55 Mo. App. 43 | Mo. Ct. App. | 1893
Lead Opinion
This appeal -was taken from an order granting a new trial herein made by Special Judge Harrison for the reasons set out in the order sustaining the same, to-wit: “Not having heard
“John A. Harrison,
“Judge.”
The motion for new trial thus disposed of had been argued in March, 1892, before Judge Withrow, the regular judge of the court, and taken under advisement by him but not decided. In November, 1892., he in writing, supported by his physician’s certificate, “did •certify to the Governor of the state of Missouri that ■owing to continued sickness he, the said Withrow, was then unable to discharge the duties of his said office, and that he expected not to be able to resume the said •duties until March or April,. 1893; that thereupon the governor did, under the act of the General Assembly ■of Missouri, approved March 18, 1891, empowering the .governor to appoint special circuit judges,- on December 6, 1892, appoint Hon. John A. Harrrison special ■circuit judge” during the inability of the regular judge. Under this commission Special Judge Harrison qualified on December 7, 1892, and thereupon ordered the docketing for hearing by him of all motions not disposed of by Judge Withrow. Pursuant to said order this motion for new trial was docketed. “Thereupon said Hon. John A. Harrison did call said motion for hearing, but the plaintiff by its counsel objected to and pro
The first point raised by the appellant is as to the applicability of the act of March 18, 1891 (relating to special judges), to the St. Louis city circuit court. There is nothing in the language of the act (Session Acts, 1891, p. 113) which excludes from its operation an appointment made within its terms in the city of St. Louis. The power of the general assembly to legislate over the city and county of St. Louis is expressly reserved in the constitution. Ewing v. Hoblitzelle, 85 Mo. 64; Constitution of Missouri, art. 9, secs. 23 and 25. The city of St. Louis is one of the judicial circuits of the state, (eighth judicial circuit). See Constitution of Missouri, art. 9, sec. 24, and Revised Statutes, 1889, secs. 3338, and 6570, clause 19.
The act of March 18, 1891, section 1, is as follows, to-wit: “Whenever the judge-of any circuit or criminal court already elected in this state,” etc. Section 2. “In all circuits of this state, when a judge has been appointed as'provided in next preceding section,” etc. Section 3. “The business in the courts of some of the counties of this state is such as to create an emergency,” etc. “Therefore this act shall take effect and be in force from and after its passage.”
We, therefore, hold that the appointment of a special judge for the circuit court of the city of St. Louis, as shown by the record in this case, constituted him judge de jure during the term for which he was commissio'ned, and that the objections of appellant on this score are hypercritical and unsound.
Nor do we think there is any force in the contention of ¿ppellant, that the special judge had no power to act on matters “which had been tried or heard and taken under advisement” by the regular judge. During the sickness of the regular judge, the special judge was invested with full control and authority over the business of the court where he presided. Whether or not he erred in his rulings or judgments may be shown in the appellate courts, but his power to act during the interim for which he was appointed was the same as that of a regular judge. Session Acts, 1891, p. 113, sec. 1.
This distinction presents the controlling question in this case. Did the special judge commit reversible error in his ruling sustaining the motion for new trial under the facts shown in this record? The plaintiff claims that the action of Judge Harrison in calling up the motion against its protest, and sustaining it not on its merits but for causes not set out in the motion, was
But we are all of opinion that tbe judge erred in vacating tbe entire judgment against all tbe defendants. Hermann Hmratb, one of tbe defendants, did not appear at tbe trial and filed no motion for a new trial. Against him tbe judgment was a finality. His liability was not dependent on tbe same facts as that of tbe other defendants. He was tbe maker of tbe note, and whether tbe facts stated in tbe answer of tbe other defendants were true or not was immaterial to him, and amounted to no defense for him. Had tbe court vacated tbe judgment as to tbe other defendants only, tbe plaintiff might have dismissed as to them and still retained its judgment against Umrath, because tbe liabilty of tbe defendants was not joint but several.
This error of tbe special judge we have tbe power to correct either by a proper judgment in this court, or by reversing his ruling and remanding tbe cause. We have concluded to adopt tbe latter course in order that tbe motion for new trial may be disposed of on its
Rehearing
ON MOTION BOB EEHEAEING.
The defendants claim that the trial-court did not err in setting aside the judgment as to Hermann Umrath, because he was in default, and the jury were not sworn to inquire into the damages as to him, but were sworn to try the issues between the plaintiff and all the defendants, as if the defendant Umrath had also presented an issue. This claim rests upon a misconception of the record. The defendant Umrath had answered the original pétition of plaintiff by way of general denial. That answer was’ on file when the cause was tried. After his answer was filed the plaintiff amended its petition, but the amended petition did not charge Umrath in any other capacity then the original petition did, hence there was no necessity of his filing any other answer to the amended petition than the one he had already filed. As long as that answer was on file and raised an issue no default could be taken against him. Cox v. Capron, 10 Mo. 691.
The motion is overruled.