90 Ga. 756 | Ga. | 1893
1. The plaintiffs in their declaration set forth substantially the contents of the bond sued on, and the facts constituting a breach thereof. Certainly, this is all that could be required of them. The form of pleading set forth in section 3391 of the code, commonly known as one of the “short” forms, is but cumulative in its character ; its use is permissive, not obligatory. It follows, without argument, that there was no merit in the objection urged to the admission of the bond itself in evidence, on the ground that neither the original bond nor a copy thereof being attached to the declaration, “there was no evidence that the bond introduced was the one sought to be enforced.”
2. The principle contained in the second head-note has been so often recognized by this court as to have become settled law in this State. It was announced as far back as the first volume of our reports (Bryant, guardian, v. Owen & Wife, 1 Ga. 355), and as said by Justice Blandeord, in Bennett, ordinary, v. Graham, adm’r, 71 Ga. 213, “ such have been the continuous and uninterrupted rulings of this court.” (See cases cited.)
After defendant’s special pleas were stricken, certain evidence was sought to be introduced in defence under the plea of the general issue. To the refusal of the court to allow the introduction of such evidence, numerous grounds of exceptions are presented. From such consideration as we have given to the evidence thus set forth, it would appear that no question as to its admissibility could arise if the tender was made under the pleas which were improperly stricken by the court. This being so, under the ruliug herein made, these questions will not likely arise upon the rehearing of the case, and therefore need not be considered further.
8. It is well recognized as a general rule, that where' a judgment is relied on as an estoppel, or as establishing any particular state of facts of which it was the judicial' result, it can be proved only by offering in evidence a complete and duly authenticated copy of the entire proceedings in which the same was rendered. But where' the only direct object to be subserved is to show the existence and contents of such judgment, this rule does not apply, and a certified copy of the judgment entry of a court of record possessing general original jurisdiction is admissible, by itself, to prove rendition and contents. 2 Black. Judg. §604; 1 Greenl. Ev. §511. Such entry will be prima facie evidence of a valid judgment, and on being admitted, all the legal incidents attach which
Rightly understood, the case of Mitchell v. Mitchell, 40 Ga. 11, presents no conflict with what we have just ruled. A verdict of a jury is not a-judgment or depree, and even when accompanied by the pleadings, would not be admissible in evidence for most purposes if no judgment or decree appeared. In Dupont v. Mayo, 56 Ga. 304, the judgment or order of the ordinary was sought to be used as adjudicating a discharge of one of the sureties on a prior bond, and as operating incidentally to discharge a surety on the bond in suit. The judgment of discharge, so far from declaring that the
A judgment is the conclusion of the law upon matters contained in the record. "Whenever it is sought to establish the conclusion merely and the contents thereof, the judgment is admissible by itself; but when the object is to show any of the premises from which the conclusion was drawn, then the whole record must be produced. The contents of the judgment, the relation of the parties, or other facts expressed therein, are part and parcel of the conclusion. So, likewise, are any legal incidents which the law attaches to these contents.
It only remains to apply the doctrines above announced to the facts of the case now under consideration. In order to show a right of action on the bond, it was incumbent on the plaintiffs to establish a devastavit
4. To the introduction in evidence of the execution issued under this judgment, objection was made “on the ground that there was no proper and legal return or entry of nulla bona on said ji. fa.” Upon the ji. fa. are two entries, one made by the sheriff’ of Jones, the other by the sheriff’ of Twiggs county. Save as to the county named, the language employed is the same in one as in the other: “ After search and inquiry, I know of no property of the defendant in the county . . . upon which to levy this fi. fa.” The specific objection raised to the return is, that the levying officer in each instance describing his search to have been for property of the “defendant,” it is impossible to determine “whether said sheriffs meant that they could not find any property of the estate of Lucinda A. Gibson, or whether it was property of O. O. Gibson personally they were unable to find.” The execution directs the money to be made of the “goods and chattels, lands and tenements . . . that were of the estate of Lucinda A. Gibson, and that may
5. It necessarily follows from what has been said in the second division of this opinion, that the trial judge further erred in directing a verdict in favor of the plaintiffs in the court below. Judgment reversed.