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10 Watts 443

Gordon v. Commonwealth

Supreme Court of Pennsylvania

Decided September 15, 1840

Supreme Court of Pennsylvania · decided 1840-09-15

This was an action of debt by the commonwealth of Pennsylvania, at the suggestion of Elias J. Pettibone and others against Joseph C. Gordon and others, founded upon the official bond of the said Gordon, as sheriff of Warren county, to recover certain money collected by him on executions.. The plaintiff entered a rule of reference under the compulsory arbitration law, and obtained an award in his favour.

Decided 1840-09-15

Per Curiam.

¶1Such an action as this, though instituted in the name of the commonwealth for the use of a party grieved, is strictly a civil suit, and therefore within the very letter of the eighth section of the act of 1836. Even a qui tarn action to recover a penalty, has been deemed a civil suit both here and in England; and how much more is an action for a private injury to be deemed so where the name of the commonwealth, as a common trustee, has been introduced into the security only to make it afford a re-medyfor all who should be injured. That.there is anything in the nature of such a remedy to make it an impracticable or unfit subject of arbitration, has not been pretended; and there is therefore no ground for the allegation of error.

¶2Judgment affirmed.

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