Common Law Procedure Act 1852

XXXIII Proceedings where only some of the Defendants appear to a Writ specially endorsed.

In any Action brought against Two or more Defendants, where the Writ of Summons is indorsed in the special Form hereinbefore provided, if One or more of such Defendants only shall appear, and another or others of them shall not appear, it shall and may be lawful for the Plaintiff to sign Judgment against such Defendant or Defendants only as shall not have appeared, and, before Declaration against the other Defendant or Defendants, to issue Execution there upon, in which Case he shall be taken to have abandoned his Action against the Defendant or Defendants who shall have appeared; or the Plaintiff may, before issuing such Execution, declare against such Defendant or Defendants as shall have appeared, stating, by way of Suggestion, the Judgment obtained against the other Defendant or Defendants who shall not have appeared, in which Case the Judgment so obtained against the Defendant or Defendants who shall not have appeared shall operate and take effect in like Manner as a Judgment by Default obtained before the Commencement of this Act against One or more of the several Defendants in an Action of Debt before the Commencement of this Act.