Blythe v. Hinckley

84 F. 228 | U.S. Circuit Court for the District of Northern California | 1897

MORROW, Circuit Judge

(after stating the case as above). The first question is as to the character of the decree entered by this court on July 3, 1897. If it was an interlocutory decree, all the parties are still in court, awaiting the final determination of the cause, and the court retains its control over the decree, with power to reconsider and modify or set it aside, as the rights of the parties may require. Fourniquet v. Perkins, 16 How. 82. If it was a final decree, the parties have undoubtedly been dismissed, and they can only be brought back, and the decision reviewed, by certain well-established rules of procedure. Fost. Fed. Prac. §§ 350-359.

The bill filed by the Blythe Company has been called a “cross bill,” and it will be so treated in disposing of the question now under consideration. As an original bill it would probably not be within the equity jurisdiction of this court, for the reason that it does not appear that the Blythe Company was in possession of the premises is controversy when the bill was filed, or that both parties were out of possession. Holland v. Challen, 110 U. S. 15, 3 Sup. Ct. 495; Whitehead v. Shattuck, 138 U. S. 147, 11 Sup. Ct. 276; Railroad Co. v. Goodrich, 57 Fed. 880. The object of a cross bill is either (1) to bring before the court new matter in aid of the defense to the original bill; (2) to obtain a discovery of facts from the plaintiff or co-'defendant in aid of the defense to the original bill; (3) to obtain some affirmative relief as to tbe mat tors in issue in tbe original bill; or (4) to obtain full relief for all parties, and a complete determination of all controversies which arise out of tbe matters charged in tbe original bill. The cross bill is auxiliary to the original suit, and a graft and dependency upon it. Cross v. De Valle, 1 Wall. 5, 14; Rubber Co. v. Goodyear, 9 Wall. 807, 809; Dows v. City of Chicago, 11 Wall. 108, 112; Slason v. Wright, 14 Vt. 208. While a decision or decree upon a cross bill seeking merely a discovery is obviously not a final decree, it is si question not involved in this suit, and requires no further consideration.

It is contended, however, in support of the motion to vacate the decree of July 3,1897, that no decree rendered upon a cross hill can, in the nature of things, he other than interlocutory; and Ayres v. Carver, 17 How. 594, and Ex parte Railroad Co., 95 U. S. 221, are cited as establishing this doctrine. Are those cases authority to that extent? In the first case the original hill charged that the complainant had taken the necessary steps to purchase certain lands acquired by the government under a treaty with the Chickasaw Indians; that the register and receiver of the land office where the lands were subject to entry would not permit him to make the purchase, hut allowed the defendants to enter and purchase the several tracts in sections and subdivisions; that the defendants had notice of the rights and equities of the complainant at the time of the purchase. The prayer of the hill was that the complainant be permitted to enter and purchase the land, or that the defendants he decreed to convey tbe same to. the complainant, and to deliver up the possession. Two of the defendant filed cross bills against the complainant and co-defendants, charging that they luid obtained a title to the several tracts in controversy, or to portions of them, long prior to the title claimed by their co-defendants. The cross bills were dismissed, and an appeal taken to the supreme court by the parties who filed them. The court held that tbe decree upon the cross bill was not final, and dismissed the appeal. Mr. Justice Nelson, speaking for the court, said:

“A cross bill is brought by. a. defendant in a suit against ilio plaintiff in the same suit, or against other do ¡’(aidants in the saíne suit, or against both, tombing rhe nun tus in question in the original MIL It is brought either to obtain a discovery of facts in aid of the defense to the original bill, or to obtain full and complete relief to all parties as to the matters charged in the original bill. It should not introduce new and distinct matters not embraced in vlie original bill, as they cannot be properly examined in that suit, but constitute the subject-matter of an original and independent suit. The cross bill is auxiliary to the proceedings in the, original suit, and a dependency upon it. It is said by Lord Hardwick that both the original and cross bill constitute but one suit, so intimately are they connected together. Field v. Schieffelin, 7 Johns. Ch. 253. * * * It is manifest from this brief reference to the doctrine that any decision or decree in the proceedings upon the said cross bill is not a final decree in the suit, and therefore not the subject of an appeal to this court, under the 22d section of the judiciary act. The decree, whether main-raining or dismissing the bill, disposes of a proceeding simply incidental to the principal matter in litigation, and can only be reviewed on an appeal from the final decree disposing of the whole case. That appeal brings up all the proceedings for re-examination when the party aggrieved by any determination in respect to the cross bill has the opportunity to review it, as in the case of any oilier interlocutory proceeding in the case.”

