Case ID: mass_9/html/0373-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "\n      By the Court.\n    ", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

Joseph Smith, Libellant, versus Elizabeth Smith.
    Upon a libel for a divorce, filed in the clerk’s ofiice, the party charged must be served with a copy of the libel and a summons: reading the same to the party is not a sufficient service.
    This was a libel for a divorce a vinculo, for the cause of adultery, and having been duly filed in the clerk’s office, a summons had issued, which an officer returned that he had served by reading the libel and summons to the said Elizabeth.
    
    
      Dane for the libellant.
   By the Court.

The statute (1785, c. 69, <§> 8) expressly prescribes that the service shall be made by serving the party with an attested copy of the libel, and with a summons to appear, &c The libel is dismissed for want of legal service.