Jones v. Jones

97 Ind. 188 | Ind. | 1884

Black, C.

This was a proceeding upon a claim in favor ■of the appellee, against the estate of William T. Jones, deceased, the appellant being the administratrix thereof.

The statement of the claim was in the form of a complaint consisting of two paragraphs, to which the appellant answered in three paragraphs: First. The general denial; Second. Payment by the intestate in his lifetime; Third. Set-off. The .appellee replied by denial to the second and third paragraphs of the answer. A change of judge was granted, and an attorney was appointed as judge pro tempore, before whom the cause was tried, the result being a finding in favor of the appellee for $270.55. A motion for a new trial and a motion in arrest of judgment were made by the appellant and were •overruled, and judgment was rendered on the finding.

The motion in arrest was in writing, and asked that the judgment be arrested on so much of the finding as was based on the second paragraph of the claim and complaint, namely, the sum of $87.75 claimed in that paragraph, alleging as reasons that the second paragraph did not state facts sufficient to constitute a cause of action, and that it was too indefinite and uncertain to render judgment upon.

Where a complaint contains more than one paragraph,- and there is a general verdict or finding for the plaintiff’ a motion in arrest directed to so much of the verdict or finding as may be based on a single paragraph of the complaint will not lie, though that paragraph be bad. See Waugh v. Waugh, 47 Ind. 580; Spahr v. Nichlaus, 51 Ind. 221; Harris v. Rivers, 53 Ind. 216.

The first paragraph of the claim was for money loaned by the appellee to the intestate.

The second paragraph alleged an agreement by and between the heirs of Julia Jones, deceased, mother of the claimant and of the appellant’s intestate, that the property offered *190for sale at an administrator’s sale of the personal property of the estate of said. Julia Jones, deceased, should be purchased for the benefit of said heirs; that the appellant’s intestate, at said sale, purchased certain plank road stock, at a price stated, for the benefit of said heirs, which he soon afterwards sold for their benefit at a greater price stated. Upon this transaction the claimant based a demand for $87.75.

Filed Sept. 20, 1884.

If he could recover upon this part of his claim, it was necessary to show the existence of a trust, the foundation of which was the intention of the parties in an agreement made in good faith. No facts were alleged from which fraud could be imputed, either actual or constructive.

To support such a trust, a consideration was necessary. The evidence did not show that in the payment for the stock, which appellant’s intestate bought in his own name, said purchaser. used any money or property furnished by the appellee, or which the purchaser or any other person furnished . for the appellee, by way of loan or otherwise, or that belonged to him or in which he had any interest. Therefore, the evidence did not show a resulting trust. See Minot v. Mitchell, 30 Ind. 228; Pearson v. East, 36 Ind. 27; Pomeroy Eq. Jur., sec. 1031, et seq.; Perry Trusts, sec. 124, et seq.

An examination of the evidence indicates that the court in its finding allowed the claim set up in the second paragraph.

■ Among the grounds stated in the motion for a new trial, it was assigned that the amount of the recovery was too large ; and, for the reasons above stated, we think that upon this ground a new trial should have been granted. '

Per Curiam. — Upon the foregoing opinion, the judgment is reversed, at the appellee’s costs, and the cause is remanded for a new trial.

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