Beck v. Rosser

Decision Date27 October 1890
Citation8 So. 259,68 Miss. 72
CourtMississippi Supreme Court
PartiesJ. J. BECK ET AL. v. D. E. ROSSER, USE, ETC

October 1890

FROM the circuit court of Bolivar county, HON. GEO. WINSTON Judge.

This action was begun by attachment by D. E. Rosser, for the use of John Rosser, against J. J. Beck. Certain cotton was levied upon by the writ of attachment which was released to the defendant, upon his giving bond to have the same forthcoming to abide the judgment of the court. Plaintiff, "D. E Rosser for the use and benefit of said John Rosser," filed a declaration in the case, and attached to the same was an open account upon which the suit was based. This account was in favor of D. E. Rosser against the defendant, Beck. Indorsed thereon in writing was an assignment of the same to John Rosser. This indorsement was subscribed by said D. E Rosser, and was dated prior to the institution of this suit. Defendant failed to appear, and judgment by default was taken against him and the sureties on his bond, from which judgment this appeal is prosecuted. John Rosser was not a party to the suit, and had no connection with it, except as usee; nor does it appear that D. E. Rosser acted as his agent in the prosecution of the suit.

Reversed and remanded.

Calhoon & Green, for appellants.

The record shows that the account sued on had been assigned to John Rosser, and he should have been the plaintiff, responsible for costs. The transfer being in writing, he could have sued in his own name. Code 1880, § 1507. D. E. Rosser had no right to bring the suit as agent or otherwise.

Julius A. Robinson, on the same side.

Moore & Jones and Miller, Smith & Hirsh, for appellee.

No brief on file.

OPINION

CAMPBELL, J.

This action is not maintainable in the name of "D. E. Rosser for the use of John Rosser," because the legal title of the chose in action sued on was in the latter. Lake v. Hastings, 24 Miss. 490.

The judgment by default did not cure the fatal defect mentioned. Haynes v. Ezell, 25 Miss. 242, decided under a statute somewhat broader than that now in force.

It is regrettable that a circumstance so trivial in the view of common sense should operate to reverse the judgment, but so the law is written, and so long as the distinction between courts of law and courts of chancery and legal and equitable rights is maintained, such incongruities will continue to mar the administration of justice.

Reversed...

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11 cases
  • Equitable Life Assur. Soc. of United States v. Gex' Estate
    • United States
    • Mississippi Supreme Court
    • February 27, 1939
    ... ... "Beneficiary;" Dumphy v. Com. Union Assur. Co., 142 ... S.W. 116; 5 C. J. 1414; Douglass v. Equitable Life Assur ... Soc., 99 So. 834; Beck v. Rosser, 8 So. 259, 68 ... Miss. 72; McInnis Lbr. Co. v. Rather, 71 So. 264, ... 111 Miss. 55; Lamar Life Ins. Co. v. Moody, 122 ... Miss ... ...
  • Aetna Ins. Co. v. Smith
    • United States
    • Mississippi Supreme Court
    • April 8, 1918
    ...This has been repeatedly held by our court and it would seem useless to cite authorities, but we refer the court to the case of Beck v. Rosser, 68 Miss. 72, and Nickles Dillard, 73 Miss. 803. The supreme court of Mississippi has held that the person to whom a claim for damages for an injury......
  • Bolivar Compress Co. v. Mallett
    • United States
    • Mississippi Supreme Court
    • May 11, 1925
    ...the assignee as plaintiff in the place of the assignor; and thus the deplorable state of the law referred to by Judge CAMPBELL in Beck v. Rosser, supra which no motion was made to substitute the name of the assignee in the place of the name of the assignor as here) is done away with. This c......
  • Smith v. Beard
    • United States
    • Mississippi Supreme Court
    • February 13, 1922
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