Mack v. Brown

Mr. Justice Scholfield delivered the opinion of the Court: The return of the sheriff, showing service on Firman K. Mack, one of the minor defendants, is in these words: “And on Firman K. Mack, by leaving a true copy thereof for him with Adelia Mack, at his usual place of abode, she being a white person, over ten years of-age, the 20th of September, 1872.” This was insufficient to give the court jurisdiction to render any decree affecting his interests, because the return fails to show that Adelia Mack, with whom the copy of the summons was left, was a person of the family, and that she was informed of the contents of the copy, as required by the statute. 1 Gross, 70, sec. 7. The decree was, therefore, void as against Firman K. Mack, and being a joint decree against all the defendants, must be reversed in toto. Montgomery v. Brown et al. 2 Gilm. 581; Tompkims v. Wiltberger, 56 Ill. 385. The decree is reversed and the cause remanded. Decree reversed.