JONES v. MAGILL.
ber of people are daily employed, as a ferry, a turnpike
road, a canal, a street, a furnace, a joint stock cotton factory,
conceived to be important and necessary to help out the case he had set forth in his
original bill.
After which, on the 23d of February, 1807, the defendants Yates and The Mayor
and City Council put in their answers separately. Yates admits, that the judgments
were rendered against him and the plaintiff as stated. But he denies all fraud and
misrepresentation as charged in the bill; and introduces sundry matters in avoidance
of the equity on which the plaintiff founded his claim to relief. On the 24th of the
same month the defendant McMechen answered, and stated his knowledge of the
manner in which the judgments had been obtained. And on the 14th of March,
1807, the defendant Story filed his answer; which it appears was sworn to before
a notary public of the State of New York, and certified under his signature and no-
tarial seal.
21st March, 1807.—KILTY, Chancellor.—This motion came on to he argued on a
motion to dissolve the injunction, principally on behalf of Alexander Story, one of
the defendants interested in, and claiming for himself or his assignee, Thomas C.
Jenkins, the money appearing due by the judgment enjoined; and has been delayed
for further notes and authorities for the complainant.
Under the order of the 23d of December the defendants were entitled to make this
motion without answering, or giving notice. But whether they cannot also have
the benefit of the answers filed, is a question, which it will be important, as to the
practice, to determine. It was strongly contended by the complainant's counsel, that
at this time no answer could be considered; and that the case rested on the propriety
of granting the injunction on the equity appearing in the bill.
The Chancellor has seen several cases, in the time of his predecessor, of injunc-
tions granted on similar terms; and he has found it expedient to follow those prece-
dents, in cases which appeared doubtful; and especially in those in which, from the
application having been delayed till the last moment, a further delay, for the purpose
of full consideration, would amount to a refusal; as it would have done in the pre-
sent case. But it may be doubtful, whether, in such cases, a refusal to grant the
injunction would not be the most proper course.
When the bill was presented to the Chancellor, his doubts arose as to the effect of
the manner of giving the judgment; and of the bond under the ordinance of The
Mayor and City Council. For there was not a sufficient charge of fraud, by Story,
to justify an injunction against him; and he could not be justly made answerable for
the fraud of Yates, as alleged in the bill. But supposing it possible that the law
might be as stated in the bill, the Chancellor ordered the injunction to be issued,
with the proviso before mentioned.
A defendant who is enjoined from pursuing his legal remedy, by the oath of the
complainant to the matter stated in his bill, has a right to appear immediately, with-
out waiting for a subpoena, and to put in his answer; which, if it denies the equity,
is generally sufficient to procure a dissolution. And if it comes in, so as to afford a
reasonable time, an order is granted, during the vacation, for hearing a motion at the
first term thereafter, on notice being given. And where, as in this case, notice is
previously given, there is no rule, or principle which can render the consideration
of an answer improper. Supposing the hearing to be only for the purpose of decid-
ing, whether the injunction ought to have been granted, ought the court to disregard
an answer which goes to shew, that the complainant was not in fact entitled to what
he claimed? or should the injunction be continued in opposition to such an answer,
for the purpose of taking it up at the succeeding term? The Chancellor recollects
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