In referring to the cross bill in that case, the court said “that the matters sought to be brought into the controversy between the complainants in that and their co-defendants do not seem to have any connection with the matters in controversy with the complainants in the original bill.” In other words, the matter in the cross bill was not germane to any matter in controversy in the original bill, and no final decree could be entered upon it disposing of the whole case.

In Ex parte Eailroad Company, supra, the original bill was filed by the complainant to foreclose a mortgage on the property of a railroad company. The complainant held bonds secured by a mortgage on which the company had defaulted in the payment of interest. Afterwards the holder of a prior mortgage was admitted as a defendant, and filed an answer and a cross bill. The cross bill prayed for the sale of the mortgaged property for the purpose of paying the prior debt. Thereupon the holders of certain statutory securities intermediate in time brought another suit to enforce their liens, making all the parties to the original suit parties to the second suit. In the original suit the court entered a decree in favor of the complainant in the cross bill, and also entered a decree in. both suits directing the sale of the property and the application of the proceeds to the payment of the claim ,of the cross complainant, in preference to that of the other mortgage creditors. From these decrees appeals were taken to the supreme court, and a bond for supersedeas filed. The next day after these appeals were taken, the court again considered the cause, and entered a decree in both suits, consolidated for that purpose, settling the equities of the parties, other than the cross complainant, ordering a sale of the property subject to the lien of the cross complainant, and directing that the purchaser take title subject to such lien as the same might be finally adjudged and determined. The cross complainant appeared, and prayed an appeal from the decree, to operate as a supersedeas upon the filing of the necessary bond, but the court refused to grant the appeal or accept a bond. Thereupon the cross complainant applied to the supreme court for a mandamus requiring the circuit court to grant the appeal, and accept a good and sufficient supersedeas bond. The court granted the writ directing the circuit court to allow the appeal and accept a supersedeas bond. In the opinion delivered by Mr. Chief Justice Waite, the decision in Ayres v. Carver is cited as authority, to the effect that any decision or decree in the proceedings upon the cross bill is not a final decree in the suit, and not the subject of an appeal to the supreme court, but the learned judge adds that “a cross bill must grow out of the matters alleged in the original bill, and is used to bring the whole dispute before the court, so that there may be a complete decree touching the subject-matter of the action.” In the case before the court the cross bill had this object in view, but the decree entered upon it was not a complete determination of all the controversies involved in the original bill, and hence it was not a final decree.

In Holgate v. Eaton, 116 U. S. 33, 6 Sup. Ct. 224, the controversy was of such a character that the prevailing equities were found in favor of the complainants in the cross bill, and the substantial effect of a complete determination of all the controversies in the case was the entry of a final decree upon that bill. Practically the same result was readied in Peay v. Schenck, Woolw. 175, 21 Fed. Cas. 667, 672; Lowenstein v. Glidewell, 5 Dill. 325, 15 Fed. Cas. 1027; Markell v. Kasson, 31 Fed. 104; Jesup v. Railroad Co., 43 Fed. 483; Springfield Milling Co. v. Barnard & Leas Mfg. Co., 26 C. C. A. 389, 81 Fed. 261. From these authorities it certainly appears as the established doctrine that where a cross bill seeks affirmative equitable relief with respect to matters germane to the original suit, and the controversy has taken such a shape that a complete and final determination of the whole case as to all parties to the original suit may be had upon the lines of the cross bill, then a final decree may be entered upon that bill.

