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We command you in our behalf, to cause public proclamation to be made in all places within your bailiwick, wheresoever you shall think it most convenient, that C. D. do, upon his allegiance, on the

day of personally appear before us in our court of Chancery, wheresoever it shall then be; and nevertheless, in the mean time, if you can find the said C. D. attach him, so as to have him before us in our said court at the time before mentioned, there to answer to us as well touching a contempt which he hath, as is alleged, committed against us, as touching those things which shall be then and there laid to his charge; and further to perform and abide such order as our said court shall make in this behalf, and hereof fail not, and bring this writ with you. Witness, &c.

Endorsement.

By the court, for not appearing, or answering, &c. 16. Endorseat the suit of A. B.

ment.

sion of rebel

After an attachment with proclamation is returned 17. Commis non est, let the following commission of rebellion be is-lion. sued; which is usually directed to four commissioners therein named and not to the sheriff, the better thereby to ensure its being executed.(a)

The people of the state of New-York, by the Grace of God, free and independent. To Greeting: Whereas, by public proclamation made in our behalf, by the sheriff of Westchester, in divers parts of the county, by virtue of our writ to him, C. D. hath been commanded, upon his allegiance, personally to appear before us, in our court of Chancery, at a certain day. now past. Yet he hath manifestly contemned our said

(a) Barton 83. Gilb. For. Rom. 77.

18.

19. Habeas gorpus.

command. Therefore we command you jointly and
severally, to attach, or cause the said C. D. to be attach
ed, wheresoever he shall be found within the state of
New-York, as a rebel and contemner of our laws, so
as that you have him, or cause him to be before us in
our said court on the
day of
where-
soever it shall then be, to answer to us as well touching
the said
as also such matters as shall be
then and there objected against him, and further to
perform and abide such order as our said court shall
make in this behalf, and hereof fail not. We also
hereby strictly command all and singular mayors,
sheriffs, bailiffs, constables, and other our officers
and citizens and servants whomsoever, that they by all
proper means, diligently aid and assist you and every
one of you, in all things in the execution of the premi-
In testimony whereof, we have caused these our
letters to be made patent. Witness, James Kent, &c.

If the commission of rebellion is returned cepimus corpus, that the defendant is taken, let him be brought into court by a habeas corpus, (the form of which see ante p. 85, 86.) for the purpose of entering his appearance. Upon this subject, the statute provides, that if the defendant be brought into court by writ of habeas corpus, or other process issuing therefrom, and shall refuse or neglect to enter his appearance according to the rules of the said court, or to appoint a clerk to act on his behalf, then and in such case the said court may appoint a clerk to enter an appearance for such defendant, and such further proceedings may be had in the said cause as if the party had actually appeared.(a)

If the return to a commission of rebellion is non est,

(a) 1 N. R. L. 490. sec. 10.

the court in England, will, on motion grounded on the return of the commission of rebellion, dispatch the sergeant at arms in quest of the defendant: and if the sergeant is also unsuccessful, and the defendant eludes his vigilance, a sequestration issues. This, like the commission of rebellion, is awarded on motion grounded on the return of the sergeant at arms, and is directed to commissioners therein named, which may be as follows:

tration.

The people of the state of New-York, by the Grace 20. Sequesof God, free and independent: To L. M. N. O. P. Q. R. S. Whereas, A. B. complainant, exhibited his bill of complaint into our court of Chancery, against C. D. defendant: And whereas, the said C. D. being duly served with a process of subpoena, issuing out of our said court commanding him, (under the penalty therein mentioned,) to appear and answer the said bill, hath hitherto refused so to do, and thereupon all process of contempt hath issued against him: And whereas, C. D. hath of late absconded, and so concealed himself, that the sergeant is not able to find him, as by the certificate of said sergeant appears. Know ye therefore, that we, in confidence of your prudence and fidelity, have given, and by these presents give to you, or any three or two of you, full power and authority to enter upon all the messuages, lands, tenements, and real estate whatsoever of the said C. D. and to take, collect, recover, and sequester into your hands, not only all the rents and profits of the said messuages, lands, tenements, and real estate, but also all his goods, chattels, and personal estate whatsoever: and thereupon we command you, any three or two of you, that you do at certain, proper, and

21. Process against a corporation.

convenient days and hours, go to and enter upon all the messuages, lands, tenements, and real estate, of the said C. D. and that you collect, take, and get into your hands, not only the rents and profits of all his real estates, but also all his goods, chattels and personal estates, and detain and keep the same under sequestration in your hands, until the said C. D. shall fully answer the complainant's bill, clear his contempts, and our said court make order to the contrary.

Witness, James Kent, &c. &c.

*

The first process against a corporation, is similar to that against common persons, but as corporations exIst only in the intendment of law, and cannot be served with personal process, the method of enforcing their appearance, is by distringas, instead of attachment.

The form of a distringas in such case is as follows: The people of the state of New-York; by the Grace of God, free and independent. To the sheriff of

The practice laid down in Cooper's Pleadings, and other elementary writers, in relation to the manner of proceeding against corporations aggregate, is evidently erroneous, in stating that the bill filed against them should pray for a distringas in the first instance, instead of a subpœna, nor is it easy to conjecture how this error has crept in, unless from the practice which prevails in England of issuing subpœnas before the bill is filed. though this is in violation of the statute of Anne. In chancery, the process of distringas against a corporation aggregate, is not, and ought not to be, issued in the first instance against them, nor until they incur the contempt of the court, by a disobedience to the subpœna in not appearing agreeably to its mandate. It is in the nature of an attachment against individuals, after the due service and return of a subpœna-This process is issued against a corporation for the purpose of distraining their goods and chattels, rents and profits, until they obey the mandate of the court, issued in the first instance agreeably to the prayer of the bill. Maddock, in his 2d volume, p 168. says, when a corporation are defendants, and they refuse to appear, no attachment is issued, but a distringas, (meaning thereby to appear to a subpœna) Again, it is stated in Blackstone's Commentaries, vol. 3. p. 445. that the process of distringas cannot be issued out till after the service of the subpæna. Turner, vol. 1. p. 14. of the Introduction, edition of 1804 says, that when a corporation are made defendants, and refuse to appear, an ap. plication ought to be made to the clerk for a distring as to enjoin an appearance, &c.

Greeting: We command you, that you make a distress upon the lands and tenements, goods and chattels, of the President, Directors and Company, &c.-(giving the style of the corporation,) within your bailiwick, so that neither the said President, Directors and Company, of, &c.—or any other person or persons for them, may lay their hands thereon, until our court of Chancery shall make other order to the contrary; and in the mean time, you are to answer unto us for the said goods and chattles, rents and profits, of the said lands, so that the said President, Directors and Company of, &c.—may be compelled to appear before us, in our said court of Chancery, wheresoever it shall then be, there to answer to us, as well touching the contempt, which as it is alleged they have committed against us, as also such other matters and things as shall be then and there laid to their charge, and further to perform and abide such order as our said court shall make in this behalf: and hereof fail not, and bring this writ with you.

[Witness.] James Kent, &c. &c.

Endorsemeut.

22 Endorse

ment.

23 Order to

By the court, at the suit of A. B. for want of appearance Order to take the bill pro confesso, vide ante. 76. take bill pro

:

confesso,

14

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