43 Miss. 124 | Miss. | 1870
This was an action of assiimpsit brought by N. G. Nye, in. the circuit court of Yazoo county, against T. L. Nelson, to recover the amount due on a promissory note.
The plaintiff below, N. G. Nye, derived title to the note by the endorsement and delivery of the same to him by J. 0. Howe, the payee. Judgment by default final was rendered on the 14th May, 1866, against Nelson for the amount of nóte and interest. The case is brought into this court by writ of error. Two errors are assigned:
1st. Because the return on the process is irregular.
2d. Because there is no evidence that S. 0. Johnson was a special deputy.
The return on the summons is in these words, “ executed in person and by copy, April 30th, 1861; J. W. Rogers, sheriff, by S. 0. Johnson, special deputy.” The statute empowers the sheriff to appoint one or more deputies by a writing under his hand. Every deputy (except such as may be appointed to do a particular act), shall take and subscribe an oath faithfully to execute the duties of deputy sheriff. The oath shall be filed in the office of the probate clerk. Rev. Code of 1857, p. 122, art. 115. It is insisted by the counsel for plaintiff in error, that the appointment of the special deputy, to serve and return the writ, must be endorsed on the process itself, or at least,' there must be evidence of such appointment in the record. The statute provides a mode for the appointment of deputies, viz: “By a writing under the sheriff’s hand.” If the deputy is to act as the general
The other error complained of is that'the service is insufficient. “ The sheriff shall return a written statement of his proceedings on the writ.” Rev. Code, p. 489, art. 63. Article 64 provides the several modes of service: “ Original process shall be served personally on defendant, if to be found, and a true copy thereof delivered to him.” etc.
The service in this caséis a substantial compliance with the statute. The “ proceedings ” reported as had under the writ, import that the writ was served on the defendant personally. And we understand the officer to mean, by the words, “ and by copy,” that the copy was delivered to the defendant, or placed subject to his personal control and possession. The