Anonymous, 2 N.C. 463, 1 Hayw. 463 (1796)

Oct. 1796 · North Carolina Superior Court
2 N.C. 463, 1 Hayw. 463

Anonymous.

Tha fifteen days before the term, in which appeals mutt be filed in the Superior Court, must b>~ clear of the day of filing the papers and of the first day of the term; at all events, of the first day of the term.

In this case, it was moved by General Davie, that, the appeal should not be. received, títere nol being fifteen days between the filing of die appeal papers a;;:.’ the first day of ?■ e, next term, and lie cited 2 lil. Rep. 922, 1 Sira. 407 — as a similar case being founded upon a rule of court, which had the words “at least,” in the sam: manner as the act of 1777, ch» 2, sec. 84, where the, expression is, that the record of the suit shall be delivered to the clerk of fiie Superior Court, at lea-<i fifteen days before, the sitting of the term. In the case in Strange, one day was *464|Ui]c] f0 j)e inclusive and the other exclusive ; and if that computation prevail in the present instance, the record was brought up roo late : for there are not fifteen days before the term, unless the dav of filing and the first day of the term are both included.

E contra

Williams cited Salk. 599 pi. 7- 2 Stra. 765.

Per curiam

Wju.iams absent. Whether the fifteen days are to be accounted inclusive or exclusive, depends not upon any practice, of the British courts, but upon the meaning and design of our own act, which seems to have been, that the appellee after coming to the clerk’s office, and finding the appeal lodged there, might have fifteen days for travelling to the most distant part of the State, to procure attendance of witnesses, and returning lo the court, and in otherwise preparing for the trial $ but if the fifteen days are to be accounted inclusively, he will have hut thirteen days allowed for those purposes. The fifteenth day is employed in travelling to the office and getting process, and the first day of the term he must be present in court ready for his trial, if we allow one of them to be inclusive, and the other exclusive, there will remain hut fourteen days. There should be fifteen clear days— at all events, the first day of the term must be e.xcludud. The case was adjourned to search for precedents on the application of the appellant’s counsel.

Note. — Overruled, Anonymous, post 462.