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41 Ala. 349

Clark v. Jones

Supreme Court of Alabama

Decided June 15, 1867

Supreme Court of Alabama · decided 1867-06-15

Heard before the Hon. John Foster. The bill in this case was filed, on the 10th March, 1860, by Henry C. Jones, John Peters, and Richard B. Baugh, as judgment creditors of Samuel S. Clark, against said Clark and John W. Scruggs; and sought to reach and subject to the satisfaction of the complainants’ several judgments said Clark’s interest in a certain lot, or tract of land, which was situated in said county of Madison, and the legal title to which was held by said Scruggs.…

Cited by 2 later decisions — most recently April 1931

2 state decisions

Relies on Kirkman v. Vanlier · Savage v. Benham · Hartley v. Bloodgood

Good law ✅— No negative treatment on recordhow we know

Decided 1867-06-15

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PER CURIAM.

¶1-We think the authorities establish 'the proposition, that a matter alleged in a bill can only be regarded as admitted by the failure of the defendant to *352answer, when it can either be presumed to be, or is alleged to be, within the defendant’s knowledge.—Thorington v. Carson, 1 Porter, 257; Bank of Mobile v. P. & M. Bank of Mobile, 8 Ala. 772; 3 Greenl. on Ev. § 276; Cowan v. Price, 1 Bibb, 173 ; Moore v. Lockett, 2 Bibb, 67 ; Pearson v. Meaux, 3 A. K. Marsh. 4; Moseley v. Garrett, 1 J. J. Marsh. 212, 215; Mitchell v. Maupin, 3 Mon. 185 ; Kennedy v. Meredith, 3 Bibb, 465; Tate v. Conner, 1 Dev. Eq. 224; Lunn v. Johnson, 3 Ired. Eq. 70; Cropper v. Burtons, 5 Leigh, 426; Coleman v. Lynes, 4 Rand. 454; Kirkman v. Vanlier, 7 Ala. 217. So, also, it is settled, that an evasive answer is not an admission.—White v. Wiggins, 32 Ala. 424; Savage v. Benham, 17 Ala. 119.

¶2The defendant Clark admits the debts and judgments, as alleged; but his answer is silent in reference to the allegation of the issue and return of executions. We think these facts are, so far as all the executions are concerned, presumed to be within the knowledge of the defendant Clark, and therefore, prima facie, within his knowledge. We cite, in support of our position, the following authorities : Kirkman v. Vanlier, supra; Grady v. Robinson, 28 Ala. 289; Smilie v. Siler, 35 Ala. 94.

¶3The issue and return of executions were matters of necessary evidence, only as against the defendant Clark. It was a matter in which the other defendant (Scruggs) was not at all interested. Those facts were, therefore, sufficiently proved, by the implied admission of the defendant Clark’s answer.Hartley v. Bloodgood, 16 Ala. 233. By the direct and implied admission of Clark’s answer, the judgments, executions, and returns upon them, are established ; and this being the only point on which the decree of the court below is attacked, it must be affirmed.

¶4Affirmed.

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