Case Name: Gill v. Patten
Court: United States District Court for the District of Columbia
Jurisdiction: United States
Decision Date: 1803-03
Citations: 1 Cranch 114
Docket Number: 
Parties: Gill v. Patten.
Judges: 
Reporter: Reports of cases argued and determined in the Supreme Court of the District of Columbia (District of Columbia - reported by Mackey)
Volume: 1
Pages: 114–114

Head Matter:
Gill v. Patten.
The Court will, give the defendant leave to withdraw the plea of covenants performed, and to file a special plea, if it appear to be a plea to the merits, and not decidedly had, leaving the plaintiff to his demurrer.
Covenant for rent. Plea, covenants performed.
Mr. Youngs, for the defendant,
moved for leave to withdraw the plea, and.file a special plea, stating a covenant on the part of Gill that he would pay the ground-rent due to W. T. Alexander, but had not done it, whereby Patten was prevented from occupying fully, for fear of having his goods seized for that rent due to Alexander.

Opinion:
The first plea was put in at the rules in time. .The Court not being certain that the plea offered is bad, and not being willing to decide upon the validity of the plea, permitted it to be filed.