Caudill v. Tharp
Caudill v. Tharp
Opinion of the Court
Opinion by
Elihn M. Tharp, the plaintiff Delow, sued by action of assumpsit, in the district court of Henry county, to recover from James Caudill, surviving partner of Hiram V. Smith, the amount due upon a promissory note. The writ of summons was issued, in obedience to the terms of the precipe filed by the plaintiff’s attorney; and directed to the sheriff of Lee county. The sheriff made return of the writ to the district court of Henry county, showing service on the defendant, Caudill, in Lee county. There being no appearance at the term of the court to which the writ was returnable, on part of the defendant, judgment was entered by default for the plaintiff.
The cause is here, at the instance' of the defendant below, on the following assignment of errors :
1. The court rendering the judgment had no jurisdiction of the cause, when they rendered the judgment.
2. The judgment was taken by default, and without any legal service of the writ.
3. The whole proceedings were coram non judice.
4. The writ was directed to, and served in the wrong county, and there was no' appearance by defendant.
The errors assigned put in question'the jurisdiction of the court below, as to the matter involved in this action at the time of the rendering of the. judgment in this cause. The objection presented is predicated by the agreement of counsel for the plaintiff in error, upon the record, which, by the precipe, writ of summons, and the return of the sheriff, shows
In the proceeding complained of here, does the record show that the plaintiff below is justified by the provision of the statute 1 The declaration and the copy of the note which is the foundation of the action, allege and show that the contract was made in Henry county. Nothing appears here to this court to contradict the legal presumption that the plaintiff, (having been in Henry county at the time of making the contract,) still resided there at the time of the issuing of the summons and rendition of the judgment. The statute does not require that the plaintiff before instituting his suit shall show by affidavit or otherwise that he resides in the county within which he commences his suit, and that the contract was payable or occurred there. The plaintiff is allowed thus to sue in the two instances : when “ the debt, contract or cause of action occurred in the county where he resides,” or when “ the
The other errors assigned, being ’all founded upon the same facts presented by the first, and depending upon the same legal principles above considered, it is not necessary to examine them. •
' Judgment affirmed.
Reference
- Status
- Published