Public-domain · open source
OpenJurist

46 Me. 327

Crocker v. Craig

Supreme Judicial Court of Maine

Decided July 1, 1858

Supreme Judicial Court of Maine · decided 1858-07-01

This was a bill in equity, inserted by the plaintiff in a writ of attachment, and was brought by him as administrator of the estate of one George Craig.

Decided 1858-07-01

¶1The opinion of the Court was delivered by

Cutting, J.

¶2It nowhere appears in the bill that the suit was instituted for the benefit of all the creditors, consequently the demurrer must be sustained. Fletcher, Adm’r, v.Holmes, 40 Maine, 364.

¶3As a court of law, sitting in lane, we cannot entertain the motion for an amendment. R. S., c. 77, § 17, gives us jurisdiction at such times over “cases in equity presented on demurrer to the bill; or when prepared for a final hearing.” Amendments can be permitted only at the Nisi Prius terms, and before the plaintiff joins in demurrer, after which we can determine nothing but the issue presented. The case goes back, where the Justice presiding may not, or may, grant the amendment upon terms, or even without terms, as he may deem equitable; provided the plaintiff shall think proper there to renew his motion, and shall have a reasonable confidence and expectation that his bill when amended will be sustainable and his prayer granted, or that the question of jurisdiction will be opened to him after the decision in Caswell v. Caswell, 28 Maine, 235.

¶4Demurrer sustained.

Tenney, C. J., and Rice, Appleton, and Goodenow, J. J., concurred.
/46/me/327 · .json · Public domain