Cannon v. Wing

150 Mo. App. 12 | Mo. Ct. App. | 1910

REYNOLDS, P. J.

This action was commenced before a justice of the peace against Charles Wing and William Wing, partners, by the filing of a statement to the effect that the defendants were partners, doing business under the firm name and style of Wing Biros., on the 22d of October, 1904, and that on that day plaintiff delivered and deposited Avith them for his use and benefit the sum of one hundred dollars, and that thereupon defendants executed and delivered to plaintiff a duebill of that date, reading, “Due Daniel Cannon one hundred dollars for safe keeping. Signed, Wing Bros.;” that plaintiiff demanded payment of the money in July, 1906, but that the same had not been paid. Wherefore he prays judgment for the hundred dollars and interest from July, 1906, at six per cent. The duebill referred to was filed with the statement.

On a trial before the justice, judgment was rendered against the defendants, from which the defendant Charles Wing alone appealed to the circuit court of Lincoln county, entering into a bond with sureties. On trial before the circuit court and a jury, there was evidence tending to show that the defendants were engaged in the milling business, as partners, under the name of Wing Bros., and that plaintiff was workihg for them and from time to time had deposited money at the mill, the partner who received it being William Wing. The duebill above set out was introduced in evidence, and the evidence tended to show that the money given by plaintiff to William was placed in a sack along with the cash of the partnership, as it was received. There was also evidence tending to show that this money had been used as the moneys of the firm, although the evidence also tended to show that the defendant Charles Wing was not aware of the fact and knew nothing of the loan of the money to his partner. The plaintiff appears to have been an ignorant man, and testified he did not understand the paper or duebill to be anything more than a receipt evidencing the fact that he had loaned so much money to the defendants, and that his understanding all the time was that he was loaning it to the partnership.

At the close of the testimony the defendant Charles Wing demurred to the evidence as not making any case against him.

A number of instructions were asked and given; several of which were asked by the defendant being refused. Among those given at the instance of the plaintiff, the court instructed the jury, in substance, that if they believed from the evidence that plaintiff deposited and left with the defendants various sums of money, amounting in the aggregate to one hundred dollars, with the understanding that the moneys might be used by the defendants in their business until such time as plaintiff might call for it and that it was received by William Wing, one of the members of the firm, and accepted by him Avith that understanding, and that on demand made for its payment, payment had been refused, plaintiff Avas entitled to recover.

On the part of the defendant the court instructed the jury, among other instructions, that if they found from the evidence that the plaintiff, at the time or times he left the money represented by the paper in evidence with William Wing, left it with him individually and at the time only intended and expected to hold William Wing, they would find for the defendant Charles Wing, irrespective of the fact that William Wing, by mistake or otherwise, had executed the paper in question in the name of Wing Bros. Further, that before they could find for plaintiff, they must believe, from a preponderance of the evidence, that William Wing, at the time he executed the duebill sued upon, executed it for the money received for the partnership and not for money received from plaintiff by William Wing for his individual purpose, or for purposes other than the partnership. The defendant also asked the court to instruct the jury that before they could find for plaintiff against the defendant Charles Wing, “they must believe from the evidence that the money in question represented by the duebill or paper offered in evidence was actually received.” The court gave this, but added thereto these words: “by Wing Bros, or by William Wing for Wing Bros.” The addition of these words Avas excepted to by the defendant.

The jury returned a verdict in favor of plaintiff and the court entered up judgment against Charles Wing, the sole appellant, and his bondsmen, from which, after filing a motion for new trial, Charles Wing has appealed to this court.

We do not consider it necessary to set out the evidence or instructions further than above. The errors assigned are to permitting the instrument sued on and attached to the plaintiff’s complaint to be read in evidence; to the refusal of the demurrer to the evidence; to giving the instructions asked by plaintiff; to modifying defendant’s instruction, as above set out, and to the refusal of seven instructions asked by the defendant. We do not think any of these assignments are tenable. The execution .of .the instrument is not denied, and there was evidence tending to prove that William Wing, who signed the firm name to it, did so in the course of business as a partner of the firm, which undoubtedly he had a right to do, if the money was borrowed or loaned to the firm by the plaintiff and went into the assets of the firm. There was evidence tending to prove these facts and •on this evidence the plaintiff was entitled to recover against- either or both of the partners. • The instructions given at the instance of plaintiff are entirely correct and unobjectionable, and are within the evidence as introduced at the trial. The instructions which we have noted as given at 'the instance of defendant fairly presented his theory of defense to the jury. The addition of the words •quoted to the instruction asked by the defendant was a correct modification of the defendant’s instruction as asked; without the modification that instruction would have been erroneous. There was no error in refusing the seven instructions asked by defendant. They were either covered by those given or did not correctly state the law as applicable to the facts in evidence. We discover no error whatever in the record against defendant, and the judgment undoubtedly was for the right party. It is affirmed.

All concur.