US SUPREME COURT DECISIONS

The doctrine in Lee v. Watson, 1 Wall. 337, that,

"in an action upon a money demand, where the general issue is pleaded, the matter in dispute is the debt claimed, and its amount, as stated in the body of the declaration, and not merely the damages alleged or the prayer for judgment at its conclusion must be considered in determining whether this Court can take jurisdiction,"

affirmed and applied to the present case.