[Brummell v. Crook.] now the question for decision. The chancellor held it sufficient, and complainant appealed. At the time of the dismissal which is supposed to have constituted an adjudication of the merits, the cause was not at issue. There was no pleading except the bill and no decree pro confesso. In no sense was it ready for trial or set down to be heard. By no known rule of practice could the chancellor have then adjudicated the merits of the complainant's demand for relief (we do not say controversy, for no controversy or issue had been formed, touching the merits), and the case did not come within the operation of rule 28 of chancery practice, whereby the voluntary dismissal of the bill by the complainant, after the cause is set down to be heard, is made the equivalent of a final adjudication of the merits. The effect of that rule itself is that a mere voluntary dismissal by the complainant is not an adjudication of the merits unless the cause had been set down to be heard, whatever might have been the effect of such a dismissal prior to the adoption of that rule. As to the prior rule see Howard v. Bugbee, 25 Ala. 548. We are, therefore, unable to see upon what principle such a dismissal can be held to constitute a bar to another suit. We are not passing upon any question of contempt, for none is raised. The sufficiency of the plea of res adjudicata is the only matter before us. The decretal order of the chancellor is reversed, the plea is disallowed and the cause remanded. Brummell v. Crook. Suit in Ejectment on Tax Title. 1. Ascertainment of taxes paid by plaintiff.-When, in a suit in ejectment founded on a tax title, a recovery is defeated on the ground that the tax sale was invalid for any other reason than that the taxes were not due, and the court proceeds under the statute (Code of 1896. §4083) to ascertain the amount of the taxes for which the lands were liable at the time of the sale, etc., the court has power to determine the relative value of the land in suit and other lands on which the taxes were assessed and paid in gross, and render judgment for plaintiff for the proportionate share of such taxes due on the lands in suit. [Brummell v. Crook.] 2. Rights of sub-purchaser.-The fact, that a sub-purchaser of lands held under tax title, included and paid the amount of the taxes for which the lands were sold as a part of the purchase money for the lands sued for, together with other lands, does not prevent a recovery of such taxes on failure of the tax title under Code of 1896, §4083. APPEAL from Calhoun Circuit Court. BLACKWELL & KEITH, for appellants, cited, Blackwell on Tax Titles, 278-9. S. D. G. BROTHERS, contra, cited, Code of 1886, §600. COLEMAN, J.-The appellee sued in ejectment to recover a certain described lot therein lying and being in the city of Anniston. The plaintiff relied upon a tax title. A recovery was defeated for reasons other than that the taxes were not due, and upon motion of plaintiff, the court forthwith impanneled a jury as provided in section 4083 of the Code of 1896. The question presented for review is, first, whether, under the facts, the plaintiff was entitled to recover anything, and if so, was the amount specified by the court correct? The facts are as follows: Lot twelve, as a whole, belonged to one Frye. He sold and conveyed a portion, the part now in controversy, to defendants. After this sale, Frye executed a mortgage to the Chattanooga Savings Bank upon the balance of the lot. The mortgage provided that the mortgagee might pay any taxes assessed against the mortgaged property, and the mortgage should stand as a security for such assessments. After the sale the entire lot was assessed, just as before the sale of a part to defendants. The owner defaulted in the payment of the taxes assessed against the lot, and the whole lot was sold for taxes. The Chattanooga Savings Bank became the purchaser. The mortgagor subsequently defaulted, and the property was advertised for foreclosure. Before the sale and in contemplation thereof, the amount due as the mortgage debt, and also the amount paid at the tax sale by the mortgagee was ascertained, and it was understood and agreed between the mortgagee and the plaintiff, that she would bid and pay the full amount thus ascertained, including the debt and taxes, and the [Brummell v. Crook.] mortgagee agreed to make a deed to the property included in the mortgage and also whatever interest it acquired and owned by the purchase at the tax sale. It was shown, and not controverted, that the relative value of the part sold to defendants to the whole was about one-fourth. The appellants contend that the circuit court had no authority or jurisdiction to make an apportionment and ascertain the proportionate value. No authority is cited in support of the proposition, and we can perceive no good reason for such contention. Furthermore, we are of opinion that defendant can have no grounds of complaint, if instead of having the entire amount assessed against the whole lot to pay, he is required to pay only one-fourth part. We are of opinion the court ruled rightly on this question. It is further contended, that the foreclosure of the mortgage and the payment of the mortgage debt and the taxes for which the lot was sold, to the mortgagee, extinguished the claim for taxes paid prior to the foreclosure, and that the plaintiff got all she purchased, and paid only what she agreed to pay. There is some foundation in the argument, but the statute, section 4083, seems to be plain and unmistakable. It declares that "If in any suit brought by the purchaser, or other person claiming under him to recover possession of lands sold for taxes, and a recovery is defeated on the ground that the sale was invalid for any other reason than that the taxes were not due, the court shall forthwith, on the motion of the plaintiff, impannel a jury to ascertain the amount of taxes for which the lands were liable at the time of the sale, and for the payment of which they were sold, with interest thereon from the date of sale, and the amount of such taxes on the lands, if any, as the plaintiff, or the person under whom he claims, has since such sale, lawfully paid," etc. The court seems to have been guided strictly by the provisions of the statute. We find no error in the record. INDEX. ACTIONS AND PARTIES. 1. County the party really interested in hire of convict.-An action 2. The owner of a judgment, the party aggrieved by failure to col- 3. General averment of ownership sufficient.-In an action on the 4. When the demand is ex contractu; departure.-When the affidavit 5. Complaint on promissory note as the property of plaintiff; legal 7. General issue; what not within.-In an action for work and labor ACTIONS AND PARTIES-Continued. ly traverses the averments of the complaint; and the ques- 8. Money paid by defendant's agent under mistake of fact is avail- 9. Creditor of partnership, a creditor of the members of the firm. 10. Liability of county for personal injuries from defective bridges. 11. Special property will support action.-A party who holds live ADMINISTRATION OF ESTATE. I. APPOINTMENT OF ADMINISTRATORS. 1. Non-residents; appointment of as administrator, &c.—At common II. PRESENTATION OF CLAIMS. 3. Statute of non-claim; act of Dec. 9, 1896, construed. The act of |