Court Opinion

ID: 6539523
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-07-19 22:14:28.009312+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T15:55:46.739854
License: Public Domain

Mr. Justice CleNdeniN delivered the opinion of the court. This was a proceeding by attachment in the circuit court of Dallas county, by petition, against Miller W. McCraw. The petition, writ and return, as well as the bond and affidavit are copied in the transcript. At the March term, 1866, there being no personal service upon the- defendant, an order of publication was made, and at the September term, 1866, the following order appears: “ came said Wade by attorney, and suggests and shows to the court that said McCraw has departed this life;” and on another day of the term after is the following order, “ came the plaintiff by attorney, and on his motion it is ordered that William U. Bridges be appointed administrator ad litem in this case.” The administrator ad litem appeared and filed the following-plea: “ And the said defendant comes and defends the wrong and injury, and says that the affidavit filed herein is insufficient in this, that said affidavit says £ remove his goods and effects oí this state,’ whereas it should have stated, 'remove his goods and effects out of this state,’ and this he is ready to verity, wherefore he prays judgment,” annexed to which is an affidavit in good form. The plaintiff moved to strike out this plea, which motion was overruled, and judgment for cost oí motion entered. T.he record then states the following : “ Said plea in abatement is submitted on argument of counsel and by the court sustained,” and judgment for costs on said plea is given, “ and that the attachment in this case be dissolved.” To which the plaintiff excepted. The defendant then entered his appearance, but making no other defence, final judgment was rendered for the plaintiff and he sued out his writ of error; and we have thus before us the record. The plaintiff assigns for error : 1st. That the court refused to strike out the plea in abatement. 2d. That the court, erred in sustaining the said plea in abatement. 3d. The court erred in dissolving the attachment. And the counsel of the plaintiff in their argument submit to us, and question thé constitutionality of the law of this state, authorizing the circuit courts to appoint administrators ad litem. We have had some difficulty at arriving at the conclusion, whether this plea is a plea in bar or in abatement. It has some of the requisites of both. As a plea in abatement, (for which we suppose it was intended,) according to the forms and rules of pleading, it is defective, both in its commencement and conclusion. It does not pray for any particular judgment, and without the defendant prays a particular and proper judgment in abatement, the court are not bound to give the proper judgment upon the whole record, as they would be in pleas in bar. 18 Ark., 359; 10 East, 87. This, then, being a defective plea could it be reached by the motion to strike out? We think not. This court has heretofore held that a plea which merely sets up a defective defence, or a defence defectively stated, should be met by demurrer. Wilson & Turner vs. Shannon and wife, 6 Ark., 196; Alexander vs. Foster, 16 Ark., 669; Allis vs. Bender, 14 Ark., 627. And therefore the circuit court did not err in overruling the plaintiff’s motion to strike it out. But we think that the court erred in sustaining the plea: There is no record showing that there was any issue to the plea for the court to determine, (even if the court could try an issue made upon a defective plea,) the record only stating that said plea in abatement is “ submitted to the court on argument of counsel and by the court sustained.” As this case will be again before the circuit court, it is necessary for us to notice, and dispose of the question raised by the counsel, as to the constitutionality of the law authorizing the appointment of administrators ad litem. The 12th section of the 7th article of the constitution of this state prescribes that, “ the qualified voters of each county shall elect a county and probate judge, who shall hold his office for two years, and until his successor is elected and qualified. He shall, in addition to the duties that may be required of him by law, as a presiding'judge of the county court be a judge of the court of probate, aud have such jurisdiction in matters relating to the estates of deceased persons, executors, administrators and guardians, as may be prescribed by law, until otherwise ordered by the general assembly.” The section of the law deemed objectionable to this provision of the constitution is as follows : “ In all cases where suits may be instituted, and either plaintiff or defendant may die pending the same, it shall be lawful for the court, before which suit or suits may be pending, on motion of any party interested, to appoint a special administrator, in whose name the cause shall be revived, and said suit or suits shall progress in all respects in his name with like effect, as if tbe plaintiff or defendant, (as the case may be,) had remained in full life.” Seo. 10, oh. 1, Digest. Itwill be seen by the the provision of the constitution that the probate court have ¿the exclusive jurisdiction in all matters connected with administrations, until otherwise directed by the general assembly; and that by the section of the law, the general assembly, in January, 1851, provided for the appointment of administrators ad litem. "While we recognize the law heretofore decided by this court, that the administration laws of this state are, and are to be considered as a consistent and harmonious whole, we do not think that the section of the law under consideration is liable to the objection of marring that harmony and consistency. It is no part of the administration law, nor do we suppose the legislature so intended it to be. It was enacted after the administration laws were in force, and neither to cure their defects, nor impair their efficiency, but for the purpose of aiding parties litigating causes in the circuit courts, in their early and speedy* adj udication. It was not intended that the person so appointed, should have any of the ordinary powers of a regular administrator. He is in court alone for the purpose of prosecuting or defending the particular suit, in which he is appointed; he is not liable for costs, and upon the appointment of a general administrator, or the rendering of the final judgment his duties and powers cease. Seos. 10, 12, oh. 1, Digest. The appointment of guardians ad litem may be said to be liable to the same objection, as that made to administrators ad litem, because minors are peculiarly the objects of jurisdiction and care of the probate courts. Tet we know that it is the constant practice, justified by the law as we believe, and we are not aware that objection is ever made to such appointments ; and the courts always recognize the proceeding as valid. With the policy of the law we have nothing to do; we can only construe it in connection with the constitution, and if in our view it is not in conflict with the constitution, it is our duty to carry out the expressed will of the legislature. From the view we have thus taken oí the section under consideration, we do not think it is in conflict with the constitutional provision, before referred to. But for the error before referred to this case must be reversed, and remanded to the circuit court with direction to that court to permit the parties to amend their pleadings if they wish to do so, and otherwise to proceed according to law and this opinion. Mr. Justice. Compton did not sit in this case.