delivered the opinion of the court.
We can not agree with appellant that the original transcript of the justice failed to show any complaint was filed with him. The original transcript recites,- “ April-of John P. Stafford, setting forth that said John P. Stafford is entitled to the possession of certain premises therein described,” etc. The judgment rendered by the justice found defendant “ guilty of a forcible detainer of the premises described in the complaint, to wit, lot 9 in block 5, in the town of Warrenville, DuPage county, Illinois.” This reference sufficiently shows there was a complaint in writing. Upon the subsequent hearing before the court it was shown without contradiction that when the transcript was filed .with the circuit clerk the date and the word “ complaint ” occupied .the blank space at the head of the transcript, and that they had afterward been erased.
At the hearing of the application for leavó to file the complaint and other papers nuno pro tuno it appeared they had been for an indefinite time in the clerk’s office and in . the wrapper containing the files, but without file marks *56upon them. ■ •'The justice testified he filed them with the clerk of the court with the transcript. Appellant’s attorney testified that at a certain' date he did not find said papers in said wrapper, and at a certain later date he found them therein but not filed.- The clerk of the court did not know when said papers reached his officp. We think the court committed no error in permitting said papers1 to be filed as of the date when the transcript was filed. The testimony of the-justice shows he filed them-with the transcript, and their failure to receive the file mark-then seems to have been due to some mistake in the clerk’s office for which appellee is not responsible. We are further of opinion appellant ought not to be permitted to present here reasons for vacating said order of dismissal which he did -not present upon the hearing of his motion therefor in the court below.
The claim that appellant’s attorney had been wronged byappellee’s attorney has very slight support in the evidence. Appellant’s attorney relies on a conversation he had with appellee’s attorney on May 20, 1897, in which he claims the latter told him he would at any time bring him “ any papers he might desire that .might be filed- in the cases-and notify him as to the proceedings generally.” At that time said ■attorneys were returning from a hearing of another case betxveen the same parties before a judge of the Circuit Court of Lake County at Waukegan. The present suit was then pending before the justice of the peace in DuPa'ge county. :dSTo judgment had been rendered. -Appellant and his attorney did not appear at the subsequent trial before the justice, and they do not claim appellee’s attorney notified them of such trial, though they learned of the judgment and perfected an appeal from it. The language quoted is too vague to be construed to mean that no action would ever afterward be taken in the Circuit Court in said detainer suit then pending before the justice of the peace, if said suit shoúld ever reach the Circuit Court, without first serving notice on appellant’s attorney. Several conversations xvith a clerk and with a student in the office of appellee’s attorney are shown, in which appellant’s attorney told the stu*57dent and clerk, respectively, that such a contract had been made, and received the reply that it would no doubt be observed. The case 'was oh the docket of the Circuit Court nearly five months. It is not shown that appellant’s attorney ever appeared there for appellant or ever did anything toward • watching the case or preparing for trial. The record justifies the conclusion that the case was reached for trial on the call, of th^'"docket. Such indefinite verbal arrangements as are here set up did not bind the court to permit the case to stay on the docket.
Appellant has not been harmed unless he had a meritorious defense. We do-not think he has shown that. He is in possession under a " time contract. He paid $100 in 1892, and was to pay $400 in January, 1897, andzwas to receive a good title. Before the time was up he had served a lengthy notice that the title was .not good. It is evident he did not intend to pay and take the title appellee had. The defect set up is that a deed is missing from the records in the chain of title- from the government. It is charged that appellee’s title of record begins with a deed to John 17. Grant in 1856. That was forty-one years before this last payment was due'. If Grant and his successors in title have been in possession ever since, the title is good against' the world. Indeed, appellant testifies that appellee is abundantly able to make a good title, either by supplying the missing deeds of conveyance or by affidavits. He even states the names and places of residence of several parties by whom it can be made good. If it can be made good by affidavits, that means the title is good, and affidavits can be obtained to preserve the proof of it. Appellant’s testimony justifies the inference that he has consulted the parties he names and ascertained " the title is good. We think under the proof here presented appellant was bound to pay the money or surrender possession, and therefore he has not been harmed by the dismissal of his appeal. The judgment will be affirmed.