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Whereas the Constitution of this State Article 7th Section fifteen, declares that no person shall be imprisoned for debt, unless upon
refusal to deliver up his Estate for the benefit of his creditors in such manner as
Shall be prescribed by Law, or in cases where there is a strong presumption of fraud:
Be it Enacted by the people of the state of Illinois represented in the general assembly,
Sect[Section] 1st That hereafter no person shall be arrested, imprisoned, or held to bail Either on
mesne or final process, unless the creditor or his agent or attorney, bring a credibal person, Shall first make affidavit before the before
the clerk or other officer whose duty it may be to issue the capias, which affidavit in addition to that of indebtedness, Shall expressly state that
the person sought to be arrested, imprisoned, or held to Bail has property in his
own right, and has refused to surrender the same for the benefit of his creditors
in manner prescribed by Law, or that he has removed his property, or transferred the
same to others, with intent to defraud his creditors, or that he intends to remove
or transfer his property with that intent, or that he has incured the debt with fraudulent intent, or in the capacity of executor or administrator,
or of collector or Trustee of any public money, and the said creditor, or his agent
or attorney making said affidavit Shall also give a Bond with one or more sufficient
Sureties, to be approved by the office issuing said
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capias, to the people of the state of Illinois, for the use of the person sought to be arrested, imprisoned[,] or held to bail, in double the amount Sworn to, Conditioned for satisfaction and
payment of all costs which may be awarded to the defendant and also all damages which
shall be recovered against the plaintiff for unlawfully suing out such capias, which bond and affidavit shall be filed in the office of the clerk or other officer
issuing said the Capias, and any capias that Shall be served without such affidavit and bond first taken and filed, shall
subject the clerk or other officer issuing the same to an action of false imprisonment.
Sec.[Section] 2d This act shall apply to all Courts whatever, and to justices of the Peace within
this state.
Sec 3d So much of any former act or acts as may be repugnant to the provisions of this act
is hereby repealed.2
Sec 4th hereafter the penalty in any bail Bond for debt shall not be a greater Sum than one
hundred dollars, over and above the amount of debt Sworn to
This act to take Effect from and after the first day of April next.
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[ docketing
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an act defining the mode of issuing Process in courts of Law.
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2
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[12]/[24]/[1840]
[12]/[24]/[1840]
read 1
" 2
refd Judy
" 2
refd Judy
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[02]/[15]/[1841]
[02]/[15]/[1841]
rejected
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28
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8
1Abram R. Dodge introduced HB 54 in the House of Representatives on December 24, 1840. The House referred the bill to the Committee on the Judiciary.
The Committee on the Judiciary reported back the bill on February 15, 1841, recommending
its rejection. The House refused to order the bill engrossed for a third reading.
Illinois House Journal. 1840. 12th G. A., 156, 399.
Handwritten Document, 4 page(s), Folder 31, HB 54, GA Session: 12-2,
Illinois State Archives (Springfield, IL),