Case Name: James A. Frost v. Miles A. McLeod
Court: Louisiana Supreme Court
Jurisdiction: Louisiana
Decision Date: 1867-02
Citations: 19 La. Ann. 80
Docket Number: No. 825
Parties: James A. Frost v. Miles A. McLeod.
Judges: 
Reporter: Louisiana Annual Reports
Volume: 19
Pages: 80–81

Head Matter:
No. 825.
James A. Frost v. Miles A. McLeod.
"Where an order of seizure and sale has been obtained on a mortgage, and the debtor who granted the mortgage is absent from, and not represented in the State, the law does not require antecedent proof or affidavit of his absence, beiore an attorney can be appointed to represent him.
The nullity declared by Article 355 of the Civil Code, is relative, and cannot be urged by tho minor, after he becomes of age, who is seeking the benefit of the alleged agreement, by which a partial payment or advance was made to him.
The transfer of the principal obligation includes that of the mortgage as the accessory. O. Ü. 2615.
A PPEAL from the District Court, Parish of Lafourche, Belden, J.
Louis Btish, for plaintiff and appellee.
E. W. Blake, for defendant and appellant.

Opinion:
Howedd, J.
This is an appeal from an order of seizure and sale, and is taken by the attorney appointed to represent the defendant, who is alleged in the petition to be absent, and not represented in the State.
The grounds of complaint are:
1. That there is no proof that the defendant is absent, and not represented.
To this, it is successfully replied, that the Art. 737, C. P., under which the appointment of an attorney was made, does not require the plaintiff to make oath of the fact of absence, as contended for, and it is not suggested that authentic evidence of such fact is required; nor is it intimated that the defendant is not absent.
The article in question simply provides that, if the debtor, who has granted the mortgage, is absent and not represented in the State, the Judge, al the request of the plaintiff, shall appoint him an attorney, to whom notice of the demand shall be given in the manner directed, and contrarily with whom the seizure and sale shall be prosecuted. It does not say on proof of the absence, and we are not informed of any law requiring such antecedent proof. The analogy to the conservatory writs is not maintained, as, in those proceedings, facts to be verified by oath are made by law a basis of the writ.
2. That the assignment of the notes to plaintiff is absolutely null and void, having been made by a tutor to his ward, previous to the rendering of a full account and delivery of vouchers, under tho provisions of Art. 355, C. C.
The nullity declared by this article is relative, not absolute, and is iu the interest of tho minor, and cannot be urged in this instance, as it is the minor, now of age, who is seeking the benefit of the alleged agreement, by which a partial payment or advance was made to him. 9 L. 305. 10 ' L. 268. 1 A. 35.
3. That there is no authentic proof of plaintiff's subrogation to tho rights of mortgage.
The transfer of the note was by notarial act, and by Art. 2615, the mortgage, as the accessory, was included.
Wo consider it unnecessary to pass upon the question of the want of a stamp, as it is not properly presented by the record.
Judgment affirmed,