The proceedings mentioned in this chapter may be taken upon the return of an execution unsatisfied, issued upon a judgment recovered in an action against joint debtors, in which some of the defendants have not been served with the summons by which said action was commenced, so far as relates to the joint property of such debtors, and all actions by creditors to obtain satisfaction of judgments out of the property of joint debtors are maintainable in like manner and to the same effect.