Krueger v. Beckham
Krueger v. Beckham
Opinion of the Court
The opinion of the court was delivered by
The record in this case shows that on February 1, 1884, a judgment for $300 was rendered by a justice of the peace of Ellis county in favor of James H. Beckham, Joseph W. Mercer and J. G. McKnight, partners as Beckham, Mercer & Co., and against Henry Krueger and Martha Krueger, upon a waiver of summons, a confession of judgment, and an affidavit of the defendants. On February 7, 1884, Martha Krueger took the case to the district coui’t of Ellis county on petition in error, making Beckham, Mercer & Co. parties defendant, but not making Henry Krueger, who was her husband, a party. In her petition in error in the district court she alleged that there were errors of fact as follows:
“1. There is error in fact in said record in stating that the said Martha Krueger appeared in person in said action before said justice of the peace and confessed judgment in said action.
“ 2. There is error in fact in said record in stating that the said Martha Krueger waived service of summons and time in said action. ,
“3. There is error in fact in said judgment, said judgment as a matter of fact being against said Martha Krueger and one Henry Krueger, when as a matter of fact said Martha Krueger was never, and is not now, indebted to said Beckham, Mercer & Co. in any sum whatever, nor did the said Martha Krueger in any way or manner become liable for the debt of said Henry Krueger to the said Beckham, Mercer & Co. in any manner whatsoever. ■ ,
“ 4. For other errors in fact in said-proceedings to the detrh*402 ment of said Martha Krueger, though not specificially alleged and set forth herein.”
No errors of law were alleged or assigned. Upon the question as to whether any errors of fact had occurred, a trial was had before the district court without a jury, and oral evidence was introduced, and upon such evidence the court found generally in favor of the defendants, Beckham, Mercer & Co., and against the plaintiff, Martha Krueger, and rendered judgment accordingly, affirming the judgment of the justice of the peace; and of this judgment of the district court the plaintiff, Martha Krueger, now complains.
No objection was made or exception taken to any proceeding had or ruling made by or before the justice of the peace, nor was any objection made or exception taken by Mrs. Krueger to any proceeding had or ruling made in the district court, except that she excepted to the final rendering of the judgment by the district court. Nor was any motion made by Mrs. Krueger in the district court to reverse, vacate, modify or set aside the judgment, or any finding, order, ruling or proceeding of that court; nor was any motion made in either court for a new trial.
Under some of the authorities in other states, some judgments or orders of some courts may be disturbed for errors of fact, whether the facts appear upon the face of the record or not: provided that the facts to be proved must not contradict the record; and provided further, that they show only such irregularities as tend to thwart or contravene the due administration of justice, aside from matters concerning the plaintiff’s cause of action or the defense thereto, and not such facts merely as have reference only to the plaintiff’s cause of action or the defense thereto.
The case of Phillips v. Thralls, 26 Kas. 780, has no application to this case. In that case the justice went out of his township to hold his court, while in this case the justice remained in his township during the occurrence of all the proceedings. This is the principal question discussed by counsel for plaintiff in error, and upon this question we must decide against his client. We think the judgment of the justice of the peace is valid, and that it cannot properly be set aside.
The judgment of the court below will be affirmed.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- Martha Krueger v. James H. Beckham
- Status
- Published