LEGAL DOCUMENT

Case: Benoni Sprague and others v. Gardner Luther
Citation: 7 R.I. 581
Court: Supreme Court of Rhode Island
Jurisdiction: Rhode Island
Decision Date: 1863-09
Docket Number: 
Pages: 581–581
Volume: 7
Reporter: Rhode Island Reports

Parties: Benoni Sprague and others v. Gardner Luther.

Benoni Sprague and others v. Gardner Luther.
An appearance hy the appellee, in the -Supreme Court, to an apjieal from a Court of Prohate, is a waiver of the want of a citation to the appellee, or of an irregularity in its service.
This was'an appeal from a decree of the Court of Probate of the town of Cranston, approving añd allowing a certain instrument in writing, as and for the last will and testament of Sylvester Chiids of said Cranston, and awarding letters testamentary under said instrument to Gardner Luther, named therein as the executor thereof.
The appeal was duly claimed, the appeal bond given, the reasons of appeal duly filed, and the appeal entered at the present term of the court; whereupon, the counsel for the appellee entered a general appearance for him on the docket. By some mistake or neglect, the appellee was not cited to appear to the court of appeal, as required by the 3d section of Ch. 153 of the Revised Statutes; whereupon, his counsel moved to dismiss the appeal.
W■ S. Burges, for the: motion.
Mathewson & Marhland, against it.

Ames, C. J.
The citation is merely notice of the appeal, so that the appellee may appear, .and prepare to answer the same. His appearance in person, or by attorney, is an admission of notice on the record; and operates as a waiver of the want of' a citation, or any mere irregularity in its service. Such is the effect of an ajxpearance to an appeal in the Supreme Court of the United States, where no citation has been served, and we see no reason why our practice in this respect should not conform to the analogy. United States v. Yates et al. 6 How. 605, 608.