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12 Johns. 299

Clements v. Benjamin

New York Supreme Court

Decided August 15, 1815

New York Supreme Court · decided 1815-08-15

IN ERROR* on certiorari to a justice’s court. The certiorari, in this case, was brought to reverse a judgment of nonsuit. The return did not set forth what, the evidence before the justice was; but- merely that- after the plaintiff had closed the testimony on his part, and before the defendants had entered upon their defence, the plaintiff was nonsuited.

Cited by 2 later decisions — most recently March 1935

2 state decisions

Good law ✅— No negative treatment on recordhow we know

Decided 1815-08-15

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tj … ; ' Per Curiam.

¶1• • e There can be tio doubt, but that it is within •• • the province of a justice fco nonsuit a-plaintiff, when, in his nion, the testimony offered does not support the action, And if, upon the return to ,a certiorari, the evidence offered would, in the opinion of this court, have supported the action, or was proper, for the consideration of the jury, the judgment of non-suit will' be. reversed. , But the .evidence not being returned • ° m this case, we cannot say how* far it .supported the action. If . ■ 1 the return was imperfect, it was the duty of the plaintiff in error to have procured a further return to be made. We have repeatedly said, that the error complained of ought to appear affirmatively, otherwise,.we. are' to presume the judgment correct.

¶2The. justice, acted correctly in setting aside the imperfect and unfinished examination of the plaintiff’s witness. After the adiournment, for. the purpose of his recovering from his indispov. . 1 , , , . . r sition, it was the plaintiff’s duty to have him again m court, or assign some reason why he- was not there. It was the right of the defendant to cross-examine him; and he had a right to presume that the plaintiff would have him in court for that pur-

¶3Judgment affirmed.

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