Case ID: ga_19/html/0033-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "Starnes, J.", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

No. 9.
    Caleb Tompkins, plaintiff in error, vs. N. J. Venable, defendant in error.
    [1.] Where it was shown tliat material words were wanting in an affidavit, for the appeal of a case in forma pauperis, a motion was made to supply those words by amendment, and it was shown that they had probably been omitted by mistake :> Meld, that the record might be amended in this respect.
    Case for words, in Cass Superior Court. Decision by Judge Teippe, September Term, 1855.
    Averdictwas rendered against Caleb Tompkins for $2,000, and he appealed informa pauperis. The'affidavit, as recorded was, “ that he was unable to give the security as now required by law, in cases of appeal; that he is advised and believes, that owing to his poverty, he is unable to give security as now required by law.” A motion being made to dismiss the appeal, Counsel for Tompkins moved to amend the record, by inserting the words omitted, and in support of this motion, produced the affidavit of James Milner, an Attorney, who swore “ that Tompkins brought to him an' affidavit as a pauper, and upon looking over the same with some care, he stated to Tompkins that it was correctly drawn, and that he believes-it was correctly drawn and in compliance with the Statute.” Also of John J. Word, an Attorney, that “ some one brought to him an affidavit as a pauper for his inspection, and upon looking over it he stated to said person that it was correctly drawn, and he believes it was drawn in conformity with law.” Also his own affidavit, “ that he procured the Clerk to^write the affidavit for him; that he carried it to Col. Word and Col. Milner, and both told him it was correct; and that he then delivered it to the Clerk ; that in fact, he was, at the time, unable to appeal, from his poverty, and he was advised, and did believe, he had good cause for an appeal; and that from his poverty he was unable to give the security required by law.”
    The Court dismissed the appeal, and this decision is assigned as error.
    Wright, for plaintiff in error.
    Parrott ; Hull, fop defendant in error.
   By the Court.

Starnes, J.

delivering the opinion.

[1.] This is just one of those cases in which we have so often decided that amendments may be made.

We suppose from the argument, that the Court below put his decision upon the ground that the affidavit not being properly entered, there was no appeal; and if there were no appeal, there was no case in Court, and nothing by which to amend. But this was a mistake.

The record shows that the appellant did all which was reasonable and diligent on his part, in order to have his appeal properly entered; and that his original affidavit was probably rightly drawn. If it were not so entered on the minutes, it was not his fault, but the fault or mistake of the Clerk. The attempt was made, therefore, to have the appeal entered rightly, and if it were not so done by mistake, the law will consider that done which was intended to be done, and permit an amendment which will cure the error, if offered within any reasonable time.

We have, in effect, decided this point in several cases. In the case of Little vs. Ingram, (16 Ga. Rep. 194,) we went so far as to hold, that an amendment, mine pro tunc, would be allowed, oven after judgment, where process had been waived before the Clerk, and he authorized to make an entry accordingly, but which that officer had failed to do. See that case for our views more at large upon the point.

Let the judgment be reversed.