Marion v. City Council of Charleston

November 7, 1905.

The opinion of the Court was delivered by This appeal is from an order of Judge Townsend, dated December 22, 1904, refusing to grant a motion to substitute the name of Sophia Helen Fishburne, as executrix under the will of Sophia F.S. Marion, as plaintiff in the above stated case, and to assign a date for submitting the question of damages to a jury. So far as the case shows, the only paper served upon the defendant was the notice signed by "Julian Fishburne, Agent," to the effect that he would on the day specified make the motion for the purpose above named. So far as appears in the "Case," there was nothing before the Court to show that Sophia F.S. Marion was dead, that she left a will which had been probated and that Sophia Helen Fishburne had qualified as executrix.

Under these circumstances, it was proper to refuse the motion. A proper practice in such case is to make an exparte application based upon a proper showing by affidavit for a rule to show cause why the action should not be continued by or against the party sought to be substituted, as suggested in Dunham v. Carson, 42 S.C. 391, 20 S.E.R., 197, and approved in Pickett v. FidelityCo., 60 S.C. 484, 38 S.E.R., 160. However, under any procedure having substantially the same effect, filling the requirements of notice, proof of necessary facts and opportunity to contest such alleged facts, would be sufficient, as inDeLoach v. Sarratt, 55 S.C. 275, 33 S.E.R., 2; Shull v.Bradford, 58 S.C. 580, 37 S.E.R., 30. The appellant not having made any proper showing before the Circuit Court, it was not error to deny his motion to substitute.

With reference to the second branch of the motion, which was to fix a day for the submission of an issue to a jury. The action was brought to cancel a deed on the ground of fraud and recover damages in consequence of the alleged fraud by the city council of Charleston. Assuming that the action was being properly continued in the name of Sophia F.S. Marion, the motion was properly denied for non-compliance with Rule 28 of the Circuit Court, providing the procedure when it was desired to submit to a jury an issue of fact arising in an equity case.

The appellant served notice of a motion requesting that this Court grant, (1) an order to substitute as plaintiff Sophia Helen Marion Fishburne, as executrix of Sophia F.S. Marion; (2) an order for judgment by default, and presented such motion on the call of the case. The movant now presents to this Court a showing of the facts which he should have presented, but failed to present, to the Circuit Court, as it appears in the "Case" prepared for argument.

We will not, however, entertain this motion under the circumstances. While there are cases in which this Court might find it proper or necessary to make such a substitution (as in the case of a death occurring pending appeal in this Court), it would not be proper in this instance, when the necessity for substitution occurred while the case was pending in the Circuit Court. Furthermore, the appeal is from an order of the Circuit Court denying such motion, and if we should now grant such motion, the result would be to practically reverse the action of the Circuit Judge, when he committed no error as the case was presented to him.

This Court, in its appellate jurisdiction, cannot order a judgment by default, as requested. Even the Circuit Court could not have ordered a judgment by default in this case upon facts presented in this motion, for it is shown that defendant appeared in due time, demurred in due time, and after the filing of the remittitur in the former appeal in this case sustaining the action of the Circuit Court in overruling the demurrer, served answer in due time, in accordance with the rule stated in Barnwell v. Marion, 56 S.C. 54, 33 S.E.R., 719. In addition to this, the present case is such that, under section 267 of the Code of Civil Procedure, even in case of default of answer, "the relief to be afforded the plaintiff shall be ascertained either by the verdict of a jury or in cases of chancery by the Judge, with or without a reference, as he may deem proper." The motion must, therefore, be overruled.

The exceptions are overruled and the judgment of the Circuit Court is affirmed.

The CHIEF JUSTICE did not participate in this opinionbecause of illness.