Swift v. Stebbins

4 Stew. & P. 447
CourtSupreme Court of Alabama
DecidedJune 15, 1833
StatusPublished
Cited by5 cases

This text of 4 Stew. & P. 447 (Swift v. Stebbins) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Supreme Court of Alabama primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Swift v. Stebbins, 4 Stew. & P. 447 (Ala. 1833).

Opinion

Taylor, J.

Two objections are made to the proceedings in the Circuit Court—

[450]*4501st. That the decree was rendered against the defendants without their having been made .parties.

2d. That those holding the equitable interest in the mortgaged premises, should have been joined with the trustees as complainants.

It appears from, the record, that it was proved to the Court below, that some of the persons who were' prayed to be made defendants by the bill, were nonresidents; whereupon publication was ordered by the Court, according to the statute, requiring them to appear at the next term, &c. Immediately succeeding this order, is the following entry — “ which said order was, according to the tenor and effect thereof, published in the Mobile Commercial Register.” The order was, that it should be published in-that paper for six weeks.

It is contended by the counsel for the plaintiff in error, that it does not appear in what manner, nor at what time this entry was made, nor that any proof was introduced to authorise it.

All the orders and entries made in the regular progress of a cause, during term time, must be received as emanating from the Court: the clerk is-only the instrument employed to place the orders, judgments, &c., of the Court, upon the record. The' entry succeeding the order of publication, is therefore to be considered as much the act of the Court, as if the judge himself had made it. Viewing it in this light, it carries within it clear evidence, that proof of publication was regularly made.

The record is conclusive evidence of every thing it contains; and as the fact of publication could not have appeared but by proof, we must presume, that [451]*451it did so appear. Although the testimony relating to the merits of a suit in chancery, should regularly appear by deposition, yet there can be no necessity for adopting this mode, to prove every incidental and isolated fact, which must be shown during the progress of a cause; and it has been the uniform practice for the printer to be called into Court with his paper, to satisfy the Court that the publication had been regularly made.

, All the persons against whom the decree was rendered, were, therefore, regularly made defendants.

The second objection is'the one upon which the plaintiffs in error mainly rely.

It is laid down by them to be an unvarying proposition, that all the parties in interest, must be made parties to a suit in chancery. This proposition, it is believed, can not be sustained. A part of the creditors often file a bill against the representative of an insolvent deceased, for distribution of the estate, according to chancery rules; and in such case it is not necessary that all the creditors should be complainants ; but those who are such, may pray the relief in behalf of themselves and the other creditors; and it will be referred to the master to determine who are creditors. Nor is this the only case in which a part of those interested may sue for the benefit of themselves and others. s

In the case of Joy, et al. vs. Wirtz,

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Bluebook (online)
4 Stew. & P. 447, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/swift-v-stebbins-ala-1833.