Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: SUITS BY AND AGAINST PERSONS MENTALLY INCOMPETENT. Dorsheimer v. Roorback, 18 N. J. Eq. 438. (1867.) This was a motion on part of the defendant to order the bill to be taken from the files, on the ground that the complainant wa.s an idiot, and the bill was filed in her name by one Couse, as her next friend, he not having been appointed her guardian upon inquisition found, or been authorized by this court in this case to file the bill as her next friend. The Chancellor: The motion is made by the defendant, and not on part of the idiot, or any one in her behalf. But in this case, where it is alleged in the bill that complainant is an idiot a nativitate, and unable to manage her affairs, and sues by a person calling himself her next friend, without any appointment, if the proceeding is not according to law, and not binding on the idiot, the defendant must make this motion to protect himself from being obliged to defend a suit brought without authority. Idiots and lunatics may sue at law by next friend, to be appointed by the court; but in equity, must sue by the committee or guardian of their estates duly appointed. When the idiocy or lunacy is not partial, and, in all cases, when it has been found on an inquisition, a court of equity will not allow a suit to be brought by an idiot or lunatic in his own name, or that of a next friend, nominated by himself, or appointed by the court; his guardian or committee must join in the suit. When a person is only partially incapable, as one merely deaf and dumb, the court will appoint a next friend to be joined with him in the suit, and to conduct it for him. The authorities all agree that idiots and lunatics must sue in equity, by their committees or guardians. In this state, the persons to whom the estates of idiots and luna...