63 Wis. 374 | Wis. | 1885
The only ground relied on for impeaching the judgment is the want of jurisdiction. It is insisted that the circuit court never acquired jurisdiction of the person of Philo Borden by the service of the summons which was made. The summons was served by Constable McKnight, who made an affidavit of the time, place, and manner of service, as follows: “ Ellis J. McKnight, of lawful age, being duly sworn, on oath says that he served the summons hereto annexed upon Philo Borden and William Borden, the defendants therein named, by delivering to each of them a true copy thereof, and leaving the same with each of them at Wayne, in said county, on the 26th day of November, 1881. Deponent further says that he knows the persons so served to be .persons named as defendants in said summons.”
The objection which is taken by the learned counsel for Philo Borden to this proof of service is that it wholly fails to show either (1) that McKnight delivered to his client, a copy of the summons; (2) or that .he left with him a copy; (3) or with whom such copy was left. The statute, counsel says, imperatively requires that these facts should appear from the affidavit of the person who makes the service. When service is made by a person other than the sheriff, the statute certainly requires that the proof of service shall be the affidavit of the person making the service, “ showing place, time, and manner of service, that he knew the person served to be the defendant mentioned in the sum-
But some affidavits were used on the motion to set aside the judgment, and, among them, the affidavits of McKnight and of his son, who was with him when he made the service. From these it is insisted that it appears that no copy of the summons was either delivered to Philo Borden or left With him. We have no disposition to go into any discussion of the matters stated in these affidavits and in those made by Philo Borden. There is certainly a very positive and serious contradiction in the statements .made on the one side and on the other as to the time and circumstances attending the service of the summons. We feel bound to attach greater credit to the statements of McKnight and his son than to those of Borden, made, as they are, by persons not interested in the suit. It appears from these affidavits that McKnight and his son went to Borden’s house in the evening of the 26th of November; that McKnight informed 'Borden he had a summons in the action which he was going to serve; that he held the summons in his hand and Borden saw it; that then Borden refused to let him make service, pushed him partly out of the door, when McKnight informed him that he would leave a cojiy of the summons for him, and did so by attaching it securely to the handle of the door-latch, informing Borden of what he had done. This, in substance, is the account which McKnight and his son give of the time and manner of the service. The affidavits on both sides contain much impertinent matter, and, as we have said, flatly contradict each other,
But, without dwelling upon the details of the ti’ansaction,. and assuming, as we feel we must do, that the statements of McKnight and his son are more worthy of credit than
The defendant Borden offered to read the affidavit of his wife to corroborate his version of the transaction, and to show want of service of the- summons upon him. The affidavit was objected to, and was rejected by the court. It was clearly incompetent.
By the Court.— Ordered accordingly.