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173 N.C. 337

91 S.E 1009

Ray v. Eason

Supreme Court of North Carolina

Decided April 11, 1917

Supreme Court of North Carolina · decided 1917-04-11

Civil action^ tried before 'Winston, J., at September Term, 1916, of CUMBERLAND. This is an action by the heirs of N. W. Ray to recover land. The defendants filed an answer in which they allege that the deed to N. W. Ray under which the plaintiffs claim was executed as a security for a debt of $25, and they tender that sum, with interest from the date of the deed. The jury returned the following verdict: 1.

Decided 1917-04-11

AlleN, J.

¶1The jury has found that the deed executed to N. W. Ray was a security for a debt, but there is neither a finding by the jury nor an admission by the defendants that the amount of the debt is $125. Nior do we find in the record any evidence that this was the amount due, and the defendants have not consented that his Honor might find or waived their right to a trial by jury.

¶2It follows, therefore, that there was no authority in the judge presiding to find the amount of the indebtedness due to the estate of Ray, and for this reason the judgment must be reversed, with directions to make the executrix of N. W. Ray a party plaintiff, and to submit an additional issue to determine the amount of the indebtedness to be secured by the deed to Ray.

¶3Error.

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