Reed v. Liston

GARRETT, Chief Justice. J. F. Reed, the appellant, brought this suit to enjoin the execution of a judgment obtained against him by the appellee, Perry Liston, in the District Court of Panola County, in an action of trespass to try title, upon the warranty of Reed to Liston of title to land recovered of Liston in said suit. Plaintiff alleged that the judgment sought to be enjoined was obtained as a result of a fraudulent combination between the plaintiffs and defendants in said suit, and misrepresentations made to counsel for plaintiff herein, by which he was caused to be absent from the court at the term at which the judgment was taken. He also alleged that the judgment was void, because the suit had already been determined at the preceding term of court by a final judgment therein, and the court had no further jurisdiction of the cause. A preliminary injunction was granted, but upon trial the injunction was dissolved and judgment was rendered in favor of the defendant. Upon examination by us of the grounds of error in the judgment of the court below, assigned by the appellant and relied on for a reversal of the judgment, we are of the opinion that it ought to be affirmed. Conclusions of Fad.— So far as pertinent to the disposition of the case, the following facts were shown on the trial: 1. On the 23rd day of October, 1891, a judgment was entered in the District Court of Panola County, in cause number 2753, Mary C. Smith et al., plaintiffs, v. H. Cadenhead et al., defendants, which appellant contends was a final judgment. Said judgment set out at length an agreement made between the plaintiffs and the defendants, Perry Lis *120 ton and Dan Briggs, from which it appeared that the defendants, Briggs and Liston, had separately filed answers and disclaimed as to the land sued for, except certain tracts therein described. A proviso was made in the agreement, which was a part of the judgment, that the settlement should in nowise affect the right of plaintiffs to recover against Liston the fifty acres of land conveyed to him by J. F. Reed. It may be inferred that as to Liston and Briggs, plaintiffs were to recover the balance of the land. The judgment then proceeds to award judgment against the plaintiffs in favor of Briggs and Liston separately for the tracts described in the agreement, and closes as follows: “The said Dan Briggs and Perry Liston having disclaimed as to all of the land sued for by plaintiffs save and except the three tracts above described, it is considered, ordered, and adjudged, that they go hence without day and recover of the plaintiffs their costs in this behalf expended, and that the defendants Liston and Briggs be forever quieted in their title and possession of the lands herein adjudged to them.” There are no pleadings belonging to said suit in evidence. 2. At the next succeeding term of court, on April 11,1892, another judgment was entered in said cause, which finally awarded judgment in favor of plaintiffs for the land against all of the defendants, except as against Liston, Briggs, and H. Cadenhead; but as to the fifty acres, it appears that plaintiff recovered, and Liston recovered over against Reed upon his warranty. This judgment recites that it is a correction of a judgment previously entered upon the same day, which also appears in the record. 3. The three judgment entries above mentioned are all set out in full in the statement of facts, and are adopted as a part of these conclusions for reference, if deemed necessary. Conclusions of Law. — 1. The judgment entered on October 23, 1891, in cause number 2753, did not dispose of all of the defendants, nor of all the subject matter of the controversy, and was not a final judgment, but only an interlocutory judgment. Hence the court was not without jurisdiction to render a final judgment in said cause at the next term of the court. 2. There is no merit in the third assignment of- error, with respect to the action of the court in reopening the case after it had been under advisement for two weeks, and hearing material evidence over the objection of plaintiff. The case was tried without a jury, and it appears from the bill of exception that before argument was concluded the time for taking up the criminal docket arrived, and the case was postponed for two weeks, when defendant was permitted to recall a witness. In response to plaintiff’s objection, the court offered to entertain amotion for a postponement to enable plaintiff to procure rebutting testimony; but counsel stated that it would do no good, as his client knew nothing about the matter, and could offer nothing in rebuttal. *121 Delivered September 20, 1894. Writ of error refused by the Supreme Court, November 30, 1894. ■ 3. The remaining assignments are too general to require consideration. Affirmed.