Hirschfield v. Franklin

Mr. Justice Heydenfeldt delivered the opinion of the Court. Mr. Chief Justice Murray and Mr. Justice Terry concurred.

1. The cognovit was good as an admission in pais after answer filed. It might be different if the cognovit was set aside by the Court, upon good cause shown, but such was not the fact here. For aught that we can tell from the record, the cognovit may have been given after answer filed.

2. If judgment had been entered on the cognovit, and by its authority, then the amount acknowledged would have been the sum of the judgment. But where upon declaration and answer denying the facts alleged, the acknowledgment is used as evidence, interest may be given by way of damages.

3. It does not appear that the defendant, Dyer, was served with process, or was ever in Court. For the purpose of sustaining the judgment, it must be intended that he was not. This would authorize a single judgment against the other defendant.

Judgment affirmed.