Pierce v. Cobb
Pierce v. Cobb
Opinion of the Court
Opinion oe the Court by
On the question as to the service of process on the infant appellant, we incline to the opinion that the facts returned by the sheriff show a valid service, according to the 81st section of the Civil Code, even if it sufficiently appeared that the appellant was at the time under 14 years of age. Said section provides that—
“Where the defendant is an infant, under the age of 14 years, the service must be upon him and his father or guardian; or, if neither of these can be found, then upon his mother, or any other white person having the care or control of the infant. Where the infant is over 14 years of age, service on him shall be sufficient.”
The sheriff’s return on the attachment states that he delivered a “summons to Daniel Pierce and to Mary Elizabeth Pierce, his infant daughter.”
But it is not distinctly shown that the appellant was at the time under 14 years of age. In the absence of satisfactory proof to the contrary, the sheriff must be presumed to have done his duty under the sanction of his oath; and we do not think the mere expression of an opinion by a single witness that the party was “about thirteen years of age” is sufficient to repel the presumption that the officer properly served the summons upon due inquiry and information as to the age of the infant.
Without renewing at length the transactions and proceedings
Wherefore, the judgment is affirmed.
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.