14 Wis. 564 | Wis. | 1861
By the Court,
The transactions detailed in Sweet’s answer, which, for the purposes of this proceeding as well of the relator’s motion to strike out certain parts of it as irrelevant and redundant, must be taken to be true, are continuous and connected, and not remote or detached from the cause of action set forth by the relator, as is contended by his counsel. The answer expressly avers that each transfer of lands to Mitchell, subsequent to the first and including that by which he acquired the title to the lots in question, was, so far as Sweet was interested, made upon the same
It is unnecessary for us to- determine here whether the relief asked as to the other lands can be granted in the action, or, if it cannot, whether that part of the answer which demands it should be stricken out on motion. It is certain that the demand for it furnishes no reason' for striking out the principal facts stated, when it can be seen that they are otherwise pertinent to the case. The relief or judgment claimed is not a matter which goes to .the cause of action or ground of defense, .bui respects the event merely, and hence is not cause of demurrer. Van Santvoord’s PL, 368.
Nor is it necessary to enter upon the questions involving the merits of Sweet’s defense. It is enough that they are such that if finally held to be valid they would deprive the county court of power to try them. ‘
Nor need we discuss the question whether, if the action had originally been brought in the county court, the filing of Sweet’s answer would have taken away its jurisdiction. It is sufficient that it was commenced in a court having jurisdiction both of the cause of action and of the defense, and that that court was not authorized to send it to the county court, it appearing that the matters involved were beyond its jurisdiction. Laws of 1860, chap. 362, sec. 5.
The position that Sweet procured the change of venue to the county court, and thereby discontinued his counter-claim, is not supported by the record. It appears that he applied for a change of venue, without indicating to what court the cause should be sent, and the order sending it to the county court rather than to the circuit court of some other county, cannot be regarded as having been made by his procurement or consent.
It follows that the respondent was right in refusing to act upon the motion, and that the demurrer to the return to the alternative writ, and the motion for a peremptory writ, must both be overruled.