H. & W. Blunt v. Williams

Whytock, Special J. This is an appeal from the Circuit Court of Jefferson county, from a judgment rendered in that (ourt against the defendants, II. W. & Wm. N. Blunt, on the ¡5th day of October, 1867. Motioiis for a new trial, and in wrest of judgment, were made and overruled. The action was brought upon a contract, or articles o’f agreement, under seal, bearing date March, 1866, executed by all the parties, and by which -the plaintiff, Williams, agreed to sell to the Blunts a half interest in the lease and outfit of a plantation, known as the McKinsev place, for the sum of $3000, to be paid for- by the Blunts as follows: “One .thousand in cash, and the balance on the return of Wm. W. Blumt from Maryland, or until the first of April” then next. The contract also provided that the Blunts should be responsible for the balance of the rent due, amounting to the sum of $1150. It was further covenanted that the Blunts should have the privilege, on the return of W- W. Blunt from Maryland, or until the said first day of April, of buying the entire interest of Williams, by paying on or before the 15th of June, in addition to the said sum of $3000, the sum of four thousand dollars. The declaration substantially sets forth the facts, and alleges that the defendants elected to take the entire interest in the plantation, according to the terms of the contract. It' further alleges general performance'of the contract on the part of the plaintiff, breaches of the same by the defendants, and non-payment of either the sum of $3000 or the $4000. To this declaration, the defendants filed a plea setting up that they had complied with the conditions of the contract by executing a due bill for $1000, and their note for $4000, payable on or before the 15th of June, 1866. A general demurrer seems to have been interposed to this plea, and the demurrer was sustained. The defendants thereupon filed ai amended plea, alleging a payment of $2000, the execution of their due bill for $100.0, their note for $4000, and the giving ly the plaintiff of his receipt in full satisfaction of all his interest in the plantation. This last plea also sets forth a subsequent contract, executed in lieu of the former. A demurrer to tie amended pi ea was interposed and overruled. A trial was hai, and a verdict reudered for the defendants. This was aftcwards set aside, a new trial ordered and at the October term >f the Circuit Court, a jury being called, the plaintiff obtainel judgment for the amount of $5420. The defendants moved in arrest of judgment: Eirst, Because the declaration showed no breach ; that it appeared upon its face that, as a court of law, the court had no jurisdiction, and that the court erred in sustaining the demurrer. The motions in arrest, and for a new trial, were overruled, and exceptions taken. Upon the trial, the .defendants asked certain instructions, which the court refused to give, and to which refusal the defendants excepted. The first question presented is, was the demurrer to the first plea.properly sustained?. There is no averment in the plea that the duo bill and note were accepted by the plaintiff' as a payment or satisfaction of his claim. The plea was a bad one, and the demurrer to it properly sustained : 5 T. R. 280, 1 Taunt 428; Drake vs. Mitchell, 3 East 251. Certain instructions were presented to the court, which were refused, and exceptions taken, but as they were not incorporated in the motion for a new trial, as required by the ruling of this • court, they cannot be considered: Nevill vs. Hancock, 15 Ark. 511; Moss vs. Smith, 19 Ark. 683; Graham vs. Roark, 23 Ark. 19. The objection that a resort should have been had to a court of equity, is not a sound one. Granting that the parties were partners, the contract in question did not involve a consideration of partnership accounts. A partner may sue a co-partner 011 an express agreement, and an action of covenant may be maintained by one partner against bis co-partner: 1 Parson’s Con. 164 (5th Ed.), Collyer on Part.; Glover vs. Tuck, 24 Wend. 152. Tlie averments in tlie declarations are not, perhaps, so clear and specific as the rule of good pleading requires, but we think the cause of action is so set forth as to be understood. We also think the breaches sufficiently stated, no special demurrer to them having been interposed. The defendants objected to the deposition of the witness It. N. Williams, but failed to point out the grounds of objection. A general objection to a deposition is not sufficient to reach an irregularity, and will not be considered as extending to formal defects: Blackburn vs. Morton, 18 Ark. 384. The defendants, likewise, excepted to the ruling of the Circuit Court, refusing to- permit the witness, Sliegog, to detail statements of the transaction made to this witness by one of the defendants, when the plaintiff was not present. Wo think this evidence was properly excluded. The judgment of the Circuit Court is affirmed. IIarrison, J., being disqualified, did not sit in this case. IIon. John Wiiytock, Special J.