PRAYER. In Equity Practice. The request in a bill that the court will grant the aid which the petitioner desires. That part of the bill which asks for relief. The word denotes, strictly, the request, but is very commonly applied to that part of the bill which contains the request.
2. Or PROCESS. That part of the bill which asks that the defendant may be compelled to appear and answer the bill, and abide the determination of the court upon the subject.
It must contain the names of all the parties, 1 P. Will. 593 ; 2 Dick. Ch. 707; 2 Johns. Ch. N. Y. 245 ; Cooper, Eq. Plead. 16, although they are out of the jurisdiction.
1 Beav. Rolls, 106 ; Smith, Chanc. Pract. 45 ; Mitford, Eq. Plead. Jeremy ed. 164. The ordivary process asked for is a writ of subpoena, Story, Eq. Plead. 44; and in case a distringas against a corporation, Cooper, Eq. Plead. 16, or an injunction, 2 Sim. & S. Ch. 219 ; 1 Sim. Ch. 50, is sought for, it should be included in the prayer.
3. Fon RELIEF, if:I general, which asks for such relief as the court way grant ; or special, which states the particular form of relief desired. A special prayer is generally inserted, followed by a general prayer. 4 Madd. Ch. 408 ; 5 Ves. Ch. 495 ; 13 id. 119 ; 2 Pet. 595 ; 16 id. 195 ; 23 Vt. 247 ; 6 Gill, Md. 105 ; 25 Mo. 153 ; 10 Rich. Eq. 53 ; 7 lnd. 661 ; 15 Ark. 555. Unless the general prayer is added, if the defendant fails in his special prayer he will not be entitled to any relief, 2 Atk. Ch. 2 ; 1 Ves. Ch. 426 ; 12 id. 62 ; 3 Wooddeson, Lect. 55 ; 2 R. I. 129; 4 id. 173 ; 15 Ala. 9, except in case of charities and bills in behalf of infants. 1 Atk. Ch. 6, 355 ; 1 Ves. Ch. 418 ; 18 id. 325 ; 1 Russ. ,Ch. 235 ; 2 Paige, Ch. N. Y. 396.
4. A general prayer is sufficient for most purposes ; and the special relief desired may be prayed for at the bar, 4 Medd. Ch. 408: 2 Atk. Ch. 3, 141; 1 Edw. Ch. 26; Story, Eq. Plead. 41 ; 31 N. H. 193 ; 2 Paine, C. C.
11 3 Md. Ch. Dec. 140, 466 ; 9 Hovr. 390 ; 9 Mo. 201; 9 Gill & J. Md. 80 ; see 13 Penn. St. 67 ; but where a special order and pro visional process are required, founded on peculiar circumstances, a special prayer therefor is generally inserted. 6 Madd. Ch. 218 ; Hinde, Chanc. Pract. 17 ; 3 Ind. 419.
5. Such relief. and such only, will be granted, either under a special prayer, whether at har, 3 Swanst. Ch. 208 ; 2 Ves. Ch. 299 • 3 id. 416 ; 4 Paige, Ch. N. Y. 229 ; 25 Me. 153 • 30 Ala. N. s. 416 ; 32 id. 508, or in the bill, 16 Tex. 399 ; 18 Ga. 492 ; 21 Penn. St. l31, or under a general prayer, as the case as stated will justify, 7 Ired. Eq. No. C. 80 ; 4 Sneed, Tenn. 623 ; 18 Ill. 142 ; 5 Wisc. 117, 424 ; 24 Mo. 31 ; 7 Ala. N. s. 193 ; 16 id. 793; 13 Ark. 183 ; 3 Barb. Ch. N. Y. 613 ; 3 Gratt. Va. 518 ; 9 How. 390 ; and a bill framed apparently for one pur pose will not be allowed to accomplish another, to the injury of the defendant. 16 Tex. 399 • 21 Penn. St. 131 ; 6 Wend. N. Y. 63. See 13 Gratt. Va. 653.
6. And, generally, the decree must conform to the allegations and proof. 7 Wheat. 522; 10 id. 181 • 19 Johns. N. Y. 496 ; 2 Harr. Ch. Mich. '401 ; 1 Harr. & G. Md. 11 ; 12 Leigh, Va. 69 ; 1 Ire& Eq. No. C. 83 ; 5 Ala. 243 ; 8 id. 211 ; 14 id. 470 ; 6 Ala.
s. 518 ; 4 Bibb, Ky. 376 ; 5 Day, Conn. 223 ; 13 Conn. 146. But a special prayer may be disregarded, as the allegations war rant under the general prayer, 15 Ark. 555 ; 4 Tex. 20 ; 2 Cal. 269; 22 Ala. ,N. s. 646 ; 8 Humphr. Tenn. 230 ; 1 Blackf. Ind. 305, that the relief granted must be consistent with the special prayer. 27 Ala. 507 ; 21 Penn. St. 131 ; 1 Jones, Eq. No. C. 100 ; 2 Ga. 413 ; 14 id. 52 ; 1 Edw. Ch. N. Y. 654 ; 9 Gill & J. Md. 80 ; 4 Des. Eq. So. C. 530 ; 9 Yerg. Tenn. 301 ; 1 Johns. Ch. N. Y. 111 ; 15 Ala. 9.