Peters v. Brunswick-Balke-Collender Co.

PELHAM, J. This suit was instituted in the court below by the appellee. The complaint originally contained counts in the statutory form in trover and detinue. Subsequently three other counts were filed in conversion setting up the facts showing the alleged conversion. The case was tried before the court without a jury, and a judgment in detinue rendered in favor of the plaintiffs, and it will be unnecessary to discuss the various rulings on the pleadings in trover. In the first instance the defendant filed a plea of the general issue to the count in detinue, and subsequently, it would seem, withdrew this plea and filed two special pleas. The conduct of the trial would authorize the conclusion that the case tvas tried without objection on issues joined on the special pleas and the general issue, and a consideration of the assignments of error will be treated on that theory. — Hardeman v. Williams, 150 Ala. 415, 43 South. 726, 10 L. R. A. (N. S.) 653; Gainer [510] v. So. Ry. Co., 152 Ala. 186, 44 South. 652; Planters’ & Merchants’ Independent Packet Co. v. Webb, 156 Ala. 551, 46 South. 977, 16 Ann. Cas. 529; Richmond & Danville R. R. Co. v. Farmer, 97 Ala. 141, 12 South. 86. The defendants are shown to have received the benefit of all matters of defense set up, or attempted to be set up, by special pleas, on the issues upon which the case was tried and submitted to the court, sitting as judge and jury, and if there was error in the rulings on the pleadings it was without injury. The judgment being in detinue, it is unnecessary to notice, as suggested by appellee, the trover feature of the case. The complaint in detinue is in the statutory form, and there is nothing in the caption or otherwise appearing from it to suggest that the plaintiffs are a foreign corporation or that they based their right to recover on a title evidenced by an illegal contract of sale reserving title, entered into with a third party in violation of the constitutional provision and statutes which require, under penalty, that every corporation not organized under the laws of this state shall, before engaging in or transacting any business in this state, file an instrument in writing in the office of the Secretary of State designating at least one known place of business in this state and have an authorized agent or agents thereat. — Const. § 232; Code, §§ 3642-3644. Had the suit been on the contract or agreement claimed to be illegal because an act of business in violation of the Constitution and statutes, there might be merit in the appellee’s contention that to be available to appellant this matter must have been specially pleaded; but such is not the condition presented by the record in this case. Here the plaintiffs sue in detinue, declaring on the statutory form, and, when they offer in evidence the contract or mortgage entered into between them and a [511] third party to sustain their case through title therein shown, the defendant objects, and the court admits the instrument over the appellant’s objection, and subsequently, at the close of plaintiffs’ testimony, refuses the appellant’s motion for a verdict for defendant based on the specified ground that the contract evidencing title and right of possession in plaintiffs cannot be enforced as the plaintiffs were a foreign corporation and had not complied with the constitutional provision and statutes referred to. The objections, it seems to us, were seasonably made, and raise the question for review here. The mortgage showed on its face that it was between a foreign corporation and a resident of Mobile, Ala., and that it Avas executed in the presence of a notary public for Mobile county and acknowledged there before him officially. There is other evidence going to sIioav that the act of business engaged in as evidenced by the mortgage Avas transacted in this state by the plaintiff, a foreign corporation, from which Ave think it sufficiently appears that the mortgage Avas such a contract as clearly falls Avithin that class or nature of transaction or acts aimed at. The court Avas in error in admitting the mortgage, for such contracts are void, and the courts Avill not lend their aid to their enforcement. — Ala. Western R. R. Co. v. Talley-Bates Const. Co., 162 Ala. 396, 50 South. 341; Sherwood v. Alvis, 83 Ala. 115, 3 South. 307, 3 Am. St. Rep. 695; Craddock v. Mortgage Co., 88 Ala. 281, 7 South. 196; Dudley v. Collier, 87 Ala. 131, 6 South. 304, 13 Am. St. Rep. 55; Farrior v. Mortgage Co., 88 Ala. 275, 7 South. 200; Collier v. Davis, 94 Ala. 456, 10 South. 86; Gamble v. Caldwell, 98 Ala. 577, 12 South. 424. It is insisted by counsel for appellee that the conclusions and judgment of the trial court on the evidence are not subject to review here because the bill of [512] exceptions fails to show the finding of the court, or what the judgment was. The record proper shows a formal judgment, and the bill of exceptions does show that the court “handed down a judgment for the plaintiff,” and we think this should be deemed a sufficient statement disclosing the conclusion reached by the trial judge to make it subject to review; but, even if it should not be so considered, tbe rulings of tbe trial judge on tbe admissibility of tbe evidence are subject to review nevertheless. — Morey v. Monk, 142 Ala. 175, 38 South. 265. We do not deem a discussion of tbe various other assignments of error necessary, as wbat we have said disposes of tbe principal feature of tbe case and requires a reversal. Should, however, tbe case go to trial again with this feature eliminated, or met by different proof, we call attention to tbe fact that it is doubtful if tbe evidence of tbe detention by tbe defendant was sufficient to meet tbe requirements of tbe rules as announced by tbe Supreme Court to authorize a judgment in a suit of detinue. • Sever sed and remanded.