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13 Tenn. 192

Shugart v. Orr

Tennessee Supreme Court

Decided June 15, 1833

Tennessee Supreme Court · decided 1833-06-15

Shugart sued out an attachment against Orr, returnable to the county court, and declared against him in debt. The defendant pleaded in abatement, that both plaintiff and defendant were, at the time of beginning the action, citizens of the State of Virginia. To this plea there was a demurrer, which on argument was sustained; the plea overruled, and pleas to the action put in. Trial and judgment for the plaintiff; writ of error to the circuit court.

Decided 1833-06-15

Peck, J.

¶1delivered the opinion of the court.

¶2The question debated, is, did the court err in refusing *193to permit the amendment? We are of opinion there is no error in this. The plea was matter in abatement. Our acts contemplate the process of original attachment against residents who abscond or conceal themselves so that the ordinary process of law cannot be served upon them. This defendant was not a resident within the meaning of our attachment laws. From any thing shown in the pleading, he had no fixed place of abode in Tennessee, from which he could abscond.

¶3Again: we are of opinion that on writs of error, no amendments should be allowed. Such has been the practice in this court in cases from the circuit court. Amendments must be applied for and had in a reasonable time, and before final judgment} at least suitors should not be permitted to experiment on one form of pleading, and failing in that, resort to another. We will, therefore, not order a repleader, or permit the amendment, but affirm the judgment-.

¶4Judgment affirmed.

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