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22 Wend. 612

White v. Blake

New York Supreme Court

Decided June 15, 1840

New York Supreme Court · decided 1840-06-15

Special bail. The defendant became special bail for Asa F. Cochrane, a non-resident debtor in an action upon contract, ,at the suit of the plaintiff, brought in the New-York common pleas. In January, 1839, judgment was recovered in favor of the plaintiff. In June following a ca. sa. against the principal was returned non est. In December, 1839, the plaintiff commenced this action against the bail, who obtained an order enlarging the time to surrender until May last.

Cited by 2 later decisions — most recently November 1921

2 state decisions

Good law ✅— No negative treatment on recordhow we know

Decided 1840-06-15

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¶1By the Court,

Bronson, J.

¶2The plaintiff’s counsel is right in saying that if the principal had died after the return of the ca. sa., the bail could not have been relieved. But the case which he cites recognizes a distinction upon which we have often acted, that where the principal has been discharged under an insolvent act before the period allowed ex gratia for surrendering has expired, the bail are entitled to relief. The discharge is held equivalent to a surrender. The same rule was applied in a case where the right to imprison the principal was taken away by the legislature. Russell v. Champion, 9 Wendell, 462. There could be no use in surrendering the principal, when he would be entitled to an immediate discharge.

¶3In Stever v. Somberger, the bail moved on the ground that the principal was not originally liable to arrest, which was a matter for the principal—not the bail—to set up. But thebail always move where they have surrendered the principal, or where, as in this case, something has happened or been done which is equivalent to a surrender. i The bail are entitled to relief on payment of the costs of the suit against them..

¶4Motion granted.

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