Christian Society in Plymouth v. Macomber

Wilde, J. This was an action of trespass quare clausum fregit, to which the defendants pleaded the general issue, and gave notice that they should deny the legal existence of the plaintiff corporation. But it was ruled by the court, at the trial, that by pleading the general issue, the defendants admitted that the plaintiffs were a corporation or religious society competent to sue, and that the fact of their incorporation could be contested by a plea in abatement only ; and to this ruling the defendants’ counsel excepted. The only cases relied on by the plaintiffs’ counsel, in support of the rule of pleading laid down at the trial, are the Proprietors of Monumoi Great Beach v. Rogers, 1 Mass. 159, and the Proprietors of Kennebeck Purchase v. Call, 1 Mass. 485. In those cases, it was decided that the defendant, by pleading the general issue, admitted the existence of the proprietors as named in the writ ; and in the latter case, it was said by the court, that “ if the defendant meant to object to that fact, he should have taken the objection by a plea in abatement.” And this undoubtedly would be so, if the objection were that the plaintiffs had sued by a wrong name. Bro. Ab. Misnomer, 73. 1 Bos. & Pul. 40. 1 Saund. 340, note (2). But the question, whether a plea in bar, denying that the plaintiffs were a corporation, might be well pleaded, was not raised or discussed in those cases. The decisions were, that by pleading to the action, the defendant admitted that the plaintiffs were a corporation competent to sue. On this point, the authorities are conflicting. See 1 U. S. Digest, Corporation, 213, where the American cases are collected. In the School District v. Blaisdell, 6 N. Hamp. 197, it was held that the general issue is a waiver of all exceptions to the person of the plaintiff; but it was held also, that the defendant might plead in bar or in abatement that the plaintiffs were not a corporation. And so it was again decided in Proprietors of Concord v. McIntire, 6 N. Hamp. 527. The same rule of law has been laid down in other cases. In New York, it has been uniformly held .hat on the general [238] issue, the plaintiffs, suing as a corporation, must prove that they are a corporation, and that a plea that the plaintiffs were not a corporation would be bad on special demurrer, as amounting to the general issue. Bank of Auburn v. Weed, 19 Johns. 300. But this question is not material in the present case, as íe defendants gave notice, when they filed their plea, that they should deny the legal existence of the plaintiff corporation, which, by St. 1836, c. 273, abolishing special pleas in bar and special demurrers, entitles them to the same defence as though the same were specially pleaded. So that the question is, whether before the statute the plea of mil tiel corporation was a good plea in bar. A similar question was very fully discussed, in the case of Langdon v. Potter, 11 Mass. 313. The question was, whether the defendant could be allowed to plead in bar" that the plaintiffs were not administrators, in which capacity they prosecuted the action. And it was decided, that it might well be so pleaded. This decision is sustained by all the authorities, although it seems that the same matter might be pleaded in abatement. It was remarked by Jackson, J. in delivering the opinion of the court, that “ there are many cases, where the matter of the plea goes to preclude the plaintiff forever from maintaining the action, and it may therefore be pleaded in bar ; yet as in point of form it is in disability of the plaintiff, it may also be pleaded to the person.” And this may be allowed, although the disability be perpetual. 6 Pick. 370. Such a plea, however, although the effect may be to abate the writ, seems to be more properly a plea in bar. In Bro. Ab. Misnomer, 73, the doctrine is thus laid down : “ In an action by a corporation or a natural body, misnomer of one or the other goes only to the writ; but to say that there is no such person in rerum natura, or no such body politic, this is in bar ; for if he be misnamed, he may have a new writ by the right name ; but if there be no such body politic, or such person, then he cannot have an action.” This is recognized as the correct rule, in Mayor & Burgesses of Stafford v. Bolton, 1 Bos. & Pul. 44. But although a perpetual disability of the plaintiff may be [239] pleaded in bar, it may also be pleaded in abatement, at the election of the defendant. Thel. Dig. lib. xi. c. 7. Com. Dig. Abatement, E. 16. 1 Chit. Pl. (5th ed.) 481. Bank of Manchester v. Allen, 11 Verm. 306. Campbell v. Galbreath, 5 Watts, 428. There appears to be no case in which it has been decided that such a plea in bar is not good, except in those instances where it has been held to amount to the general issue. And we are of opinion, that the special matter relied on by the defendants, of which they gave notice, might have been well pleaded in bar, before the statute abolishing special pleadings, and consequently that the plaintiffs aré bound to prove their incorporation or organization. If, however, the defendants had not given notice of their intention to deny the plaintiffs’ legal competency to sue as a cor-, poration, we should have considered that matter as admitted by the plea to the action, according to the decision, before referred to, in the case of Proprietors of Kennebeck Purchase v. Call. New trial ordered.