McCoy v. Harrell, Nichols & Co.

JUDGE, J. Tbe plaintiff in tbe court below sued tbe defendant on a promissory note, purporting to bave been executed by “McCoy & Goss.” Tbe defendant McCoy interposed a plea of non est factum, in the words of tbe form for such pleas, prescribed by tbe Code. Section 2279 of tbe Code provides, that “all written instruments, tbe foundation of tbe suit, purporting to be signed by tbe defendant, bis partner, agent, or attorney in fact, must be received in evidence, without proof of tbe execution, unless tbe execution thereof is denied by plea, verified by affidavit.” It is contended, in tbe case before us, that it does not appear that tbe plea was sufficiently verified by affidavit. It is tbe settled law of this State, that in all cases where, under our statute, or according to our practice, a plea must be verified by oath, tbe oath is a part of tbe plea, so much so, that without it tbe plea may be stricken out on motion. Hunt v. Test, 8 Ala. 713; Sorrelle v. Elmes, 6 Ala. 706. Therefore, as has been repeatedly held, a demurrer to a plea reaches tbe want of an affidavit, when one is necessary. — McAlpin v. May, 1 Stew. 520; McWhorter v. Lewis, 4 Ala. 198. Tbe oath and tbe plea, then, being parts of tbe same instrument, tbe two must be looked at and construed together, to determine what has been sworn to, and by whom. In this case, after tbe averment that tbe note was not executed by tbe defendant, nor by any one authorized to bind him in tbe premises, it is recited in tbe plea, that tbe defendant “makes oath that this plea is true”; and at tbe foot of tbe plea, tbe clerk certifies as follows: “Tbe above plea sworn to before me, this 12th day of September, 1859.” These recitals, in tbe plea, and in tbe certificate of tbe clerk, taken together, make it clear, in our opinion, that tbe plea was verified by tbe affidavit of tbe defendant. Even in pleas in abatement, where matters of form are regarded as substance, it has been held that tbe terms “sworn to and subscribed in open court,” at tbe foot of tbe plea, (as certified by tbe clerk,) is a sufficient compliance [235] with the statute, which requires such pleas to be accompanied with an affidavit of their truth. — Powers v. Bryant's Adm'r, 7 Porter, 10; State v. Middleton, 5 Porter, 484. And in such pleas, it is not essential that they should be verified by the oath of the defendant, or that they should be signed by him; their truth may be shown by the affidavit of another person; and they may be signed by counsel. — Prim & Abbott v. Davis, 2 Ala. 24; DeForest, Morris & Wilkins v. Elkins, 2 Ala. 50. No sufficient reason is perceived why the same rules should not be applied to pleas of non est factum. Neither the statute which requires pleas in abatement to be verified by oath, nor the statute which makes the same requirement as to pleas of non est factum, directs by whom the oath shall be made. But, as we have already said, we think it sufficiently appears in the case before us, that the plea was verified by the affidavit of the defendant himself. 2. It is true, as a general rule, that where a defendant pleads an affirmative plea, the onus of proving it lies upon himself; and if he does not appear to sustain his plea, and a judgment by default is rendered in favor of the plaintiff, it will not be reversed on error, for the irregularity works no injury. — Dougherty v. Colquitt, 2 Ala. 337; McCollum & Capel v. Hogan, 1 Ala. 515. But, when a sworn plea is interposed, denying the execution of the instrument sued on, the rule stated has no application. In such case, the parties stand as they did at common law, when the general issue was pleaded, which devolved on the plaintiff the necessity of proving the execution of the instrument sued on; and such proof not having been made by the plaintiffs in this case, it was error to render a final judgment by default against the defendant. — Crow v. The Decatur Bank, 6 Ala. 249. Let the judgment be reversed, and the cause remanded.