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22 S.C.L. 264

Varney v. Bosch

Court of Appeals of South Carolina

Decided February 20, 1837

Court of Appeals of South Carolina · decided 1837-02-20

Statement. — These were two cases tried before a magistrate. The plaintiff claimed the sum of $20, in each, as for one month’s rent, due under a certain agreement of lease, in writing. The magistrate decreed in favor of the plaintiff, for the sum of $20, in each case. The defendant appealed to the city recorder.

Decided 1837-02-20

Mr. Justice 0’Neax.l

¶1delivered the opinion of the court.

¶2From the reports of the magistrate, it does not appear when the pent was due; for aught that appears, the suits might have bcen *266brought on the instant that it was payable. The rule is clear, that where nothing appears on the face of the proceedings to shew the want of jurisdiction, and the objection is not made in the court below, it cannot be taken in the court above. This would be enough for the purposes of these cases. But if it be conceded that the ient had been due one or two days, the plaintiff had the right to treat the defendant’s contract as without the accrual of interest. The interest then due was incapable of reception, on account of its minuteness, and hence on the maxim, “ de minimis non curat lex,” the plaintiff might legally disregard it. In such a case as the present, I do not think the cases decided in relation to the process jurisdiction, have any application ; there, the attempt was made by releasing a substantial part of the demand, to give jurisdiction, which the court held could not be done. Here, as soon as the rent is due, a suit is instituted for its recovery, disregarding the interest on the rent, which was less than the smallest coin, or denomination of money, in circulation.

Wit, Rice, for Appellant.Richard Yeadon, for Appellee.Filed 20th February, 1837.

¶3The motion to reverse the recorder’s decision, and to affirm the judgments of the magistrate, is granted.

¶4JOHN B. O’NEALL,

¶5We concur,

RICHARD GANTT;.TOSIAII J. EVANS,J. S RICHARDSON,A. P. BUTLER.
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