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45 S.C.L. 48

Harrison v. Dodson

Court of Appeals of South Carolina

Decided December 15, 1857

Court of Appeals of South Carolina · decided 1857-12-15

BEFORE MUNRO, J., AT ABBEVILLE, FALL TERM, 1857. The report of bis Honor, the presiding Judge, is as follows: “This was an action upon an account for soap, inks, perfumery, &c., sold by tbe plaintiff, a merchant in Philadelphia, to the defendants, residents and merchants in Abbeville District. “ The plaintiff served the defendants with interrogatories to be answered on oath. One of the defendants only, A. M. Dodson, answered.

Decided 1857-12-15

¶1The opinion of the Court was delivered by

O’Neall, J

¶2In this case, I think the plaintiff, after examining the defendant upon his whole case, had no right to introduce other testimony. The true rule is stated in Brown vs. Stroud, 8 Rich. 292. In that case it is stated: “when he” (the plaintiff) “desires the benefit of the defendant’s oath, and examines him by interrogatories, he stands as a complainant in equity; having sought and obtained, or failed to get a discovery, the defendant’s statement cannot be controverted.” For in such a case (a sum. pro.) the defendant may be examined, because the plaintiff chooses to say, I have no other proof. This makes the case exactly analogous to the bill for discovery, as ancillary to another suit.

¶3There is no doubt about the rule in the process jurisdiction, that if the defendant’s answer charges him with a liability, he cannot discharge himself by his answer, as if he admits he purchased goods, he cannot say I paid for them. Walker vs. Berry, 8 Rich. 33, decided upon the authority of Clark vs. Meek, 2 Bail. 391.

¶4But if, as here, many particulars enter into the answer to the interrogatory to show the liability, or non-liability of the defendant, then, I think, it does not fall Avithin the rule stated *53and tbe whole answer must be taken. It is true, tbe plaintiff may decline to use tbe answers, and resort to other proof.

¶5A new trial is therefore ordered.

Wardlaw, Withers, Whitner, GIloyer and Munro, JJ., concurred.

¶6New trial ordered.

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