The court had previously held in several cases that a plea in abatement was proper. McKenzie v. McColl, 3 Ala. 516; Jones v. Yarbrough, 2 Ala. 524; Herndon v. Garrison, 5 Ala. 380. It has likewise so held since then. Triple Link Mutual Ins. Ass'n v. Williams, 121 Ala. 138, 26 So. 19, 77 Am.St.Rep. 34. In that case, the complaint alleged that the money claimed was due; the court observed that if the proofs had not been furnished seasonably before suit, it was matter for plea in abatement.