This brings us to the inquiry, in the present case, whether there is in the decree of July 3, 1897, a complete and final determination of all the controversies involved in the original cause. In complainants’ second amended and supplemental bill the allegations of the original bill are repeated; among others, the allegation that the complainants were the owners, as tenants in common with each other, of the lands in controversy. The bill further alleges that, at and before the time of the death of Thomas H. Blythe, he was the owner in fee, and seised and possessed, of the real property described in the .bill; that the complainants and one Boswell M. Blythe were the next of kin and heirs at law of the sa.id Thomas H. Blythe, deceased; that the complainant John W. Blythe was the assignee of Elizabeth Shelton and William S. Blythe, next of kin and heirs at law of said Thomas H. Blythe, deceased, and, as such assignee, he owned the interest to which they would have been entitled in the estate of Thomas H. Blythe, and were entitled to take and have by succession, and they did take by succession, the estate of Thomas H. Blythe, deceased, and they were the owners in fee of the real property described and entitled to the possession thereof. To this second amended and sujiplemental bill the Blythe Company interposed an answer, in which it denied that the complainants, or either of them, or Elizabeth Shelton or William S. Blythe, were the next of kin or heirs at law of Thomas H. Blythe, deceased, and denied that the complainants were the owners of the property in controversy, but ailged that certain other persons named were at the time of the death of Thomas H. Blythe his next of kin, and were collectively his only heirs at law, and, as such, were, under the laws of the state of California then existing and in force in said state, entitled to, and did, succeed to the entire estate and property of said Thomas H. Blythe upon his death, and that all the right, title, interest, succession, and estate of such persons had been granted, sold, conveyed, and confirmed to the Blythe Company. Here was a controversy between the complainants and this defendant involving the whole question at issue. The complainants might succeed in the action against the defendant Florence Blythe Hinckley, and still be defeated by the Blythe Company. By the stipulation of (he attorney for the Blythe Company, dated March 4, 1897, the complainants were not required to file their replication to the answer of the Blythe Company until the expiration of 10 days after notice that the same was required. No replication has been filed, and, so far as the records show, none has been required. The controversy between the complainant and the Blythe Company to the second amended and supplemental bill was therefore not at issue when the decree of July 3, 1897, was entered. It is true this decree disposes of the adverse claim and interest of the complainants to the property in dispute upon the issues of the cross complaint, but the fact remains that the legal ownership of the property by reason of being next of kin to Thomas H. Blythe, deceased, was still a subject of controversy between these parties to the original and second amended and supplemental bill, to be determined on its merits, and, so far as that bill was concerned, was undetermined at the date of the decree.

The controversy between the complainants and the defendant Florence Blythe Hinckley was also left undetermined by the decree. Her motion to dismiss the entire suit had been elaborately argued and submitted, and the last brief had been filed as late as May 22, 1897. Here was a motion that involved the question of the jurisdiction of the court over the parties and the subject-matter. The cross bill, being dependent upon the proceedings in the original suit, was subject to whatever disposition might be made of the question of jurisdiction. Dows v. City of Chicago, 11 Wall. 108, 112. In this state of the cause as to the general subject of controversy, it is difficult to see how a complete and final decree upon the whole case could be entered on the cross bill; but still further difficulties are encountered in the way of such a disposition of the case when we come to examine the issues in detail. The principal subject of controversy is the valuable real estate left by Thomas H. Blythe, and situated in San Francisco, but this is not all. It appears that there was in the hands of the public administrator, at the close of the administration, the sum of $89,842.94, being the accrued rents of the real property. By the decree of January 18, 1896, the superior court distributed this sum to the defendant Florence, as the residue of the estate. The complainants appear to claim .this sum as rents and profits, but whether, under the decree, the Blythe Company is entitled to it, is not so clear. In any event, a reference to the master for an accounting would be necessary, and some directions required. Here, then, is a question left open for the future judgment of the court, and to this extent the decree is incomplete. Beebe v. Russel, 19 How. 285; Iron Co. v. Martin. 132 U. S. 93, 10 Sup. Ct. 32; Lodge v. Twell, 135 U. S. 235, 10 Sup. Ct. 745; Latta v. Kilbourn, 150 U. S. 524, 14 Sup. Ct. 201.

