Section 44-14-303. Defenses by mortgagor; hearing in magistrate's court

   The mortgagor may avail himself of any defense he may have to the foreclosure in the same manner and upon the same conditions as allowed by law in case of foreclosure of chattel mortgages in the superior courts. Whenever any such defense is filed by the mortgagor, the magistrate issuing the execution shall have the power and jurisdiction to hear and determine the issues made thereon as in other cases at law.

Ga. L. 1878-79, p. 152, § 3; Code 1882, § 3974c; Civil Code 1895, § 2762; Civil Code 1910, § 3295; Code 1933, § 67-903; Ga. L. 1983, p. 884, § 3-31.