Case Name: McKinney v. Hammett et al.
Court: Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia
Jurisdiction: West Virginia
Decision Date: 1885-10-02
Citations: 26 W. Va. 628
Docket Number: 
Parties: McKinney v. Hammett et al.
Judges: 
Reporter: West Virginia Supreme Court
Volume: 26
Pages: 628–629

Head Matter:
CHARLESTOWN.
McKinney v. Hammett et al.
Submitted June 19, 1885
Decided October 2, 1885.
A defendant against whom a decree has been rendered upon bill taken for confessed can not appeal to this Court for the review of alleged errors in such decree until after he has first applied to the court below for the correction of such errors in the manner prescribed by sec. 5, ch. 134 of Code. If an appeal is granted from such decree it will be dismissed as having been improvidently awarded.
The facts of the ease are stated in the opinion of the Court:
R. S. Blair for appellant.
Ho appearance for appellee.

Opinion:
Snyder, Judge:
Suit in equity brought October 1880, in the circuit court of Pleasants county by James McKinney against George S. Hammett, Adam Flesher and others to ascertain the debts due from the estate of Solomon Clovis, deceased, and subject the real estate of which he died seized to the payment of the same, &c.
The cause was referred to a commissioner and a report of the debts and assets of the estate of said Clovis was made and returned by him which was confirmed by the court without objection or exception and the real estate directed to be sold. The sale was made and confirmed without exception by a decree entered March 12,1884. On the petition of the defendant, Adam Flesher, this appeal was allowed September 6,1884.
Heither the appellant nor any of the other defendants answered the plaintiff's bill or otherwise made any defence in the court below, but as to each and all of them the cause was heard and all the decrees entered upon the bill taken for confessed.
This Court has repeatedly decided that a defendant, as to whom a decree has been entered upon a bill taken for eon- fessed, can not have such decree reviewed by this Court, until he shall have first applied to the court below to have such decree corrected in the manner prescribed by sec. 5 of ch. 134 of the Code. Baker v. W. M. & M. Co., 6 W. Va. 196; Dickinson v. Lewis, 7 Id. 673; Bock v. Bock, 24 Id. 586; Steenrod v. Railroad Co., 25 Id. 133.
The appeal in this cause must, therefore, be dismissed as having been improvidently awarded.
Dismissed.