In the original bill, Frederick W. Hinckley, the husband of the defendant Florence, was a party defendant. He was also joined as a defendant in the amended bill, and in the second amended and supplemental bill. He was also referred to in the answer of the Blythe Company. In the cross bill it is alleged that he had died since the 1st day of February, 1897. In the decree it is recited that he had died since tbe commencement of tbe suit. It is contended in support of tbe decree that Frederick W. Hinckley bad no other interest in the property other than that of husband to the defendant Florence, and that, therefore, the recital in the decree is sufficient. This would undoubtedly be correct if the cross bill had contained an allegation to that effect, but it does not, and the court is not at liberty to supply the omission by such a construction of the decree. These undetermined questions fix the character of the decree. It was not complete and final in the sense in which such a decree is recognized under the established rules of practice in the courts of the United States. It wTas clearly an interlocutory decree, and, as such, is subject to the control of the court, and may be reconsidered and modified or set aside at any time prior to the entry of the final decree. Fourniquet v. Perkins, 16 How. 82, 84; Kilbourn v. Latta, 150 U. S. 540, 14 Sup. Ct. 201. Whether the court will set aside such a decree depends upon the proceedings and the merits of the application. In this case it is contended, in support of the motion and petition to set aside and vacate the decree, that there was no service of subpoena on the defendant Florence, and therefore the court had no power to enter the decree; in any event, that the proceedings which resulted in the decree were of such an irregular character as to justify the court in opening the default.

Under Equity Rule 1.3 the service of subpoena is required to be made as follows:

“The service of all subpoenas shall be by delivery of a copy thereof by the officer serving- the same to the defendant personally, or by leaving- a copy thereof at the dwelling-house or usual place of abode of each defendant with some adult person who is a member or resident in the family.”

The subpoena issued upon the cross bill has this return by the marshal:

“I hereby certify that I received the within writ on the first: day of March, 1897, and personally served the same on the first day of March, 1897, on Florence Blythe Hinckley, by delivering to and leaving with Mrs. Harry Hinckley, an adult person, who is a resident in the place of the abode of Florence Blythe Hinckley, said defendant named therein, at the county of Ala-meda in said district, an attested copy thereof, at usual place ol' abode of said Florence Blythe ILinckley, one of the defendants herein.”

