36 Mo. 194 | Mo. | 1865
delivered the opinion of the court.
This is an action against a constable and his securities for failing to return an execution within ninety days, according to its mandate. The record shows that on the second day of March, 1861, Corby obtained judgment against Thomas
Courts are always liberal in permitting amendments of all pleadings and process that are before them, in' order to promote the ends of justice. It is admitted by the respondent, that officers may amend their returns when third parties are interested, but cannot amend so as to exonerate themselves and their securities, and moré particularlyafter suit has been instituted upon their breach of duty. We know of no absolute rule to this effect, unless a party has been misled by the return, and acted differently from what he would have acted had the return been otherwise. But when the return could have no such tendency, we can see no objections to a
the cause will be reversed and remanded, to be tried in accordance with the views herein expressed.