Case Name: John Worthington v. Win. Arnold
Court: Supreme Court of North Carolina
Jurisdiction: North Carolina
Decision Date: 1830-06
Citations: 2 Dev. 363
Docket Number: 
Parties: John Worthington v. Win. Arnold,
Judges: 
Reporter: North Carolina Reports
Volume: 13
Pages: 363–364

Head Matter:
John Worthington v. Win. Arnold,
From Randolph.
After verdict, it is too lute to object that the writ >vas not signed by the Clerk.
The cases of b/tepherdv. Zana (ante 148) and Dudley v. Carmott (1 Mwrph. 339) approved by Hat,x, Judge.
Deet upon bond, originally commenced in the County Court, where the Plaintiff prevailed, and the Defendant appealed.
After a verdict for tiie Plaintiff in the Superior Court, the Defendant moved in arrest of judgment, because the original writ was signed by the Plaintiff’s attorney, in the name of the Clerk of the County Court.
His Honor Judge Norwood overruled the motion, and entered judgment according to the verdict, and the Defendant appealed.
No Counsel appeared for either party in this Court.

Opinion:
Hall, Judge.
This suit was commenced in the County Court, and after a judgment rendered therein against the Defendant, he appealed to the Superior Court, and after a verdict against him in that Court, the judgment is attempted to be arrested, because the original writ was not signed by the Clerk of the County Court.
Had tiiis defect been pointed out by plea in abatement, it must have been held fatal, and the suit must have shared the fate of that of Shepherd v. Lane. [Ante 148.) But the Defendant has not thought proper to avail himself of this defect in the writ, at an early stage of the proceedings j and now it is foo late, and justice as well as law requires, that it should be so considered. The Defendant has pleaded to the merits of the suit in the County Court, and after incurring the costs of a trial there, has done the same thing in the Superior Court, and then for the first time, objects to the validity of the writ. (Caswall v. Martin, Str. 1072—Anonymous 1 Hay. 405.) Dudley v. Carmolt, (1 Mur. 339,) is an authority in point. In that case, the Court would not arrest the judgment after verdict, because the writ was tested by the Clerk, and signed by the deputy. Clerk. It was held, (hat the Statute 5, Geo. I. c. 13, was in force, which cures such defects in writs after verdict. (Bac. Ab. Amendment & Jeofail, 152.)
June, 1830.
Per Curiam. — Let the judgment of the Court below be affirmed.