Norris v. Denton

Appeal from the Sixth District.

This was a bill praying relief against a judgment obtained by the plaintiff against the defendant in the District Court, and for discovery. The bill verified by the oath of the defendant sets forth that the plaintiff on the day of December, 1850, gave a promissory note to the defendant for $1200, payable on demand; that on the 24th January, 1851, defendant called at plaintiff’s residence, and producing the said note demanded payment, which the plaintiff then and there paid; that at the time of payment, the defendant laid the note on the table in the room where the money was paid, and “for sometime believed the note had passed out of defendant’s possession in this manner.” That plaintiff afterwards was called on by defendant’s attorney for payment of the note, which he refused, and stated that he had already paid it as above. Plaintiff then called on defendant, and asked what he meant by placing his note in the hands of an attorney for collection, which had been once paid, &c. Defendant appeared much mortified at what had been done, and asked plaintiff to say nothing about it, and defendant said he would get the note from the attorney and “surrender the same to the plaintiff.” This he failed to do, and suit was brought for its recovery, and judgment had against the plaintiff on the day , 1852, for the amount of the note. That the note was fraudulently removed from the table by the defendant when payment was made, and by him carried off without the knowledge or consent of plaintiff. That defendant left this State before suit was commenced, and his place of residence is to the plaintiff unknown—and all efforts to ascertain where he was to be found have proved fruitless, till within two or three days past, and since the rendition of the judgment, when plaintiff was informed that defendant is in New York, where defendant believes he resides, &c. That an execution has issued on th'e judgment, and the plaintiff’s property levied on, which will be sold by the sheriff unless this Court interposes, &c. Plaintiff therefore prays that an order be made upon defendant to surrender the note, or cancel the same; to enjoin the defendant from collecting the judgment, and for a discovery, &c.

April, 1852. The Court ordered an injunction, &c., which defendant’s counsel moved to dismiss, and filed reasons.

1st. That the cause of action set forth had been adjudicated upon. 2d. That the prayer for the injunction is against the defendant, and the injunction issued is against the sheriff of Sacramento county and others. 3d. Because the complaint shows no equity. 4th. Because the facts laid do not constitute a cause of action.

July 9th. This Court dissolved the injunction. Plaintiff moved to reinstate it, and offered proof that defendant was in New York, and engaged in business in that city, &c.