
    Cumberland Island Co. et al. v. Bunkley et al., ex’rs.
    Argued Novemljer 23, 1898,
    Decided April 18, 1899.
    Equitable petition. Before Judge Sweat. Camden superior court. March term, 1898.
    
      Alexander & 'Hillyer, for plaintiffs in error.
    
      Atkinson & Dunwody and Spencer R, Atkinson, contra.
   Little, J.

1. There having been no motion to dismiss the motion for a new trial for want of a regular and duly approved‘brief of evidence, and the action taken by the judge at the hearing of that motion being, under the peculiar facts and circumstances disclosed by the record, the equivalent of approving such a brief as would be appropriate to a case of this kind, and it being certain that this court has before it all that is requisite to an adjudication of the errors alleged, the writ of error will not be dismissed, but the case will be disposed of on its merits.

2. The institution of unwarranted litigation or other wrongful conduct committed by executors constitutes no ground of set-off or recoupment by a defendant against a demand lawfully due to the testator.

3. A mortgage to secure a promissory note for a stated amount of principal, and separate notes maturing at different times for the interest to accrue thereon, can not, in advance of the maturity of the principal note, unless specially so stipulated, be absolutely foreclosed for the full amount of the principal and the matured interest notes, and the collection thereof summarily enforced by a process amounting to no more than an ordinary mortgage execution. In such a case the remedy x>rovided by section 2739 of the Civi-l Code is available.

4. The court erred in directing the verdict to which exception is taken.

Judgment reversed.

All the Justices concurring.  