R. L. McDonald & Co. v. Fist

60 Mo. 172 | Mo. | 1875

Sherwood, Judge,

delivered tlie opinion of tlie court.

This was a proceeding by attachment, the affidavit being based upon that section of the statute which authorizes process of that character, when articles contracted to be paid for on delivery, are not thus paid for.

The action of the court i*n striking out the several pleas in abatement it is not necessary to review, as any exceptions to that action were waived and abandoned by tlie answer subsequently hied, which, in substance, alleged that a portion of tlie goods sold had been paid for, in full, prior to suit brought; and that as to the residue of the goods sold, they were sold on thirty days time, which had not expired at the institution of the suit. These allegations were not denied.

The bill of exceptions shows that the court, on motion of plaintiffs, gave judgment in their favor, ‘■'notwithstanding the answ;er.” This ruling was clearly erroneous, as the answer set up a good defense. And it is immaterial that the judgment, as it appears in the record proper, is silent as to the action of the court in the particular referred to, and appears to be in the usual form. Nor is it material that the motion of the plaintiffs which led the court to treat the answer as a nullity, is not incorporated in the hill of exceptions. This mo*173tion may have been ore tenus j but in any event and whatever may have been the grounds of that motion, it was evident error to entirely ignore and disregard the allegations of the answer, which, if established by testimony, would have precluded the plaintiffs from a recovery, so far as the then pending action was concerned.

Judgment reversed and cause remanded;

all the judges concur.