Case Name: W. H. Pope v. Martha Pollock
Court: Ohio Circuit Court
Jurisdiction: Ohio
Decision Date: 1886-01
Citations: 1 Ohio C.C. 347
Docket Number: 
Parties: W. H. Pope v. Martha Pollock.
Judges: Befobe Judges Cox, Smith and Swing.
Reporter: Reports of cases argued and determined in the circuit courts of Ohio
Volume: 1
Pages: 347–348

Head Matter:
(First Circuit — Hamilton Co., O., Circuit Court
Jan. Term, 1886.)
Befobe Judges Cox, Smith and Swing.
W. H. Pope v. Martha Pollock.
1. When an affidavit is filed with a magistrate under Rev. Stats., section 6578, to set aside a judgment by default rendered against a defendant in his absence, it is imperative on the magistrate to set it aside, if the affidavit sets forth a good and sufficient reason for the absence of the defendant, and he otherwise complies with the statute. The word “ may ” in the statute is to read as “ shall.”
2. Error will lie for refusal to set aside a judgment in such case, and the reviewing court will pass on the sufficiency of the affidavit.
Pope was sued before a magistrate at Wyoming, some ten miles from Cincinnati, on an account, and demanded a trial by jury. The case was set for trial at 6J o’clock, P. M. Pope was engaged in business in Cincinnati, his only means of reaching the place of trial being by railroad. Mistaking the hour of the train, he was unable to reach in time, but from the depot at Cincinnati telegraphed the magistrate that he would be out on the next train, some forty minutes later, and would waive a jury and try the case before him. The magistrate not receiving the dispatch before the end of the hour, rendered judgment against Pope by default in his absence. Pope within ten days filed an affidavit, setting forth his reasons for being absent at the trial, confessed judgment for the costs and asked that the judgment be set aside. This the magistrate refused to do. Error was prosecuted in the court of common pleas, and the judgment of the magistrate was affirmed. This proceeding is to reverse the judgment of the common pleas.
It is contended, first, that under section 6578, Rev. Stats., it is entirely within the discretion of the magistrate to set aside the judgment, even if a sufficient showing be made, and seccond, that the affidavit did not show a sufficient reason for the abence of defendant from the trial.

Opinion:
Cox, J.
We think the statute is imperative. Although the language is, 11 may set aside" yet that it should be construed as if written " shall set aside." The affidavit in this case, showing in our opinion a good and sufficient reason for the absence of the defendant at the trial, the magistrate should have set the judgment aside. Judgment reversed.
W. H. Pope, for plaintiff in error.
Reuben Tyler, for defendant in error.