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46 S.C.L. 385

Ford v. Rogers

Court of Appeals of South Carolina

Decided December 15, 1859

Court of Appeals of South Carolina · decided 1859-12-15

BEFORE WHITNER, J., AT MARION, FALL TERM, 1859. These were cases by domestic attachment. The bonds given for plaintiffs were by William Ford, and were taken without sureties. His Honor ordered the proceedings set aside. The plaintiffs appealed on the grounds: 1. That it was erroneous to set aside the proceedings for the supposed irregularity. 2. That the irregularity was cured by an appearance entered by defendants.

Decided 1859-12-15

¶1The opinion of the Court was delivered by

Whitner, J.

¶2This appeal seeks to avoid an order made on circuit, setting aside these proceedings in domestic attachment. ■ The Act of Assembly of 1839, “ Concerning the office and duties of magistrates,” (11 Stat. 19, sec. 18,) “conferring jurisdiction on these officers to grant attachments in certain, *386cases, contains a proviso, “ that before granting any attachments as herein authorized, every magistrate shall take bond with surety, of the party plaintiff or his .agent, in double the sum to be attached, payable to the defendant,” &c., with condition set forth.

¶3The bond on file in these cases is the' bond of one William Ford and without any surety.

¶4It has never been doubted, that attachment issued without any bond being taken, may be set aside, and it is equally manifest that the bond must conform to the requisites of the statute. -It is not necessary to consider the question, whether this may be regarded as the bond of the “party plaintiff or his agent,” as the objection that it is without surety is fatal.

¶5The Court is not authorized to institute an inquiry as to the responsibility of the obligor, neither has the law conferred on the magistrate a discretion to dispense with this requirement.

¶6It is rather matter of regret that a similar provision has not been made in cases of foreign attachment in the higher jurisdiction, whereby a remedy might be had against irresponsible plaintiffs, who sometimes greatly abuse this stringent proceeding.

¶7The matter suggested in the second ground of appeal was not brought to view on circuit. It need not now be considered, as we are assured the appearance was entered after the order was made. Why this was done, when the proceeding was ended, does not appear, nor perhaps would it be useful to inquire. If any thing is thought to have been gained thereby, it will be better determined when it may be proposed to follow it up. The motion of appellant is dismissed in each case.

O’Neall, Wardlaw, Withers, Glover and Munro, JJ., concurred.

¶8Motion dismissed.

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