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1 Morris 447

Jenkin v. McCully

Supreme Court of Iowa

Decided January 15, 1845

Supreme Court of Iowa · decided 1845-01-15

Errors assiged : 1. The court erred in passing the decreo and the giving the judgment ‘hereon against ono of the defendants in the court below before they were all brought into court by legal process. 2. In granting the decree, while the demurrer of one was undetermined and undisposed of, and foreclosing the equity of redemption of the said defendant. 3.

Decided 1845-01-15

¶1Per Cilriam,

Mason, Cnis-F Justice.

¶2McCaliv sold a tract of land to Jenkin, giving him a-title bond and receiving a note for the purchase money. Jenkin sold the land and transferred the bond to Lyon, and Lyon transferred in the same manner to Rickey. McCully filed his bill against the three defendants to enforce a vendor’s lien. A rule was taken upon all the defendants to plead answer or demur by a particular day. Lyon demurred to the whole bill for want of equity.. *448The other defendants failing to comply with this rule, default was taken against them. A final decree was entered in effect against ail the de* fendants, and the land directed to be sold.

¶3It is very questionable whether a decree could have been regularly entered up against the parties in default, while the demurrer of the other defendant, going to the whole merits of the bill, remained undisposed of. Such would certainly have been the case where one of the defendants had answered to the merits of the bill. 3 Eq. Dig. 243. The same reason would seem to apply to demurrers.

¶4But at all events the decree was irregular and improper as against Lyon who was not in default, and his demurrer, if sustained, will prove a complete defence to Jenkin and Rickey. The decree will therefore be set aside and the case remanded to Henry county for further proceedings.

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