Ex parte Benson
New York Supreme Court
Benson, executor of Lawrence, recovered judgment be> fore a justice of the peace of Chenango county, against John Miller, who appealed to the C. P. The justice’s return stated a judgment in the cause of Benson v. Miller, without the addition of executor ; and after the cause was on trial before the jury, the attorney for the plaintiff objected the variance ; the appeal bond reciting a judgment in favor of Benson as executor.
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Benson, executor of Lawrence, recovered judgment be> fore a justice of the peace of Chenango county, against John Miller, who appealed to the C. P. The justice’s return stated a judgment in the cause of Benson v. Miller, without the addition of executor ; and after the cause was on trial before the jury, the attorney for the plaintiff objected the variance ; the appeal bond reciting a judgment in favor of Benson as executor. The C. P. deemed the variance material, and dismissed the appeal ; but refused to award any costs to the appellee, except of the application. This court were now moved…
1Per curiam
We think the C. P. were right. The parties were not before them for any purpose except the motion ; and they were not bound, even if they had jurisdiction, to award the regular and ordinary costs of the cause. These follow, only where the suit comes into court. Here it never was there. There was a want of jurisdiction as to the cause itself; and when we say the C. P. has jurisdiction of the parties for the purpose of awarding costs, we mean the costs of the motion; the maU ter alone upon which the court can act.
Motion denied.
2Cited by3 opinions
- Harriott v. New Jersey RailroadNew York Court of Common Pleas · 1858
- Bernhard v. RiceNew York Supreme Court · 1891
- Burnham v. RangeleyU.S. Circuit Court for the District of Maine · 1847