Patterson v. State

This is a suit in equity to cancel two patents issued by the land commissioner to purchasers of land from the state. The bill of complaint alleges “Now comes your complainant, State of Mississippi, by Greek L. Rice, Attorney General, and R. D. Moore, Land Commissioner of the State of Mississippi, and on behalf of the State of Mississippi,” etc. The bill is not signed by the attorney general, but by an attorney not connected with his office.

The answer of the appellants includes a plea alleging that the suit was filed and is being prosecuted without the consent of the land commissioner and the…