Durr v. Hanover National Bank , 148 Ala. 363 ( 1906 )

DOWDELL, J. —

The .appeal in this case is prosecuted from the final decree of the chancery court rendered on September 13, 1901. At the time of the submission of the cause for final decree, no' answer had been filed to the bill by either of the respondents, nor had decrees pro confesso been taken for want of answer. On this state of the case, clearly the cause ivas not at issue, and the submission for final decree was premature.

It is insisted by counsel for appellees that the agreement made by the respondent John W. Durr on August 9, 1901, and which constituted a part of complainants’ note of submission of the cause, dispensed with the necessity óf an answer to the bill or of a decree pro confesso against this respondent. The theory of the insistence is that the agreement, though not an answer in form, is tantamount to an answer, and, therefore, an answer in effect. The facts on the face of the record do not sustain this agreement. The said agreement was executed on the 9th day of August, and the bill was not filed until the 12th day of September thereafter. The agreement on its face shows that no bill was then filed, and that only one was intended to be filed-. While the agreement admitted the existence of certain facts, it was not an agreement for the rendition of a decree against the respondent, such as was rendered. The agreement, fairly and reasonably construed, Avas one waiving summons and seiwice on the bill to- be filed, and consenting that the cause should be heard on its merits for final decree at the first term of the court. It aauis not treated as an ansAver by complainants’ solicitor in the submission of the cause, nor Avas it treated by the chancellor as an an-SAArer in the consideration by him of the cause. In complainants’ note of the testimony on submission, it.Avas noted merely as an agreement by the respondent Durr, and, therefore, as being only part of complainants’ testimony in support of their bill. The complainants- evidently relied on the cause being at issue, not by any answer, but by decree por confesso-, as sho-Avn in the'note of submission, though, in fact, so far as the present state of the record shows, no decrees pro confesso had been taken.

The agreement was not competent to be considered testimony by the chancellor on the submission, for the reason that sufficient proof of its execution had not been made. The record shows that the proof of the execution of the agreement, and the. only proof, was by an ex parte affidavit of Charles P. Jones before a notary public, made out of court and even before the bill was filed.—Norwood v. Riddle, 1 Ala. 195; Talladega Ins. Co v. Woodward, 44 Ala. 289; Code 1896, § 1792. Rut we need not pursue this discussion, nor the discussion of other questions argued by counsel in the case, since we are of the opinion that the cause was not at issue for want of an answer to the hill. or a decree pro confesso thereon, and, therefore, not ready for submission for final decree. It follows that the decree appealed from must be reversed, and the cause remanded.

Reversed and remanded.

Tyson, C. J., and Andenson; and McClellan, JJ., concur.