Opinion
February Term, 1897.
Present — Van Brunt. P.J., Barrett, Rumsey, O'Brien and Ingraham, JJ.
Order reversed, with ten dollars costs and disbursements, and application denied, with ten dollars costs. —
We think, upon the facts appearing at the Special Term, that it was error to issue a peremptory writ of mandamus. The city concedes the possession of a sum of money which the relator claims as assignee of one James A. Striker. This same sum of money, however, is claimed by said Striker, he claiming that the assignment by his attorney to the relator was invalid, and also by one Elizabeth L. Striker. It is perfectly apparent that there is here presented a serious dispute between different claimants for the same fund, and we do not think that upon this proceeding the relator has shown such a clear legal right to the money in the hands of the comptroller as would justify a peremptory writ of mandamus. We think the proper course would be for an action to be brought for the money in which the claims could be interpleaded and the money paid into court, where, upon the trial, such a judgment could be entered as would protect all parties. The order appealed from should, therefore, be reversed, with costs and disbursements, and the application denied, with costs.