Such and so many judgments, joint, separate, and cross, may be rendered as may be necessary to the rights of the parties, or one (1) amount may be set off against another and judgment rendered for the residue, or judgment may be rendered for the defendant against the plaintiff for any amount or balance for which it is found that the plaintiff is liable.
Code 1858, § 2974 (deriv. Acts 1855-1856, ch. 71, § 1); Shan., § 4702; Code 1932, § 8832; T.C.A (orig. ed.), § 25-107.