West Virginia Code Chapter 56. Pleading and Practice § 56-4-8. Return to show defendant's nonresidence; abatement as to nonresident not served

When a summons to a party to answer an action or bill is received by an officer who knows that such party is not a resident of his county, or not a resident of the state, he shall, unless he find him in his county on or before the return day, make a return that he is a nonresident of the county and/or state as the case may be; whereupon, if the court from which such process issued have jurisdiction of the case only on the ground of such defendant's residence in such county, the action or suit shall abate as to him; and if he be returned a nonresident of the state, and the court have jurisdiction of the case only on the ground that the cause of action arose in the county, the action of suit shall abate as to him.