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YERKES v. CRUM.
75

of the amount due under the tax certificate. The prayer was for the cancellation of said deed and the restoration of possession to plaintiff. A demurrer to the complaint as not stating a cause of action was overruled, and exception taken. Subsequently defendant filed his answer, the material portions of which are as follows: "Defendant specifically denies that he was the attorney for Lafayette and Kate Irene Hadley, or either of them, during all the time from or about the 3d day of November, 1881, until on or about the 11th day of March, 1889, either as alleged in said complaint or otherwise; but in this behalf defendant alleges that he was the attorney for Kate Irene and Lafayette Hadley from on or about the 9th day of October, 1885, until the 8th day of April, 1887, on which said 8th day of April, 1887, the relation of attorney and client between the defendant herein and said Kate Irene and Lafayette Hadley ceased and terminated by mutual consent; that after said 8th day of April, 1887, defendant acted in said action in his own interest and in his own behalf, using the name and title of the original action, under and by virtue of § 85 of the Code of Civil Procedure." Then follows a specific denial that defendant was acting as attorney for the Hadleys on April 20, 1887, when the tax certificate was assigned to defendant, or on October 6, 1887, when the tax-deed was executed. On the coming in of the answer plaintiff moved for judgment on the pleadings, and the motion was granted, and judgment rendered accordingly.

Appellant urges the insufficiency of the complaint in this court. It is admitted that it would be a good complaint, as against the Hadleys, were they attempting to hold under this tax-deed; and it is no doubt equally true that the complaint would be insufficient against a tax-title holder in no manner connected with the Hadleys. The due and orderly administration of the law requires that causes should be presented to the courts by men specially fitted to aid the courts in the discharge of their duties-men who spend their lives studying the great principles of justice, and their application to the infinite variety and countless ramifications of the business affairs of life. The proper discharge of the functions of an attorney requires that the client should place his affairs in the hands of his