdiction, but captious exceptions must not be allowed. ‘ ‘ Demands ’ ’ in the forty shillings act have always been restricted to those which arise ex contráctil and not ex delicto; but in this case it may be fairly inferred, that the justice did not exceed his jurisdiction from his representation of the facts-. The defendant took a bear skin to which he had no just pretensions. The plaintiffs demand reparation for the injury, and waving the tort, as it may fairly be sup*249posed, require the value of it from. him. The justice gives judgment for the value, as on an implied contract. We see no reason therefore to annul the proceedings before him.

¶2Judgment affirmed.

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