65 Mo. App. 78 | Mo. Ct. App. | 1896
Lead Opinion
OPINION ON MOTION TO DISMISS APPEAL.
This is a suit in equity, brought to satisfy and cancel a certain deed of trust covering plaintiff’s real estate. After a somewhat lengthy trial, the •court below entered a decree in plaintiff’s favor, and defendant has appealed.
We have before us now a motion by respondent to •dismiss the appeal on the alleged ground that the appellant has failed to file such an abstract of the record as is required by rule 15 of this court. The motion to dismiss the appeal must be overruled. The appellant has filed here a printed document intended as an abstract, and while it is quite deficient in most respects, it yet furnishes sufficient matter for the determination of one question raised in its brief. Under the head of “Points and Authorities,” the first point made is that the petition fails to state a cause of action. On looking back at the abstract we find an alleged copy of the petition, together with an objection by the defendant to the introduction of any evidence'thereon, interposed at the trial; that the objection was overruled, and an exception taken to the court’s ruling. Motions for new trial and in arrest are also copied in the abstract, and in both the court’s attention was again called to
In reviewing these equity cases, we must have the entire evidence. We are required to go over and consider the whole of the testimony so as to determine the error or correctness of the judgment below. It is here what may be termed another trial on the facts. How can we put ourselves in the same position as the lower court, unless we have before us the same evidence? And we try the case on the abstract, not on the transcript. Case after case has been written up by the appellate courts of the state reminding attorneys of this rule. See Trimble v. Wollman, 62 Mo. App. 541, and authorities cited.
While, then, we shall overrule the motion to dismiss the appeal, the case will be retained simply to determine the one point sufficiently abstracted, to wit: does the petition state facts sufficient to constitute a cause of action?
Motion overruled.
Opinion on the Merits
We are of the opinion that the .petition is sufficient. It appears that plaintiff had his house, furniture, and barn, situated on farming lands, insured by defendant, for the sum of $1,200. That afterward he executed a note to the Missouri State Bank for $850 and also executed a deed of trust on the lands, including the house, to secure the note. That a mortgage clause was áttached to the policy, recognizing the deed of trust and specifying that in case of loss the money should be paid to the bank according to its interest. Afterward the property was burned and the amount of the aforesaid note, together with the interest due thereon, was paid to the bank by this defendant, and the bank assigned the same to the defendant.
The petition alleges the foregoing facts, and álso that plaintiff took out and paid for the insurance aforesaid. That the property destroyed was reasonably worth the amount of the insurance and that the plaintiff was damaged by its loss' in the sum of $1,200. That the sum paid to the bank was for the damage and loss to this plaintiff accruing to him, by reason of the fire. That by the payment to the bank, the note was fully paid and the lien of the deed of trust was annulled or discharged.
The contention of defendant seems to be based on the idea that the same allegations are required in this' action, as if the action was based on the policy for the recovery of the insurance money. We deem the petition sufficient to sustain a cause of action and hence affirm the judgment. All concur.
