Court Opinion

ID: 8256370
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-10-16 15:32:04.365031+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T16:43:00.433171
License: Public Domain

Mr. Justice Fisher
delivered the opinion of the court.
This bill is filed to set aside a sale of property under a deed of trust, executed by N. Gray to John J. Guión and Nathan *305Bryant, as trustees, to secure to John A. Gibson the payment of f80,000, evidenced by four promissory notes, falling due, 1st of January, 1839, 1840, 1841 and 1842. The note last falling due was transferred by Gibson to the complainant’s intestate, and the other three notes were transferred to the defendant below, David Barrow.
The deed of trust embraces a tract of land.in Hinds county, and about fifty slaves. It is alleged, that, in 1839, Barrow caused a sale to be made of all of said property, to satisfy the note then due, and became the purchaser thereof for the amount of the first note. That Gibson, who transferred the notes, attended the sale for the purpose of stimulating persons to bid freely for the property; that Barrow induced Gibson, by fraudulent statements, to withhold all competition, and to induce his friends and neighbors not to bid against him, Barrow.
Guión and Gray, who do not appear to be interested in the subject-matter of the suit, though necessary parties to the bill, filed a general demurrer. Barrow also filed a demurrer, in which he denies the allegations of the bill. This he cannot do by a demurrer. He cannot qualify his demurrer, or give to it any other operation than such as the law gives. After a general demurrer to the whole bill, he filed an answer denying, in general terms, fraud and combination. A party cannot demur to the whole bill, and at the same time file an answer as to part of it. In such case the answer would overrule the demurrer. When a demurrer is intended to reach only part of the bill, it should definitely state the part demurred to.
The answer is not sufficient in containing a general denial of fraud. Every allegation from which fraud may be inferred should be answered.
Decree affirmed.