It will be observed that the return does not show that Mrs. Harry Hinckley, to whom a copy of the subpoena was delivered, was a member or resident of the family of Florence Blythe Hinckley; and it is contended that this departure from the requirement of the rale is fatal to the service, and therefore renders tbe decree absolutely void. It appears that Mrs. Harry Hinckley is the wife of the brother of the deceased husband of the defendant Florence. The difference between leaving a copy of a subpoena at the dwelling house or usual place of abode of the defendant with some adult person who is a member or resident of the family of the defendant, and leaving it with a person who is a resident of the place of the abode of the defendant, is certainly very great, and might be very important. Take the case of a defendant living at one of our large hotels. A service such as. is required by the rule would secure the delivery of the writ to some person so related to or associated with the person to be served that the substituted service would practically be the equivalent of an actual personal service by the officer; but a service-suc> as was made in this case might be made by the delivery of the writ to an entire stranger, or to some indifferent or ignorant servant residing in the hotel, with no probability whatever that it would reach the party for whom it was intended. White v. Primm, 36 Ill. 418. Clearly, the rule is not complied with by any such service. Harris v. Hardeman, 14 How. 334. But it is said that the return of the marshal is that he has made personal service of the subpoena on Florence Blythe Hinckley, and that, as there is nothing in his certificate as to the method of making the service inconsistent with this return, a good and sufficient service will be presumed. It is also further contended that, if the return is defective in this respect, the defect has been cured by the recital in the decree that the subpoena “had been duly and regularly served within the Northern district of California upon the respondent in said cross bill of complaint.” The - doctrine here invoked to support the decree would be applicable if the decree were now being subjected tó a collateral attack. In such a proceeding every intendment would be indulged in support of the decree, and whatever appeared in the record as having been done would be presumed to have been rightfully done. But this doctrine does not control the discretion of the court in opening a decree obtained by default for the purpose of permitting a defense on the merits. . Indeed, it has been held “that a meritorious defense and a reasonable degree of diligence in making it are all that it is necessary to establish, in order to justify the setting aside of an interlocutory judgment." Adams v. Hickman, 43 Mo. 168. It will not be necessary, therefore, to review in detail all the objections that have been made to the subpcena, the return that has been made upon it, and generally to the irregularity of the proceedings. It will be sufficient, for the present purpose, to say that it is contended very earnestly that the proceedings have been so irregular and defective that when the decree was entered on July 3, 1897, no jurisdiction had been obtained by the court over the defendant Florence in the action on the cross bill. And in this connection it is pointed out that the subpoena was served on March 1, 1897, and the return made on March 2, 1897; that the certificate recites that Mrs. Harry Hinckley “is a resident,” etc.; that this recital relates only to her residence on March 2, 1897, and not what it was on the day the subpoena was served; that it does not appear from the return that Mrs. Harry Hinckley was ever a resident in the usual place of abode of the defendant Florence; that the service was not made at the required place; and, finally, that the subpcena was dated February 16, 1896; that in the memorandum at the bottom of the subpoena, required by Equity Rule 12, the defendant was notified that she must appear “on or before the first Monday of April next, at the clerk’s office of said court, pursuant to said bill, otherwise the said bill will be taken pro confesso”; that this requirement, considered with respect to the date of the subpoena, was that she should appear on or before the first Monday of April, 1896, and as the service of the subpoena was made on the first of March, 1897, she was upon the face of the writ required to make an impossible appearance.

