49 Mo. App. 447 | Mo. Ct. App. | 1892
Defendant rented of plaintiff, for a. term of five years, by written lease, a certain business building in Kansas City. The lease contained a covenant by defendant to pay plaintiff the rent for the.
• This is all that was shown, and the trial court properly directed a verdict for plaintiff. Mere knowledge on the part of the lessor of the occupancy of another, and acceptance of rent from the occupant, does not show that the lessor has discharged the original lessee from his covenant to pay for the whole term. See cases of Jones v. Barnes, 45 Mo. App. 590, and Whetstone v. McCartney, 32 Mo. App. 430. Defendant concedes the law in these cases, but contends that a lessor may discharge the lessee from his obligation and accept a new tenant in his stead. We do not doubt this; but the difficulty is, that in this case there is no evidence upon which to base such contention. A lessor’s knowledge of the assignment of a lease and acceptance of rent from the sublessee, not being at all inconsistent with holding the original lessee to his express covenant, for the remaining unpaid rent during the term, cannot alone have the effect of discharging such original lessee. Jones v. Barnes, supra, and authorities cited therein.
The judgment must be affirmed.