When the pleadings are oral, the substance of them shall be entered by the justice in his docket. When in writing they shall be filed in his office and a reference made to them in his docket. Pleadings shall not be required to be in any particular form, but shall be such as to enable a person of common understanding to know what is intended.

[Code 1881 § 1759; 1873 p 345 § 58; 1854 p 231 § 46; RRS § 1781.]