Opinion
April 26, 1907.
R. Floyd Clarke [ Francis S. Turner with him on the brief], and Bela D. Eisler [ Robert Goeller with him on the brief], for the appellant.
William D. Leonard, for the respondent.
The defendant appeals from an order denying a motion to vacate an order of arrest, and asserts that the affidavit upon which said order of arrest was granted is insufficient.
The action is for fraud. To obtain the order of arrest the plaintiff swore as of his own knowledge that he purchased of the defendant an oil painting, relying upon the representation that it was made by a well-known and celebrated Dutch artist named Mauve; and that the defendant made said representation with knowledge of its falsity and with intent to deceive and defraud the plaintiff. It is claimed that the plaintiff could not have had personal knowledge of all the facts sworn to, and that, therefore, the affidavit is entitled to no more force than if sworn to on information and belief. When the plaintiff purchased the picture he supposed it was painted by Mauve. It is impossible to see how he can now personally know who painted it, or what knowledge the defendant had on the subject. He does not pretend to be an expert, and he makes the statement as a fact and not as an opinion. If we had proof of the facts from which the plaintiff makes the deduction sworn to, we might or might not be able to make the same deduction. Section 557 of the Code of Civil Procedure requires proof by affidavit that a sufficient cause of action exists against the defendant. Where the affiant cannot have had actual knowledge of the facts sworn to, his recklessness in swearing cannot obviate the necessity of furnishing proof of the facts and circumstances from which the court can draw the necessary conclusion.
The order should be reversed and the motion granted.
JENKS and GAYNOR, JJ., concurred; HOOKER and RICH, JJ., dissented.
Order reversed, with ten dollars costs and disbursements, and motion granted, with costs.