Case Name: Nathan Bass, plaintiff in error, vs. Absalom Stevens et al. defendants
Court: Supreme Court of Georgia
Jurisdiction: Georgia
Decision Date: 1855-04
Citations: 17 Ga. 573
Docket Number: No. 95
Parties: Nathan Bass, plaintiff in error, vs. Absalom Stevens et al. defendants.
Judges: 
Reporter: Georgia Reports
Volume: 17
Pages: 573–574

Head Matter:
No. 95.
Nathan Bass, plaintiff in error, vs. Absalom Stevens et al. defendants.
A plea to the jurisdiction being a dilatory plea, must be verified.
' Certiorari, from Eloyd Superior Court. Decision by Judge 'Trippe, December Term, 1854.
The point presented by this record is whether, in a Justice’s 'Court, when a plea to the jurisdiction is filed, setting forth that defendant does not reside in the district, it is necessary that the plea be sworn to.
The Court below held, on certi.ora,ri, that such a plea cannot be filed except on oath; and this decision is alleged as ■error. The point arose in an action brought by Absalom Stevens against Nathan Bass, in a Justice’s Court, who pleaded non-residence, but did not swear to the plea.
Judgment being given against him in the Justice’s Court, Bass sued out a certiorari to the Superior Court, which certiorari was dismissed.
It was admitted, in the Superior Court, that Bass did not reside in Eloyd County, but that the point ivas not raised in the Justice’s Court, otherwise than by filing the plea.
Printup, for plaintiff in error.
Underwood, for defendant in error.

Opinion:
By the Court.
Lumpkin, J.
delivering the opinion. .
This is a certiorari originating in the 962d district, GL M. Two questions have been discussed, one only of which we hold is legitimately made upon the record. Counsel insists that the account was not. sufficiently proven.. No objection of this kind was taken on the trial. Neither is this ground contained in the notice which the defendant gave to the plaintiff, of his intention to apply for a certiorari. It comes, therefore, too late.
But concede that this point is properly made. The return of the Magistrate is as'broad as the exception. The complaint is, that the demand was not sufficiently proven. No defect in the proof is specified. The return of the Justice certifies that it was sufficiently proven. If the return was too general, it should have been excepted to and the Magistrate required to answer over.
The only assignment then is, that the Court rendered a judgment without having jurisdiction of the person of the defendant. The facts are, that Bass was served, appeared at the docketing term and filed a plea that he was not a resident of Eloyd, but of Bibb County. The plea was not sworn to. At the trial term, without resistance, the Court awarded judgment to the plaintiff. It could not do otherwise. The plea to the jurisdiction being a dilatory plea, had to be verified. It was not; and for this reason, the Circuit Court dismissed the certiorari; and we cannot do otherwise than affirm the judgment.