35 Mo. 261 | Mo. | 1864
delivered the opinion of the court.
We are of opinion that the demurrer in this case was prop
The main ground of objection to the petition urged by defendant is, that it fails to set out the contract betwéen the city and Carroll. This, we think, was unnecessary ; for the suit is not brought upon the contract, nor could it be, for Hardy is neither a party nor privy to it. It is, as properly stated by respondent, an action to recover a special tax bill issued by the city under the authority of an act of the Legislature. The general averment that the city contracted with Carroll’ to do the work, and that in pursuance of such contract said Carroll, did the'work and completed the same on the 27th September, 1860, and that the amount due him from defendant, as assessed by the city engineer, is the true value of the work, we think sufficient, without giving in detail all the provisions of the contract.
Another objection made to the petition is, that the suit is brought in the name of the- city to the use of Carroll. In making this objection, the counsel overlooked the fact that the act of the 16tli January, 1860, expressly requires the suit to: be so-brought. A third ground of demurrer relates to the jurisdiction, of the court, but - no allusion is made to.
Nor do we think the point with reference to city ordinance No. 4370 well taken. We see no reason why the ordinance should be set out in the petition. Had the cause proceeded to trial, it might have become necessary to introduce the ordinance in evidence, to show the authority of the city engineer to cause the work to be done, but it could have answered no other purpose whatever. But even if it was necessary to plead the ordinance, we think the mode in which it is done in the petition is sufficient. (2 R. C. 1855, § 52-3, p. 1239.) The petition is somewhat informally drawn, but we think it contains facts sufficient to constitute a cause of action.
The other judges concurring, the judgment will be affirmed.