If the court is limited in its inquiry to the subpmna and its return, it is difficult to see how it can find that the requirements of the rules as to the service of process have been followed with such precision in obtaining jurisdiction over the defendant that it would be justified in refusing to set aside the decree. But in support of these objections a number of affidavits of the defendant Florence and others have been filed, relating to her residence at about the time of the service of the subpoena, from which it appears that about January 1, 1896, the defendant and her husband rented (.he house No. 1221 California street, in San Francisco, for the term of two years; that they resided at the house until February 6, 1897, when Frederick W. Hinckley died, at Portland, Or.; that the funeral took place February 9, 1897, at which date, and after the funeral, the defendant Florence visited Mrs. Harry Hinckley at the former residence of George TV. Grayson, the father of Mrs. Harry Hinckley, at the corner of Ninth and Madison streets, in the city of Oakland; that she spent her nights there until after' March 1, 1897; that between the 9th of February, 1897, and the 5th day of March, 1897, defendant was more or less at the house No. 1221 California street, where she kept her servants, and took many of her meals, and received visits from her physicians and friends; that she retained possession and paid the rent of the house No. 1221 California street until May 3, 1897. The affidavits enter into considerable detail conceridng the movements of the defendant Florence between the dates mentioned, but enough has been stated to show that she had a residence in San Francisco from some time in January, 1896, down to the death of her husband, on February 6, 1897, and that she claimed a residence at the same place down to May 1, 1897. The service of the subpmna referred to in the return of the marshal was made by leaving a copy of it with Mrs. Harry Hinckley, at the house of George W. Grayson, in Oakland, on March 1, 1897. The affidavits of (.he defendants Florence, Harry G. Hinckley, Mary Grayson Hinckley (Mrs. Harry G. Hinck-ley), Robert R. Grayson, and George W. Grayson specifically deny that the Grayson house was ever the residence or usual place of abode of the defendant Florence. A number of counter affidavits were filed, from which it appears that Mr. and Mrs. Harry G. Hinck-ley resided at the Grayson house from about November, 1896, to May 1, 1897; that the defendant Florence attended the funeral of her husband, Frederick W. Hinckley, on February 9, 1897, riding in her own carriage, but with horses furnished by a livery stable in Han Francisco; that after the funeral she was driven to the Grayson house, the carriage placed in a livery stable in Oakland, and the horses returned to San Francisco; that thereafter, and until some time in April, 1897, the carriage remained in Oakland, subject to the call and use of the defendant, with horses furnished by the Oakland livery stable. It is also alleged by one Charles Bone, upon information, obtained by inquiry, that the Grayson house was the usual place of abode, of the defendant Florence. The affidavit of tbe deputy marshal who served the subpoena has also been introduced, from which it appears that he called at the Grayson house, at Ninth and Madison streets, in Oakland, on the 1st day of March, 1897, and asked for Mrs. Hinckley. The lady who responded said she was Mrs. Hinckley. The deputy marshal then said: “You are Mrs. Harry Hincldey. I want to see Mrs. F. B. Hinckley.” Her reply was that “Mrs. F. B. Hincldey could not be seen.” The deputy marshal then asked if Mrs. F. B. Hinckley was stopping at the house, to which the lady replied, “She is stopping here temporarily.” He then asked her, “Is she here at the house, now?” She said, “Yes.” He then asked her, “Does she sleep here?” She said, “Yes.” The deputy marshal then explained that he had a subpoena in equity to serve upon Mrs. F. B. Hinckley, and wanted to see her personally. The lady replied in a positive manner that “he could not see her.” He then handed Mrs. Harry Hinckley a copy of the subpoena, who said she did not want to have anything to do with it. The deputy marshal said that he was satisfied that Mrs. F. B. Hincldey was living at the house, and he would leave the subpoena with her (Mrs. Harry Hinckley). She took the subpoena, and the deputy marshal said, “A delivery of the subpoena to you will be a service of it on Mrs. F. B. Hincldey.” The conclusion drawn from these affidavits is that the defendant Florence was temporarily residing at the Gray-son hoiLse, in Oakland, at the time the copy of the subpoena was left with Mrs. Harry. G. Hinckley, but her permanent residence and abode had been for more than a year, and was then, at No. 1221 California street, in San Francisco. The substituted service was therefore not within the requirement of Equity Rule 13.

