People v. Tweed — 50 How. Pr. 26

Majority

p. 26

COURT OF APPEALS.

The People of the State of New York, respondents, agt. William M. Tweed, impleaded, &c., appellant.

Decided November, 1875.

Headnote

Questions of practice—appeal dismissed.

Whether a defendant can be held to bail in a second action commenced for the same cause of a previous action discontinued, is not a matter of legal right, but is to be determined upon circumstances. When the second action is vexatious, the general rule is that the defendant shall not again be arrested, otherwise he may be.

Where the action is discontinued by an order of the special term, and the plaintiffs ordered to pay the costs, which they offer to do as soon as adjusted, the order of discontinuance is valid and effectual from the time of its service, and the plaintiffs would not be in fault until the defendant procured the costs to be adjusted and demanded.

It has been decided by this court that an order of arrest and attachment may be had in the same action, and that it is discretionary with the court below to determine when both remedies may be resorted to. Being discretionary, it is not reviewable here.

The question, whether the amount of bail in any case is excessive, is clearly a question of discretion with the court below, and not reviewable here. Whether the act of 1875, authorizing this action, is unconstitutional upon the ground that the legislature cannot interfere and authorize the attorney-general to prosecute for money belonging to the city of* county of New York, is a question which should be litigated on the trial of the action and not determined upon a special motion.

David Dudley Field, for appellant.

Wheeler H. Peckham, for respondents.

The questions presented on this appeal are: First. Whether the defendant can be held to bail in a second action commenced for the same cause of a' previous action discontinued. The defendant invokes the maxim,

p. 27

“ Nemo debet bis vexaris pro una et eadem causa ” (3 Moore, 607). Assuming that this is for the same cause of action as the previous action, it is always a question of fact, depending upon circumstances, whether the second action is vexatious. When such is the fact the general rule is that the defendant shall not be again arrested, otherwise he may be. The exemption is not a matter of legal right, but is to be determined by the circumstances (1 Chitty Rep., 161-273; K. B., 2 Wilson, 381; 2 Stra., 12-16; K. B., 1 Stra., 439 ; 14 J. R., 346; 8 Tanett, 24). The first action was discontinued upon the final decision of this court against the right to bring it in the name of the people of the state. A special act of the legislature was subsequently obtained authorizing it, and this action was commenced in pursuance of such act. The good faith of the former prosecution is not questioned, and the circumstances repel the idea of vexation. It is not reviewable in this court.

Second. The second point is that the first action was not discontinued when the arrest was made, and this is affirmed upon the ground that the costs of the former action had not been paid. The action was discontinued by an order of the special term, and the plaintiffs were ordered to pay the costs, which was offered to be done on behalf of the plaintiffs as soon as adjusted. We think the order of discontinuance was valid and effectual from the time it was served; and the plaintiffs would not be in fault until the defendant procured the costs to be adjusted and demanded, which was never done. The question as to the remedy of the party would have been presented to the court below as a question of practice for that court to determine.

Third. The next point urged is, that the order to hold to bail should be vacated, because the plaintiffs also procured an attachment. It does not appear that any property was levied upon by virtue of the attachment. Besides, this court has held that an order of arrest and attachment may' be had in the same action, and that it is discretionary with the court to

p. 28

determine when both remedies may be resorted to ( 50 N. Y., 456 ). Being discretionary it is not renewable here.

Fourth. It is also urged that the amount of bail is excessive. This is clearly a question of discretion with the court below, and so not appealable. There is no rule of law that a party shall not be held to bail in the sum of $3,000,000, especially in the case where the amount sought to be recovered is double that sum.

Fifth. The last question presented is that the act of 1875 authorizing this action is unconstitutional, upon the ground that the legislature cannot interfere and authorize the attorney-general to prosecute for money belonging to the city or county of New York. We agree with the counsel for the plaintiffs that this is a question which should be litigated on the trial of the action and not determined upon a special motion, for obvious reasons, urged by him. It is not improper, however, to say, that in the former action this court, while holding that the action could not then be prosecuted in the name of the people of the state, intimated that the legislature had the power to authorize such prosecution by statute. The act of 1875 was passed for that purpose. I have examined the brief of the learned counsel and the opinion of judge Cooley, cited by him (in 28 Mich., 228 ), containing an able discussion of the relations existing between the state government of Michigan and municipalities within its jurisdiction, and the right of the former to control the local concerns of the latter, and they have failed to convince me that the legislature of this state does not possess full power, except as restricted in the constitution, to control by direct legislation the local affairs of a public nature of any of the civil divisions of the state. This general proposition was affirmed by this court in The People agt. Flagg ( 46 N. Y., 401 ). It is, however, unnecessary to elaborate the question or definitely adjudicate it, as it more properly belongs to the trial of the action.

The appeal must be dismissed.