174 CHANCERY—PLEADING, PRACTICE, PROCESS. [ART. 16.

the clerk, in all cases in entering the appearance of defendants,
to note in the margin of the docket the time of such appearance

entered; and if the appearance be by solicitor, and there be more
than one defendant, the clerk shall note for which defendant the

appearance is entered; and the court or judge thereof may, for

special reason shown, extend or enlarge the time to answer, accord-
ing to the nature and circumstances of the case.

Rule 12.

127. Upon service of process, or notice given by publication,
as the case may be, the adult defendants, not being insane, shall
appear and file their answer, plea or demurrer, to the bill or
petition, within the time allowed by this article, or by the terms of
the order of publication, or special order for the extension of
time; and in default of appearance, or of answer, plea or

demurrer, after appearance within the time allowed, the plain-
tiff may, at his election, obtain an order as of course, that the
bill be taken pro confesso as against such defendants; and there-
upon the cause shall be proceeded with ex parte as against the

defendants so in fault; and the matter of the bill or petition
may be-decreed by the court or judge thereof at any time after
the lapse of thirty days from the date of the order pro confesso,
if there be no answer, plea or demurrer interposed, and the

allegations of the bill or petition present a proper case for relief.
But the court or judge thereof may, in all such cases, if it be
deemed proper, order that the allegations of the bill or petition,
or any of them, be supported by affidavit or deposition to be

taken as may be directed.

P G. L , (1860,) art 16, sec. 116. 1820, ch. 161, sec. 2.

128. Whenever any bill shall charge any matter or thing as
being witliin the private knowledge of the defendant and shall
pray a discovery, on oath, as to such matter or thing, and an
interlocutory decree, as provided for in the last preceding sec-
tion, shall have been entered, and the plaintiff shall satisfy the
court, by affidavit, to be taken in open court and filed in the

cause, that such matter or thing does rest in the private knowl-
edge of the defendant, and that there is reasonable ground for
believing, prima fade, that such matter or thing does exist, the