Walther v. Stampfli

BROADDITS, J.- — This suit was brought to the November term, 1900, of the Cole Circuit Court and is, as indicated in the petition, an action for alleged breach of contract on defendant’s part not to re-enter the furniture and undertaking business in Jefferson City. The petition charges that on November 2, 1898, plaintiff and defendant executed a written contract by which defendant, for the consideration of $4,600, sold to plaintiff a stock of furniture and his undertaking business conducted at J efferson City, Missouri, and leased to her his store there; that said contract was only in part reduced to writing; that as an additional consideration passing to plaintiff for said purchase, defendant agreed not to enter the furniture or undertaking business in Jefferson City, while plaintiff was engaged therein at said .place; that defendant assured plaintiff that he would not so re-enter said business in Jefferson City, and that it was not necessary to insert said part of the agreement in the written memorandum; that relying on defendant’s said statement and agreement, she made the purchase aforesaid and paid defendant said $4,600 and entered upon the conduct of the business so purchased by her. That defendant afterwards violated his said agreement by entering into the furniture and undertaking business in J efferson City on or about September 1, 1899. The answer of defendant admits the execution of the written agreement and its provisions as set out in the petition, and answers that said writing contains all the contract ever made between plaintiff and defendant in relation to the matters mentioned in it. It is an admitted fact that on the second day of Novem [402] her, 1898, the plaintiff, who is a married woman, purchased from the defendant his stock of furniture, and furniture and undertaking business, together with all the stock and fixtures, tools and -implements of every kind used by defendant in carrying on said business of furniture dealer and undertaker, included in a certain storehouse situated in the City of Jefferson, Missouri; also, one hearse, one delivery, wagon, one surrey, one horse and two sets of harness. There was also another provision in the contract in relation to the acceptation by plaintiff of defendant’s building which is not necessary to the inquiry here. This contract was in writing. It will be noticed that the suit is not predicated on any of the written terms of the contract, but is upon a verbal agreement made by the defendant that he would not re-enter the same business in said city in competition to the plaintiff. Or, in other words, plaintiff claims that she not only bought defendant’s business at said city, but also his good-will in the business. There was evidence tending to show that at and prior to the time said writing was entered into, the defendant promised not to go into the business again; that when his attention was called to the fact that the writing did not provide for that part of the agreement between the parties, he said it was not necessary to put it in the same, and that his word was good; and that he said his good-will went with the sale. It was claimed that the defendant had violated his contract by again entering into the business he had sold to the plaintiff at said city, and that she was greatly damaged by his competition; and evidence was introduced tending to sustain her allegation in that respect. The jury rendered a verdict for $2,000, upon which judgment was accordingly rendered, from all which the defendant appealed. The defendant contends that the plaintiff was not entitled to recover upon the allegations of the petition and the evidence in support thereof, for the reason that it is shown by both that the agreement sought to. be enforced was a [403] verbal agreement made prior to tbe written contract read in evidence, and therefore merged in tbe same. On tbe other band, tbe plaintiff contends that tbe agreement set np and proved does not go to the terms or conditions of the written instrument; but is merely a part of tbe consideration for tbe contract evidenced by tbe writing. There are many cases in tbe Supreme and Appellate Courts of this State wherein it is announced that it is always competent to show tbe consideration for deeds, receipts, releases and other contracts, notwithstanding other or different considerations are mentioned. In Holt v. Holt, 57 Mo. App. 272, it was held that tbe statement in a deed of a consideration is a mere inattentive recital, and parol evidence is admissible to show a consideration for a different amount. See also Hamilton v. Clark, 25 Mo. App. 428; Harrington v. Ry. Co., 60 Mo. App. 223; Sexton v. Anderson, 95 Mo. 373. The law is equally as well settled, that tbe terms of a written contract can not be varied by proving prior or contemporaneous agreements. This, indeed, is but tbe assertion of a principle that tbe law student learns early and remembers easily. There is no difficulty about tbe law of tbe case. It is the application of the law to tbe facts of the case that tbe defendant complains of. And we are constrained to accept his view of tbe matter. The consideration emanated from tbe plaintiff. She bought at a certain price the defendant’s merchandise, bis business as a furniture dealer and undertaker, with other personal property mentioned, and in addition, as she claims, his good-will. His good-will was one of tbe subject matters of the contract, as much so as the horse and wagon, or any other article mentioned in the writing. In buying his good-will, she was buying property. It should have been included in tbe written instrument. It was as necessary to have had it inserted in the writing as the furniture. The equity of the [404] case appeals strongly for tbe plaintiff and she must suffer a great hardship. We do not think the plaintiff on her petition and proof was entitled to recover. The cause is reversed. All concur. MODIFIED OPINION. BROADDUS, J. — The plaintiff and respondent has moved the court to modify the judgment of the case. Upon reconsideration, it is held, in view of the peculiar hardship under which she rests, that the judgment ought to be modified, so as to stand reversed and remanded, instead of only reversed, so that she may take such further action to secure whatever rights she may have in the premises, if any. The opinion is therefore modified and the cause now stands reversed and remanded. All concur.