Case ID: ark_15/html/0662-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "Mr. Justice Soott", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

Guthrie vs. Field et al.
    A Mil in chancery, continued at two successive terms, by consent, with leave to the defendants to answer — at the third term, no steps were taken, nor the case called up — at the fourth term, the complainants, at the calling of the cause, moved for a decree pro confesso; but the court dismissed the cause for want of prosecution:
    That the court erred.
    
      
      Appeal from the Circuit Cov/rt of Pulaski County m Cha/ncery.
    
    Hon. ¥m, H. Field, Circuit Judge.
    TeapNAll, for tbe appellant.
    Tbe complainant was entitled to tbe decree asked for. Sec. 19, chap. 28, Digest.
    
    S. H. Hempstead, contra.
    It is competent to dismiss a bill for wrnnt of prosecution. Monteith vs. Taylor, 9 Vesey 615/ Lyon vs. Dvmbell, 11 Vesey 608.
   Mr. Justice Soott

delivered tbe opinion of tbe Court.

It appears, from tbe bill of exceptions, that, on the 9th of February, 1854, both tbe complainants and tbe defendants appeared ' by their solicitors, and that this cause was regularly called up for trial, and that thereupon tbe complainants moved for a decree pro confesso against the defendants therein, who had been served with process, and bad failed to answer tbe bill, which motion the court overruled, and thereupon, on its own motion, ordered the cause to be discontinued, upon the ground, as is stated, that no steps had been taken in the cause since in the year 1850, and a decree was made accordingly, from which the complainants appealed to this court.

It appears, from the transcript, that, on the 12th June, 1851,. some of the defendants were allowed, until the succeeding term, to answer, and, by consent, the causé was continued; the complainants, at the same time, obtaining an order of publication against other defendants. It also appears, that, on the 20th January, 1853, the defendants were allowed further time to file their answer until the succeeding term, and the cause was continued. At the next succeeding term, it does not appear that any steps were taken by either party, or that the case was called up at all. Then follows the term -when the decree in question was made, which, to say the least of it, is sustained, under .the circumstances, by no precedent, cited or known to this court. So far from the complainant having failed to prosecute his suit, it appears that, upon the only occasion when the cause was called up, be endeavored to progress in the manner provided by law, (Digest, chap. 28, secs. 13, 19,) which the court would not allow, and without further ado, thrust his cause out of court. The only two cáses cited to sustain the action of the court in the premises, fall very far short of doing so.

The decree will be reversed, and the cause remanded to the Chancery Court for Pulaski county, to be proceeded with according to law.