Grove v. Fresh
Grove v. Fresh
Opinion of the Court
delivered the opinion of the court:
The first objection to the decree is, that the proceedings upon which it is founded were too summary. However severely the expedition with which this cause was brought to a final decree may operate upon the appellant, it was warranted by the acts' of assembly, under which the . proceedings were had, and therefore forms no ground upon which this court can reverse the.decree.
The second, objection is equally untenable. It urges the reversal of the decree, because it decreed that the bill be taken pro confessó. That part of the decree by which the bill was adjudged to be taken pro confesso, was only intended to operate against the defendant Joseph Ward, against whom publication as a non-resident had been duly made; and as against him, it was indispensable to a find! decree in the cause. .The testimony taken under the commission being admissible only against Grove, and in no wise binding the interests of Ward.
To the third objection no greater weight can be given. It alleges multifariousness in the bill of complaint. Whether that allegation be true or false is wholly immaterial, it being
The fourth objection, which seeks to exclude the copy of the canal contract, introduced as evidence under the ex parte commission, is well taken if before the proper tribunal; on which question we mean to express no opinion. But concede the inadmissibility of the proof objected to, it is by no means certain that the other testimony in the cause does not render unnecessary the proof objected to ; but whether it does or does not, we do not design to decide, as this case will be remanded to the court of Chancery, where in all probability the question will never arise.
Although the decree of the chancellor is not reversed for any of the reasons assigned, there is to it a fatal objection, arising under the testimony in the cause. The appellant has been decreed to pay to the appellee the one-third part of two thousand dollars, the alleged net profits of the partnership transactions, without its being proved that any portion of that amount was ever received by him. The only evidence tending to show such a receipt, is that of Ambrose, who states that Grove informed him “ that he had had a settlement with the Canal Company, and had obtained a certificate for two thousand seven hundred and eleven dollars, sixty-eight cents, bearing date the latter part of December, 1833, or the 1st of January, 1834.” Until this money has been actually or constructively received, or has been lost, by the negligence or misconduct of Grove, no decree against him predicated upon
This court will sign a decree, reversing without costs the decree of the chancellor, and remanding this cause to the court of Chancery, that such further proceeding may be had therein, as may be necessary to a final decree upon the rights of all the parties, according to their respective equities.
CAUSE REMANDED.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- John D. Grove v. William H. Fresh
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- 3 cases
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- Published