DocketNumber: 7313
Citation Numbers: 65 S.E. 736, 83 S.C. 537
Judges: MR. JUSTICE GARY.
Filed Date: 10/13/1909
Status: Precedential
Modified Date: 1/13/2023
I concur in the opinion that this Court has jurisdiction to review the findings of fact by the Circuit Judge, as to whether J.H. Jenkins had forged the signature of J.W. Jenkins to the paper presented to the master as a note of J.W. Jenkins.
The action was brought for partition, and for the settlement of the estate of J.W. Jenkins, and, therefore, the issue of fact, as to the genuineness of the signature to the note, was not "an issue of fact in an action for recovery of money only, or of specific real or personal property," *Page 543 and did not fall under section 274 of the Code of Procedure, requiring issues of facts arising in such cases to be tried by a jury.
It is contended, however, that even in a case of this character the issue as to the genuineness of the paper presented as a note of the intestate was cognizable solely by a court of law and could not be tried in the court of equity. The rule laid down in Adickes v. Lowry,
This jurisdiction of the court of equity under the old practice was continually exercised, and was so familiar that the courts of this State have rarely had occasion to allude to it. The point was expressly decided, however, in Brown
v. McDonald, 1 Hill's Ch., 297, and Chalmers v. Kinard,
There are, it is true, numerous cases, mainly of partition and foreclosure, in which the Court has held, that when in an equitable action a defendant sets up an exclusive, independent title to land, or personal property, a legal issue is raised not cognizable by the court of equity. Such cases are Chapman v. Lipscomb,
From these considerations, it is clear that, in passing on the validity of the claim, the Circuit Court was exercising its chancery jurisdiction, and its finding of facts is reviewable by this Court.
I concur also in holding that the finding of fact, that the note was signed by J.W. Jenkins should be reversed.
I dissent, however, from the proposition that after aprima facie showing by the claimant, J.H. Jenkins, as to the genuineness of the note, the burden of proving that it was not signed by her intestate shifted to the administratrix. When J.H. Jenkins set up the note, as an indebtedness of the estate of J.W. Jenkins to himself, he assumed the burden of proving that the paper presented was the note of J.W. Jenkins; and that burden remained on him from the beginning to the end. On this point, I adhere to the views expressed in Thames v. Rouse,
The appeal of respondent from the order of Judge Prince, allowing the appellants further time in which to perfect the appeal, by serving the case and exceptions, can not avail the respondent. Even if the order of Judge Prince be regarded a nullity for want of jurisdiction, no motion was made in this Court to dismiss the appeal, and the Court would not dismiss it without such motion.
I concur in the judgment of reversal. *Page 546