13 Miss. 782 | Miss. | 1846
This action was brought by Long against the plaintiffs in error on an injunction bond, which recites that God
In proof of the final decree on which the plaintiff relied, a paper in the following words was introduced : “ Superior Court of Chancery of the State of Mississippi, June Term, 1839; S. E. Goddard, complainant, v. John Long et al., defendants.
“ It appearing to the satisfaction of the court, that the injunction heretofore granted in this case, was dissolved at the last term of this court, and that no steps toward the further prosecution of his suit have been taken, by said complainant, it is ordered that said bill of complaint be dismissed, and that complainant pay the costs of this suit to be taxed.” The clerk certified that this was a true copy from the minutes of the court.
As a matter of evidence, it is objectionable because it is uncertain. This order may have been made in a suit between different parties. It would have been equally admissible in any and every suit in which Long and Goddard were parties. In all cases where judgments or decrees are admissible as evidence, as a medium of proving the facts on which they are based, the parties must be the same or in privity. And the better rule seems to be, that when a decree of a court of chancery is relied on, the proceedings on which the decree was predicated should accompany it. 1 Phil. Ev. 393; 1 Stark. 246.
We omit to notice the objections arising out of the pleadings, as on a second trial they may be shaped to suit the views of counsel. The plea of Marsh, to which the demurrer was filed, seems to be liable to some objection, but it is unnecessary that we now decide on its sufficiency.
The judgment must be reversed and catise remanded.