This is a suit brought for two causes of action, or in other words an action containing two distinct counts, the one to recover a debt of fifty dollars and the other to recover specific property. It does not follow that because the magistrate had no jurisdiction of one count, he therefore had none of the other. So far as relates to the second count or cause of action, if it is to be regarded as a proceeding to foreclose the mortgage, we concur with His Honor that the magistrate had no jurisdiction. If it was intended to be an action of claim and delivery, it was defective and could not be sustained in that view, for the act of 1876-77, ch. 251, which gives to justices of the peace concurrent jurisdiction of civil actions not founded on contract, prescribes the requisites of an action of “claim and delivery” before justices of the peace, in all of which this second count is wanting, except that the property has been wrongfully detained. And another defect in the count is that the cause of action is founded on a mortgage given not to'the plaintiff but to a stranger to the action, who had the legal title to the property and in whom was the right of action. But even if the magistrate had no jurisdiction of the second count he most clearly had of the first, and there is no reason why a want of jurisdiction or defect in the second count should deprive the justice of jurisdiction'of the case. One *305bad count in a declaration never vitiates those that are good, though in such a case if there be a general verdict on both counts, no judgment can be rendered. Mitchell v. Durham, 2 Dev., 538; Honeycut v. Angel, 4 Dev. & Bat., 306.
But where the declaration contains two counts, the one good and the other defective, and the attention of the jury is directed by the judge to that which is good Only, a general verdict will be presumed to be found on that count and will be supported. Jones v. Cooke, 3 Dev., 112. This is the course we think -would have been proper to have been pursued in this case, if the plaintiff had not moved to amend! his complaint so as to sue for the sum of fifty dollars only,, waiving all claims arising on the mortgage. The plaintiff had the right to enter a nolle prosequi to either or all of the-counts or causes of action in his complaint. Sanders Rep.,. 207, note 2. His motion for leave to amend his complaint and waive the second count was virtually asking leave of' the court to enter a nolle prosequi as to that count, a thing he had the right to do without the leave of the court.
His Honor committed an error in disallowing the motion! of the plaintiff and dismissing the action. The pláintiff had the right to enter a nolle prosequi as to the second count and proceed on the first. Let this be certified to the superior court of Craven that further proceedings may be had, agreeably to this opinion and the law.
Error. Reversed.