Case Name: LYTLE vs. HAYS
Court: Tennessee Superior Court of Law and Equity
Jurisdiction: Tennessee
Decision Date: 1805-11
Citations: 1 Overt. 190
Docket Number: 
Parties: LYTLE vs. HAYS.
Judges: 
Reporter: Tennessee Reports
Volume: 1
Pages: 190–191

Head Matter:
LYTLE vs. HAYS.
The defendant having obtained time to plead for one month must go to trial at the next term tho'issue be not joined till that term.
Covenant. At the last term, the defendant obtained one month to plead—pleading issuably. The defendant pleaded covenants performed generally, and covenants performed specially; to the first plea, there was a replication, and issue; to the second, a replication; but no issue, until this term when the plaintiff joined issue.
Whiteside, for the defendant,
objected to the trial of the cause; the second issue being of this term; and consequently, could not be tried until the next, and cited the case of Lucas vs. Sevier, at Jonesborough.
Dickinson, e contra,
urged that it would be attended with mischievous consequence, if the defendant was permitted to evade the order, allowing time to plead in this manner. He was bound to plead issuably, so as not to delay the trial; and he certainly will not now be permitted to tell this court that in consequence of his non-compliance with the order he claims a further day for the trial. Rich. Pr. 106. Shews what pleas are good, under such an order. It is not necessary, that it should be the general issue; the statute of limitations has been considered as an issuable plea.

Opinion:
Per Curiam.
Both parties seem to have considered the second plea which is now in contest, as complying with the order. The court, since issue is joined must consider it as having been offered in that view. The plaintiff by replying to it shews that he considered it so; otherwise,if not issuable,he might have treated it as a nullity, and taken judgment by default. An issue is now joined on this plea, and must be considered as having been formed under the authority of the order of last term—This is not similar to the case of Lucas vs Sevier.
Let the jury be sworn.
See 5. T. R. 157. 3. N. Y. T. 131. 1. Crom. Pr. 307. to 311.