Case ID: day_1/html/0290-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "The Court,", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

Denslow v. Moore.
    In the Court below,
    Hannah .Moore, Appellant; Reuben Denslow, A.p~ pellee.
    
    A writ of error is brought against A. B. C. and D. in which C. and D. are described as of Southampton in Massachusetts ; A. and IB. plead in abatement, that no service has been made upon C. arel B. dirking- ⅜⅛ C. and D. are of Windsor in this. State, and traversing their being' r.{ Svidhur-i- in Massachusetts-; this plea is bad* the fact traversed being* an iiarr: _cri.,1 nnr
    N appeal was taken from the Court of Probate, approving the will of Ktzia Barber, and the judgment of the Court of Probate-disaffirmed, by .the .Superior Court. In the writ of error to this Court, the heirs at lav/ were made defendants. Benjamin Moore, Philander Moore, Simeon Moore, Eldad B. Moore, Timothy Cooke, Hannah Cooke, Edward Phelps, Azubah Phelps, Lucinda Mather, 
      and Arthur Griswold, were described as belonging to this State ; Levi Griswold,, Avery Griswold, Laura Gris-wold, Homer Griswold., Wealthy Griswold, Charles Gris-wold, and Abel T. Griswold, were described, as was also Abel Grhwold, said to be their father, and natural guardian, as late of Windsor, in this State, now of Southampton, in the County- of Hampshire, and State of Massachusetts. The writ was duly served upon those within the State, and also upon Abel Griswold., the guardian. Benjamin Moore, Philander Moore, Simeon Moore, Eldad B. Moore, Edward Phelps, Azubah Phelps, Lucinda Mather, and Arthur Griswold, pleaded in abatement, that the writ of error had not been served upon said Levi, Avery, Laura, Hoe mer, Wealthy, Charles, and Abel T. and that, sard Levi' and Abel T, belonged to, and resided in Windsor, in this State, traversing their being of Southampton, in Massachusetts.
    1804.
    To the first exception in the plea there was a general demurrer ; to the second, a special demurrer, first, because it was not pleadable, by the persons who pleaded it ; secondly, because the traverse was immaterial, offering to put in issue facts not alleged, and not denying, that said Levi and Abel T. lived out of this State,
    
      Bradley, for the plaintiff in error.
    There arc, in the pica, two distinct causes of abatement, and they ought not to be joined. These persons living o.ut of the State, and not being parties to the original suit, service upon them there would have had no effect, and they mat having, any attorney, here, Atí-'Qífíéír service, could have been made. 'They have traversed; that two of the defendants live in Southampton ; but this, was immaterial. At common law, it ir, not necessary to describe the county ; and where a defendant live? in another State, it is not necessary to describe the town. The traverse offered, extending onlv to the town, and not to the State, is, therefore, immaterial, and we were not bound to accept it; for if these persons do not belong to Connecticut, it is of -no. 'consequence whether they are of Southampton, or of any other town. It does not appear, except by the inducement to the traverse, that they were not served with process 5 and we are r.ot bound to traverse the inducement, 
    
    Further, those defendants, upon whom legal service has been made, cannot take advantage of á want of service upon other persons. 
    
    
      Edwards, (of New-Haven) and Sargcant, for the defendants in error.
    Our statute directs, that in all civil actions, twelve days notice shall be given. By permitting a writ of error to be amended, it has been decided to be an action. This service must be made upon the defendants, — all the defendants, except where it is otherwise expressly provided. Service upon the guardian, is not service upon the minors. There is no practice to justify it, and no statute authorizing it. If, upon such notice, the guardian should fail to appear, a judgment against the minors would be of no validity. Had not the minors been included, the writ would have abated ; and they were included for no purpose, but that they should he notified. The service is required by positive statute. ■ It is, therefore, no Rood reason to say, that service could not bo made-
    
      The statute has provided for cases of joint contract, where one defendant lives out of the State. So where all the defendants live out of the State, and have prop* ertv within it. In this case, no such provision is made. Upon petitions in chancery, where one respondent lives out of the State, the Superior Court have made a rule, that a copy of the petition &c. shall be sent him. The petitions of insolvent debtors are not granted, by the General Assembly, without the usual service, unless a special resolve be made as to notice.
    But, it is said, that we have traversed an immaterial fact. If so, they need not joi n issue, but may have anoth - ertraverse. Our traverse is as broad as the plaintiff’s allegation. He has said, that a part of the defendants be - long to Southampton, in Massachusetts. We say, they belong to Windsor in Connecticut, and not to Southampton in Massachusetts. Had we said more, it would have been a departure.
    Perkins, (of Hartford) in reply.
    lithe argument of the defendant is good, no writ of error can be brought, where apart of the defendants live out of the State. This case is within the -reason, if not within the letter, of suits upon joint contracts, where one defendant is out of the State. In such a case as this,, service upon an attorney of the party is good, although no statute authorises it, and even although his power is revoked, after the former judgment, and before service of the writ of error is made. In this case, the guardian has been duly notified, and no other service could be made.
    The second exception taken in abatement is bad, be* .ause it is not taken by the persons, who have a right to take it. Persons duly notified cannot say, other pefs'0m have not been duly notified. The traverse is immaterial. The authorities all show, that the real point, the substance of what is meant to be put ⅛. issue, must be noticed, and not the mere words, 
       The. substance of the allegation is, that A. and B. live in Massachusetts. Upon this, a traverse should have been offered 5 but they, pursuing the words, deny that A. and B. live in Southampton, in Massachusetts. They ought to have denied their living out of Connecticut ; that would prevent service from, a court in Connecticut ; and the effect would be the same whether the town in which they lived, was rightly described, or not But now the. Court must find, whether these defendants live in Southampton, ©r not, which is wholly immaterial,
    
      
      
         1 Sira. 4⅛'4⅛ Colborne v. Stock-dale,
      
    
    
      
      
         1 Moot 40?% Ripple v. Coleman. I JSac. Abr. 9. tit Misname: .
    
    
      
      
        Crg. Car. 501, Nestkon r. Whitley.
      
    
   The Court,

decided the plea in abatement to be insuf-

ficient, on the ground of informality ; but directed the case tobe continued, and made a rule prescribing notice to the minors.

The plaintiff in error, afterwards suffered a nonsuit. 
      
      
         A general rale was also passed, prescribing the notice h. be given in all cases, in which service is not prescribed by law, which see subjoined to the decisions of this term.