Emerson-Brantingham Implement Co. v. Fenimore
Emerson-Brantingham Implement Co. v. Fenimore
Opinion of the Court
The opinion of the court was delivered by
This is an action for judgment on nine promissory notes of $50 each and to foreclose a chattel mortgage on an engine and sawmill given to secure their payment. The answer admitted the execution of the notes and mortgage, but alleged they were given as a part consideration for an engine and sawmill purchased by defendant on a written order from plaintiff through its agent and partner, A. L. Puffenbarger, a copy of which was attached to the answer. The written order was for "One 20-hp. No. 7519 Reeves engine and Curtis sawmill to be delivered and saw for 6 days 5 miles north % west of Pittsburg; 50" saw.” The machinery was fully warranted. The answer alleged that Puffenbarger was the agent of plaintiff to negotiate the sale, and a partner with plaintiff in that he was part owner of the engine and sawmill, and further alleged that the plaintiff, through its agent, delivered the mill and undertook to have it operate, but was not successful in getting it to do so; that in fact the condition of the engine was such that it was dangerous to try to operate it; that plaintiff, through its agent, finally quit trying to operate it and pulled it out of the way so defendant could have another rig, which he hired, pull in and do the work;
In its reply plaintiff denied that Puffenbarger was its partner in the ownership of the machinery and denied that Puffenbarger executed on behalf of plaintiff the contract, a copy of which was attached to defendant’s answer, but alleged that Puffenbarger did execute a contract on behalf of plaintiff with defendant for the purchase of the same engine, but another sawmill, which contract recited that the machinery sold was secondhand, and specifically provided that it was not warranted in any particular.
The court held the burden of proof to be on defendant, and he offered his evidence, at the close of which plaintiff demurred thereto. The demurrer was overruled. Plaintiff offered no evidence, and the cause was submitted to the jury on instructions by the court. The jury returned a verdict for defendant and for the recovery on his cross petition for the sum of $281, on which verdict judgment was rendered.
Plaintiff filed no motion for a new trial, but has appealed from the order of the court overruling the demurrer to the evidence and from the judgment.
There being no motion for a new trial, plaintiff has not argued that the court committed error in the trial with respect to the introduction of evidence or instructions. Neither is it argued that there is anything wrong with the judgment, if, in fact, the case should have gone to the jury under the evidence. The result is that the only alleged error pressed for our attention is the order of the court overruling the demurrer to the evidence. Briefly, the evidence was that defendant, who resides at Pittsburg and who is president and general manager of the Joplin & Pittsburg Railway Company, and who had a material business, in 1925 went into the business of getting out some railroad ties and mine ties. These were being cut from some timber a few miles north of Pittsburg. For that purpose he desired a sawmill and engine and entered into a contract with Mr. Puffenbarger for the 20-hp. Reeves engine and Curtis sawmill. The
In this court, apparently for the first time, appellant seems to make the point that defendant has filed a sham answer and cites
Appellant complains of defendant pleading that it and Puffenbarger were partners in the ownership of this machinery, and argues that a corporation cannot be a member of a partnership. While it may be conceded, generally speaking, that may be said to be true, no reason suggests itself why a corporation and an individual might not jointly own specific property. But we do not regard this point as very material, and evidently appellant does not so regard it. Appellant contends that there is no evidence to show Puffenbarger was its agent. But this contention lacks merit. Its reply does not deny Puffenbarger was its agent for the purpose of selling this machinery. All it denies is that Puffenbarger ever executed, on behalf of plaintiff, the contract attached to defendant’s answer. The evidence discloses that he did execute it. The plaintiff’s reply alleges that Puffenbarger did execute, on its behalf, the contract for the sale of machinery, a copy of which it relies upon, and there is other evidence in the record making it clear that Puffenbarger was the agent of plaintiff for the sale of this machinery.
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.