29 Neb. 187 | Neb. | 1890
This action was brought by the defendant in error against the plaintiff in error before a justice of the peace of Buffalo county. The case was set for hearing December 7,1887, at which time both parties appeared, the plaintiff by its attorney and the defendant in person and by attorney. The defendant filed a motion to compel the plaintiff to give security for costs, which motion was sustained and plaintiff entered into bond for costs. On the same day the defendant filed an application for a continuance and the trial was postponed to January 6, 1888. The defendant caused subpoenas to be issued for his witnesses, which Avere served. January 6, 1888, the cause was continued by consent of the
It is impossible to tell from the record before us upon which motion the order of the district court dismissing the appeal was founded, hence it becomes necessary to determine whether either motion was sufficient under the fácts of this case to authorize the dismissal of the appeal. The first motion to dismiss clearly was not well taken. The judgment was not rendered in the “absence” of the defendant. True the defendant did not appear on the day of trial, but he did appear on the return day of summons, filed a motion to require the plaintiff to give security for the costs, and an application fora continuance. Subpoenas for witnesses were issued at the request of defendant, which were served, and several continuances were had before the justice upon the agreement of parties. Under the numerous decisions of this court the defendant had the right
Tlie transcript was not filed in the district court within thirty days next following the rendition of the judgment, as required by section 1011 of the Civil Code. Had there been no general appearance of the appellee the district court would not have acquired jurisdiction. (Slaven v. Hellman, 24 Neb., 646; Converse Cattle Co. v. Campbell et al., 25 Id., 37.
The record, however, discloses that the defendant in error made a general appearance in the case, for, at the first term of the district court after the filing of the transcript the cause was continued by agreement of the parties until the next term. It was more than a year after the filing of the transcript before the motion to dismiss the appeal was interposed. The district court has jurisdiction of the subject-matter of the action, and by the defendant in error appearing in court and agreeing to a continuance of the cause it conferred upon that court jurisdiction of its person. The defendant in error having entered a general appearance in the case in the district court, it cannot be heard to complain because the transcript was not filed with the clerk of that court within the statutory time. (Goodrich v. City of Omaha, 11 Neb., 204; Bazzo v. Wallace, 16 Id., 290.)
It follows that the district court erred in dismissing the appeal. The judgment of the district court is reversed, the appeal reinstated and the cause remanded for further proceedings in accordance with law.
Judgment accordingly.