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37 Ala. 417

McDowell v. Mitcham

Supreme Court of Alabama

Decided January 15, 1861

Supreme Court of Alabama · decided 1861-01-15

The record does not show the name of the presiding judge. The transcript in 'this case contains only ‘the papers returned to the circuit court by the justice of the peace, before whom the proceedings originated, and the judgment of the circuit court.

Cited by 2 later decisions — most recently December 1879

2 state decisions

Relies on Kirksey v. Jones · Hunt's Heirs v. Ellison's Heirs · Gager v. Doe, ex dem. Gordon

Good law ✅— No negative treatment on recordhow we know

Decided 1861-01-15

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STONE, J.

¶1Two. principles,-,we- think,, are-• decisive of *419¿bis case. The final judgment states the case as “ Joshua Mitcham and Joseph Mitcham vs. John Bledsoe, and James T. Bledsoe, claimant.” The recital is, “ Came the parties, by their attorneys; arid issue being joined, came thereupon a jury,” &c. The verdict was in favor of plaintiffs in execution, assessing the value of the property levied on. The judgment-entry then proceeds'to recite; “that Joshua Mitcham and Joseph Mitcham recovered, before Washington Taylor, a justice of the peace in and for, said county, on the 17th day of'February, 1857-, a judgment for $28 -90, and $.1 40 costs, and also one, on-the same day, for $36 '4-4, and $i 40 costs, and execution issued and was levied,” '&ce Now, if these recitals are true — -and we must so regard them — the same plaintiffs recovered two judgments against-one and the same defendant, executions on-which .were levied on the same property, and a single claim was interposed. The parties then, by their pleadings, consolidated• the two cases, and went to trial on..one- issue, embracing the two cases. This being the case, and no question Being raised in the court-below as to the regularity of the proceedings, the question cannot,, for the first-time,'be raised in this court, that there should have been two issues, two trials, and two judgments. Consensus tollit .errorem. Gager v. Gordon, 29 Ala. 344; Byrd v. McDaniel, 26 Ala. 582; Vaughan v. Robinson, 22 Ala. 519; Rose v. Thompson, 17 Ala. 628; Lampley v. Beavers, 25 Ala. 534.

¶2[2.] If, in failing to render judgment against-John Bledsoe, tlie other surety on the appeal bond, the circuit court committed any error-of which the present appellants can complain .(a question which we do--not decide), that error was purely clerical, and could’have been amended in the court below. This court will not consider of such error in the first instance. Grayham v. Roberds, 7 Ala. 719; Savage v. Walshe, 26 Ala. 633; Hunt v. Ellison, 32 Ala. 210; Shep. Dip. 572, § 152.

¶3If the circuit court rendered j udgment against the surety, for a greater sum than the penaltyof the appeal bond, there is nothing in-this record which enables us to so determine.

¶4Judgment affirmed.

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