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39 Me. 140

Thayer v. Comstock

Supreme Judicial Court of Maine

Decided July 1, 1855

Supreme Judicial Court of Maine · decided 1855-07-01

On Facts agreed. Assumpsit. The plaintiff, living in-the county of Cumberland, brought this suit against the defendant, who lived in •the county of Washington, as administrator of the estate •of Taft Comstock, who died in that county. The estate was represented insolvent, and plaintiff appealed from the decree of the judge of probate, with respect to plaintiff’s claim disallowed by the commissioners.

Decided 1855-07-01

Shepley, 0. J.

¶1— An original writ maybe framed with an order to attach property, and for want thereof to take the body, or it may in form be a summons to appear, with or without an order to attach property, c. 114, § 23.

¶2All writs of attachment against administrators are to run against the goods and estate of the deceased, but the statute does not require that a writ of attachment should be used. c. 120, § 1.

¶3The plaintiff has, in many cases, an election to use a writ of one form or of another, but he must select one appropriate to his case; one which may be lawfully executed.

¶4When a party appealing from a judgment of commissioners on an insolvent estate commences an action and recovers a judgment against the administrator, no execution is to be issued to enforce the collection of the damages. The amount of the judgment therefor is to be added to the list of debts.

¶5The statute making provision for an equal distribution of such an estate, all attachments made prior to a representation of insolvency are dissolved. An attachment made afterward would be illegal. A writ which commands an unlawful act is bad in form.

¶6The service of the writ which was used, was a correct service for such a writ. Blanchard v. Day, 31 Maine, 494.

¶7The writ in this case was abateable, but there does not appear to have been any motion made or plea filed to have it abated or quashed. It is now too late. By agreement of parties, the case will stand for trial.

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