Jones Bros. v. Strickland

The opinion of the Court was delivered by Mr. Justice Hydrick. Plaintiffs brought this action in the Court of Common Pleas for'Bamberg county. The defendants, Strickland and Benton, are residents of that county, and the defendants, Varn and the Bank of Smoaks* are residents of Colleton county. The plaintiffs allege that they sold a mule to Strickland, and took his note for the purchase price, secured by a mortgage of the mule; that thereafter Strickland sold the mule to Benton; that thereafter Varn, as agent of the Bank of Smoaks, wrongfully took possession of-the mule, and unlawfully detains him from, plaintiffs; that Strickland and Benton both claim an interest in the mule. The defendants, Varn and the Bank of Smoaks, moved for a change of venue to- Colleton county. Prom an order refusing their motion, they appealed. The, motion was properly refused. Section 174 of the Code of Procedure provides that, when there is more than one defendant, the action may be tried in the county in which one or more of the defendants resides at the time of the commencement thereof. The Court cannot say that Strickland and Benton have no- interest in the subject of the action, or 'that they are only nominal parties to the record, for the purpose of giving the Court of Bamberg jurisdiction of the action, and of the defendants who reside in Colleton county. Under the allegation that they claim- an interest in the mule, they are proper parties to the action, and the venue was properly laid in the county of their residence. Affirmed. Mr. Justice Gage did not sit in this case.