Vanaukin v. Whitsell's Administrator

29 Ind. 508

• Court: Indiana Supreme Court
• Decided: May 15, 1868
• Status: Published

Opinion

Ray, J.

A complaint in two paragraphs was filed by Louisa Whitsell before a justice of the peace. Thefirst paragraph charges the appellant with wrongfully taking certain personal property belonging to her and converting the same to his own use. The second paragraph was for the sale and delivery of the same property, for a price stated, and alleged a failure to pay. Judgment was rendered for the plaintiff. The appellant appealed to the Circuit Court. In that court the death of the plaintiff was suggested, and leave granted “ to substitute suitable personal representation.” Ho action was taken, however, and at a .subsequent term the appellant moved to dismiss the cause, but the court overruled the motion, and then permitted the name of the appellee, as administrator of the deceased, to be inserted in a new complaint, in one paragraph, for goods-sold and delivered. Thereupon the appellant filed an affidavit, and moved for a continuance, in order to take the deposition of a witness residing out of the State. The facts to be proved by the witness were materia], and the only ground suggested for the refusal is that the deposition might have been taken before the court met. As, however, previous to the term of the court when the continuance was asked, no action had been taken by the attorneys to substitute the appellee as a party under the general leave granted by the court, the appellant was in no default, and • the continuance should have been granted.

D. E. Palmer, for appellant. J. A. Woodhull and W. G. Groxton, for appellee.

The judgment is reversed, with costs, and the cause remanded for a new trial.