But it is contended in support of the decree that, even if it be determined that the subpoena was insufficient, and that no service was made upon the defendant Florence, still, by her own showing, she voluntarily appeared to the cross complaint by counsel, on March 22,1897; that she was thereby charged with notice of the subsequent proceedings, and is therefore bound by the decree. Jones v. Andrews, 10 Wall. 327. This contention is based upon an order of the court alleged to have been made on March 22,1897. The order is not found upon the minutes of the court or among the records, but the evidence that it was made is contained in certain affidavits submitted by counsel for the defendant Florence upon the present motion. In an affidavit of William H. H. Hart, one of the counsel for the defendant Florence, he refers to the argument had in this court, on March 22, 1897, on the motion to’dismiss the suit; and he alleges that his attention was at that time called by William Rix, Esq., to the fact that the Blythe Company had filed a cross complaint under the date of February 16, 1897, and that, out of abundance of caution, in open court, he asked the court for a further order that the defendant Florence should have the same time within which to appear to said cross complaint that had been previously granted upon the application of the defendant Florence in reference to the answer and cross complaint filed by the Blythe Company on February 1,1897.. The order referred to provided that no further appearance ■ in respect to the pleading filed by the Blythe Company need be entered by the defendant Florence Blythe Hinckley until 10 days after her solicitor should be served with written notice of the decision of the court upon her motion respecting such pleading, and then only if said motion should not be sustained. The affidavit of William Bdx corroborai.es the statement of Mr. Hart, and adds that the court granted the order. The affidavit of W. A. Kirkwood is to the effect that for over two years he had been connected with the office of William H. H. Hart, and during that time had to a large extent had charge of the business of obtaining orders in connection with suits in which Mr. Hart had been engaged; that he was present in court on March 22, 1897, and heard Hart mention to the court that, in an order previously granted, the defendant Florence had been given 10 days, after notice of the decision of a motion that had been made in relation to a pleading in the case filed by the Blythe Company, in. which to appear to said pleading, and to plead to the same; that ITart asked that the order he made to apply to the cross complaint, and the order was granted by the court. In a second affidavit filed by Mr. Hart he again refers to the application to the court on March 22, 1897, for an extension of time for the defendant Florence to appear to the cross complaint, and alleges that the order wTas granted by the court. The fact that no minute or record of this application or order has been found raises a presumption that the application was not made, or, if made, was not granted. It is known that the court-room clerk of this court is attentive and accurate in recording the proceedings of the court, and it will be presumed that he performed his duty; but, on the other hand, the affidavits are direct and positive that an application was made to the court for an extension of time for the defendant Florence to appear to the cross bill filed February 16, 1897, and that the application was granted, and these affidavits have not been contradicted. Besides, it would not be unreasonable to expect that the cross bill would be found by counsel for the defendant among the papers in ■¡he case, in the course of the proceedings in court. The condition of the case and the situation of the parties were therefore favorable to just such action as it was claimed was taken on March 22, 1897; and, in view of the unoontradicted evidence that such action was taken, the court is disposed to accept it as an established fact, notwithstanding the strong contrary presumption in favor of the minutes of the court; but whether the defendant can claim any benefit from the terms of surtí an unrecorded order of the court under the circumstances of this case is not clear.

It is further contended in sujiport of the decree that, admitting that such action was taken, all it amounts to is this: that the defendant: Florence appeared in court by counsel at the date named, and by such appearance became subject to the jurisdiction of the court, and bound by its proceedings; that the rule taking the cross bill pro confesso against her, entered in the clerk’s office on April 6, 1897, was a legal notice to her that the Blythe Company was proceeding under the rales to a decree upon that bill. There is much force in the argument advanced In support of this position, but let us see wbat consequences legitimately follow from this contention. If the statements contained in the affidavits are true, there was not merely an appearance on behalf of the defendant Florence to the cross bill of February 16, 1897, but an order of court extending her time to appear to that bill, which had not expired when the decree was entered on July 3, 1897. Under this order she was not subject to any proceeding against her on the cross bill until 10 days after the court had decided a pending motion in the case. But it is said that her counsel neglected to have the order entered of record, and, as the Blythe Company had no notice of it, they were entitled to proceed with their case. This would be true if, under the rules of practice, counsel were required to see that proceedings in court were nroperly recorded in the minutes; but this duty belongs to the officers of the court, and their default cannot be used to the prejudice of parties relying upon the integrity of official records. In re Wight, 134 U. S. 136, 10 Sup. Ct. 487. The most serious difficulty, however, in the way of maintaining the decree against the effect of an appearance by the defendant Florence, arises out of the fact that after the entry of the rule taking the cross bill pro confesso against her on April 6, 1897, the cross bill was twice amended, first by an order dated May 10, 1897, and again by an order dated July 3, 1897. It is true these amendments did not introduce new matter, but withdrew allegations respecting property in another judicial district; struck out the name of Boswell M. Blythe, residing out of the district, and corrected a clerical error relating to the designation of the cross complainant as a defendant; but it is a general rule that any amendment of a bill, however trivial and unimportant, authorizes a defendant, after his appearance, to put in an answer making an entirely new defense, and contradicting his former answer, if one has been filed. 1 Daniell, Ch. Prac. (6th Am. Ed.) 409; 1 Fost. Fed. Prac. (2d Ed.) 280; French v. Hay, 22 Wall. 246; Nelson v. Eaton, 13 C. C. A. 523, 66 Fed. 376; Fisher v. Simon, 14 C. C. A. 443, 67 Fed. 387. Moreover, the defendant Florence had an order of court, dated and duly entered on July 3, 1897, extending her time to appear in the case until after receiving-10 days’ notice of the disposition of the motion to dismiss the amended and supplemental bill of complaint, as amended by the order of the court dated June 1, 1897, and then only in case said motion should be denied. It is true this order applied to the amended supplemental bill, but the language of the order appears to cover more than this one pleading, and extend her appearance in the cause generally. Surely, the court will not be expected to give any narrow construction to its orders as against a default.

