capias ad computandum

1 definition found

capias ad computandum - Bouvier's Law Dictionary, Revised 6th Ed (1856) :

  CAPIAS AD COMPUTANDUM, practice. A writ issued in the action of account 
  render, upon the judgment quod computet, when the defendant refuses to 
  appear, in his proper person, before the auditors, and enter into his 
  account. According to the ancient practice, the defendant, after arrest upon 
  this process, might be delivered on main-prize, or in default of finding 
  mainpernors, he was committed to the Fleet prison, where the auditors 
  attended upon him to hear and receive his account. As the object of this 
  process is to compel the defendant to render an account, it does not appear 
  to be within the scope of acts abolishing imprisonment for debt. For 
  precedents, see Thesaurus Brevium, 38, 39, 40; 3 Leon. 149; 1 Lutw. 47, 51 
  Co. Ent. 46, 47; Rast. Ent. 14, b, 15.