Winter v. Merrick & Sons

SOMERYILLE, J.' The decree of the chancellor, in this case, must be affirmed because of a fatal variance between the allegations of the bill and the proof disclosed in the record. It is a rule prevailing in both courts of law and of equity that tlie allegata, and probata — the matters alleged and those proved — must substantially correspond. However cogent may be the proof, and however just may be the demand of the complainant, no relief can be granted without the requisite allega [87] tions being made in the bill. — Flanagan v. State Bank, 32 Ala. 508; Cameron v. Abbott, 30 Ala. 416; O’Bannon v. Myer's Ex’rs, 36 Ala. 551. The allegation made in complainant’s bill, as to her ownership of the money sought to be recovered of the defendants, is, that the whole of said money is her property, and constitutes a portion of her separate estate. The proof clearly shows that she had only a life interest in the money, or claim, and that the remainder went to her children. This precise point has been twice ruled on by this court, and in both instances it was held to be a variance, and, under the old practice, not amendable. — Crabb's Adm'r v. Thomas, 25 Ala. 212; Larkins v. Biddle, 21 Ala. 252. We hold to the authority of these cases, so far as concerns the doctrine of variance, but incline to the opinion that the defect would be amendable under our present statute. — Code, 1876; § 3790; Hinton v. Ins. Co. 63 Ala. 488; Jones v. Reese, 65 Ala. 134. However this may be, the right of amendment should have been claimed before final decree in the lower court. — Brock v. S. & N. Ala. R. R. Co. 65 Ala. 79. It may be that, had the chancellor granted the complainant relief and the case had been reversed here for this defect, we might have remanded the cause so as' to afford an opportunity of amendment. But the rule is different where the bill is dismissed by the lower court, excépt, perhaps, where the bill has equity, and the dismissal is-for want of proper parties, in the absence of a demurrer on this ground. — Stone v. Hale, 17 Ala. 557. This is not, however, a question of parties, but a matter of variance in the title as alleged in the bill and that disclosed in the proof, which are essentially different. There are other grounds which would also justify the affirmance of the chancellor’s decree, but it is unnecessary that we should consider them. Affirmed. Stone, J., not sitting.