{
  "id": 8682483,
  "name": "Doe on dem of ARNOLD WATKINS v. The heirs of CELIA EASLEY",
  "name_abbreviation": "Doe on dem of Watkins v. Heirs of Easley",
  "decision_date": "1857-06",
  "docket_number": "",
  "first_page": "286",
  "last_page": "287",
  "citations": [
    {
      "type": "nominative",
      "cite": "4 Jones 286"
    },
    {
      "type": "official",
      "cite": "49 N.C. 286"
    }
  ],
  "court": {
    "name_abbreviation": "N.C.",
    "id": 9292,
    "name": "Supreme Court of North Carolina"
  },
  "jurisdiction": {
    "id": 5,
    "name_long": "North Carolina",
    "name": "N.C."
  },
  "cites_to": [],
  "analysis": {
    "cardinality": 183,
    "char_count": 2471,
    "ocr_confidence": 0.405,
    "sha256": "9e584d00bce51c6b43bfa712c517628d873afbbaff17c5b5a8aa4022a5b8c08d",
    "simhash": "1:d9a78c74b1141319",
    "word_count": 444
  },
  "last_updated": "2023-07-14T21:20:10.197681+00:00",
  "provenance": {
    "date_added": "2019-08-29",
    "source": "Harvard",
    "batch": "2018"
  },
  "casebody": {
    "judges": [],
    "parties": [
      "Doe on dem of ARNOLD WATKINS v. The heirs of CELIA EASLEY."
    ],
    "opinions": [
      {
        "text": "Battle, J.\nThe question presented in this case depends upon the proper construction of the 5th section of the 1st chapter of the Bevised Code. This enactment was originally made in 1799, and was intended to prevent the abatement of an action of ejectment by the death of the defendant therein. The mischief at common law was, that upon the death of the defendant, the suit abated, in consequence of which the plaintiff\u2019s lessor had to pay his own costs, and commence a new suit against the heirs, or devisees. To prevent this, the Act authorised the lessor to revive the \u2019suit by serving on the heirs-at-law, or devisees, of the deceased defendant, or the guardian, within two terms after the death of the defendant, \u201ca copy of the declaration filed in the said action,\u201d &c. This was intended for the benefit of the lessor, and though we have no doubt he might permit the heirs, or devisees to come in voluntarily, and be made parties, yet' we cannot discover anything, either in the policy, or terms of the Act, which gives them the right to come in, and be made parties against his will. lie may prefer to suffer the action to abate, in order to avoid the risk of having all the costs to pay in the event of a decision against him. If he choose to abandon his suit upon an abatement, because he may thereby avoid the payment of oth,er costs than his own, we do not see that the Act in question gives to the heirs, or devisees, of the deceased defendant, any right to prevent it.\nWe have examined the cases referred to by the defendant\u2019s counsel, and we cannot find anything in opposition to these views.\nPee OueiaM. Judgment affirmed.",
        "type": "majority",
        "author": "Battle, J."
      }
    ],
    "attorneys": [
      "No counsel appeared for the plaintiff in this Court.",
      "Bryan, for defendants."
    ],
    "corrections": "",
    "head_matter": "Doe on dem of ARNOLD WATKINS v. The heirs of CELIA EASLEY.\nThe heirs-at-law of a deceased defendant cannot, against the will of the plaintiff\u2019s lessor, make themselves a party to an action of ejectment, so as to prevent the suit from abating.\nAt the Spring Term, 1857, of Stanly Superior Court, a motion was made before PeesoN, Judge, by the heirs-at-law of Celia Easley, whose death had been suggested upon the record, to be permitted to make themselves parties defendant in lieu of their deceased mother, and a proper bond for that purpose was filed by them in the office of the Court.\nThe motion was opposed by the lessor of the plaintiff, and refused by the Court, from which judgment the said persons, the heirs of Celia Easley, appealed to this Court.\nNo counsel appeared for the plaintiff in this Court.\nBryan, for defendants."
  },
  "file_name": "0286-01",
  "first_page_order": 294,
  "last_page_order": 295
}