Case ID: ind_5/html/0506-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "Davison, J.", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

Gray and Another v. Cooper.
    It is error to proceed to the trial of issues in fact before the jury where issues of law remained undisposed of.
    APPEAL from the Ripley Circuit Court.
    
      Friday, December 8.
   Davison, J.

The complaint charges that Gray, Parker, Burr and Hartley, on the 1st of August, .1852, at Ripley county, entered upon the land of Cooper, being the west half of the north-west quarter of section 26, township 8, range 11, and thereon then and there cut and carried away timber of the value of 300 dollars.

The answer set up the following defences:

1. A general denial of the trespasses.

2. That Cooper was not the owner of the land.

3. That it was owned by a person whose name was unknown.

4. That James Muir held the land by virtue of a title bond from one Lineback.

5. That the defendants cut the timber, if' any was cut, by the leave and license of the said Muir.

Cooper replied to the first and second defences, and to the third, fourth- and fifth he demurred. Without any action of the Court on the demurrer, the parties proceeded to trial. The jury found Burr and Hartley not guilty; but against Gray and Parker there was a verdict of guilty, and damages assessed against them, and in favor of Cooper, for 100 dollars. New trial refused and judgment on the verdict. ’ Gray and Cooper appealed to this Court.

We think the Court erred, by permitting the parties to proceed to final trial without deciding the issues raised by the demurrer. The code provides “that issues of law must be tried by the Court.” 2 R. S. 1852, p. 108. This was the rule under the old system of practice. In Beard v. Adams, 8 Blackf. 449, it was held that “where there are two issues, one in law and the other in fact, the plaintiff can not have final judgment until both issues are found in his favor.”

J. W Gordon, for the appellants.

G. Holland, for the appellee.

But it is said that the acts of the parties virtually waived the demurrer. Nothing in the record indicates such waiver. The plaintiff was bound to present for trial all the issues in the cause. And his having failed to do so does not, of itself, show that the defendants had abandoned their demurrer. Indeed, it is the nature of a demurrer to cut off all further proceedings until it is disposed of. Stephen Pl. 43, 44.

We are, therefore, of opinion that the demurrer should have been decided before the case was submitted to the jury. Green v. Dulany, 1 Munf. 518.

Per Curiam.—The judgment is reversed with costs. Cause remanded, &c.