Opinion
12-09-1926
MASUCCI v. TIERNO.
Donohue & O'Brien, of Newark, for the motion. Pasqualino C. Corbo, of Newark, opposed.
Action by Ubaldo Masuccl against Rosario Tierno. On motion to discharge order to hold defendant to bail under capias ad respondendum. Motion denied.
Donohue & O'Brien, of Newark, for the motion.
Pasqualino C. Corbo, of Newark, opposed.
SMITH, J. The defendant was arrested upon an order based on affidavits showing mayhem, and application is made to dismiss the order to hold to bail and to discharge the bail on the ground that the affidavit is entitled, in the cause, and that there is no proof in the affidavit to show that the defendant is a nonresident or that he intends to depart from the state, and that there is nothing in the order finding any such fact.
I am not satisfied that the order should be discharged because the affidavits and order are entitled in the cause, because the parties are fully stated in the affidavits and in the order, and reference is made that a suit is about to be started by the proposed plaintiff against the proposed defendant, and therefore the caption may be discarded as surplusage. In fact, it is a mere title and not a title in a cause, as no reference is made to any court on the face of the order or affidavits. The action, however, is one for mayhem, and the court is of the opinion that no special cause for holding the defendant to bail must be shown where the action is of such a character.
Section 56 of the Practice Act (3 Comp. St. 1910, p. 4068), provides for the exceptions where capias may be issued in actions. They are: (a) Seduction, outrageous battery, and mayhem; or (b) recovery of damages for misconduct or negligence of a public official; or (c) proof of special cause as heretofore for holding the defendant to bail.
It will be noted that the plain construction of this section is that special cause for holding the defendant to bail is not required where the charge is one of those stated in paragraph (a) supra. This is so held in Wert v. Strouse, 38 N. J. Law, 184, at page 188, where the action was by a father for seduction of his daughter. The exception is also recognized in Hufty v. Wilson, 78 N. J. Law, 241, at page 242, 74 A. 137, and Logan v. La'wshe, 62 N. J. Law, 567, 41 A. 751.
I might say that I have examined the case of Vitalano v. Roffo, decided by our Supreme Court November 2, 1925, 130 A. 815, where the capias was set aside on the ground that the papers in the case were entitled in the cause, and also on the ground that the order did not adjudicate that the defendant was a nonresident or intended to depart the state to avoid answering the judgment. The court, however, refers to Hufty v. Wilson, supra, for its authority, which recognizes Wert v. Strouse, supra, and, under the circumstances, I feel it my duty to also deny the motion on this latter ground.