Referring now to the remaining preliminary objection interposed by the Blythe Company to this hearing, — that, by reason of the expiration of the term, the decree of July 3, 1897, had become final, and the Blythe Company dismissed from further attendance upon the court, and had not been brought into court by any order, writ, or process of the court, — I think it sufficiently appears from the proceedings to which reference has been made that the decree in question was not final, and did not dispose of all the controversies which arose out of the matters charged in the original bill, and that, therefore, the Blythe Company has not been dismissed, but has continued in attendance upon the court to abide its final determination in the case.

It follows from these considerations that the court, in the exercise of a sound discretion, if not recognizing an absolute right, must set aside and vacate the decree of July 3, 1897, as far as it affects the interests of the defendant Florence.

With respect to the petition of the complainants to have the decree set aside so far as it affects them, many of the reasons that have operated in favor of the defendant Florence also obtain in their favor; but they advance other reasons in that behalf, which they contend place their petition on the grounds of an absolute right. By order of the court, the subpoena issued upon the cross hill was served upon their counsel in the case. They appeared specially by leave of the court, and, contesting this substituted service, submitted a motion to quash the subpoena. This motion was pending whom the decree was entered. There was also a motion of the complainants pending to dis miss the suit as to the Blythe Company. It is contended that, while these motions were pending, no binding decree could be entered against them on the cross bill. This is certainly the general rule of equity practice, and no sufficient reason appears why it should not be applied in this case. The decree will therefore he reversed as to all parties upon the payment of costs by the defendant Florence Blythe Hinckley.

Motion to Correct Minutes.

After the entry of the decree of July 3, 1897, the court, then being in the March term, adjourned sine die. The succeeding or July term commenced on Monday, July 12, 1897. When application was made to the judge of this court in chambers on July 7, 1897, by the solicitors for the defendant Florence Blythe Hinckley, and by the solicitor for the complainants John W. and Henry T. Blythe, to vacate and set aside the decree of July 3, 1897, the circuit court was reopened in (.he March term, in accordance with an order reciting that, good and sufficient reasons appearing therefor, the order of adjournment of the court sine die, entered ou July 3, 1897, was ordered vacated and set aside, and the court was thereupon opened for the transaction of business. The business transacted consisted in the entry of an order permitting the defendant Florence Blythe Hinckley to file her petition and affidavits in the matter of the application to set aside the decree of July 3, 1897; and the hearing of the same continued until the first day of the next term, and a like order was entered for and on behalf of the complainants. The attorney for the Blythe Company has moved to correct the minutes of the court by expunging therefrom this record and the entries relating thereto of the date of July 7, 1897, on the ground that after the court had adjourned for the term, on J uly 3,1897, it had no power or authority to reconvene or reopen for the transaction of business prior to the day fixed by law for the commencement of the next term, except in special or adjourned session, in the manner provided by sections 664 and 672 of the Revised Statutes, a method not pursued by the court on this occasion. The business transacted on July 7, 1897, consisted merely in permitting the parties to file certain papers with the clerk of the court, and continuing the hearing of the same until the first day of the next term. If permission was required for the fijing of these papers, it could have been obtained as well from the judge in chambers, and the hearing, in any event, could have been set down for the first day of the next term. The business transacted by the court on July 7, 1897, was therefore without any legal significance or controlling effect; and, as it does not appear to have in any way prejudiced any right of the Blythe Company, the motion will be denied.