Davant v. Webb
Davant v. Webb
Opinion of the Court
In this case the plaintiff’s attorney stated, on the argument, that if the defendant’s
3d. It is hardly necessary to notice the third ground. There was, certainly, nothing in the case which could create a presumption of payment. If twenty years after an infant attains full age, are allowed to pass away before he demands an account from his guardian, then the bond will be presumed to be paid. Here, however, the bill was filed within fifteen years after the date of the bond, and in 1842 a decree was obtained establishing the indebtedness of the guardian. It is, therefore, plain that there is no ground on which to rest the presumption of payment.
4th. To the fourth ground, which claims that deductions, other than those made by the verdict, ought to be allowed, it is a very sufficient answer to say that the defendant has been allowed all which her pleading demanded. It is true, the rejoinder alleges that the guardian accounted with the ward, and paid hint the whole sum to
As this is the first case, since Norton, Ordinary, vs. Wallace, in which the manner of stating the objections to the decree against the principal by the surety, has been presented to the Court, we think it best to seize the occasion to give some directions on the subject. Strictly, the objections available to the surety are not pleadable in regular form; for if they were, every successive objection would lead to new pleading and new issues. This multifariousness must be avoided. Still the decree is necessarily set out in answer to the plea of performance, and its effect, prima facie though it be, must, in some way, be avoided by pleading, to enable the surety to have the benefit of his defence in evidence. A general rejoinder alleging “ that for various causes, and in divers particulars, the said decree is not, and ought not to be, binding upon him,” and concluding to the country, accompanied by a separate statement and notice in writing, of the various matters intended to be relied upon in correction of the decree, is, perhaps, the best course which can be adopted. The Court therefore directs this as the future practice, and that a copy of the statement, filed with the rejoinder, shall be served, by the party pleading, on the adverse party, at least ten days before the trial of the cause. If these directions be not complied with, no proof will be heard to impugn the decree ; and when complied with, no proof will be heard of other errors that those pointed out in the written statement hereinbefore directed.
5th. In answer to the fifth ground, the presiding Judge states that the plaintiff’s and defendant’s attorneys, together, made the calculation by which the verdict was written.
The motion is dismissed.
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.