O'Donoghue v. Jones

Supreme Court of Missouri
O'Donoghue v. Jones, 37 Mo. 371 (Mo. 1866)
Holmes, Lovelace, Wagner

O'Donoghue v. Jones

Opinion of the Court

Wagner, Judge,

delivered the opinion of the court.

The petition in this case does not allege that there was any fraud, misrepresentation, or unfair dealing on the part of the defendant. The answer avers that the plaintiff was equally familiar andymnversant with the solvency of the company, and the value of the certificates, with the defendant; that the proposition to purchase and receive the certificates in payment for the purchase money, came from the plaintiff; that there was no attempt made to overreach or circumvent the plaintiff; but that the whole transaction was perfectly fair, and conducted by both parties in good faith.

The evidence fully sustains the statements in the answer. And it further shows that the market value of the stock, at the time the trade was made and the conveyance executed, was from two hundred and fifty to three hundred dollars per share. The assignment, under the circumstances, was no warranty that the certificates possessed or should possess any certain value. There was neither warranty nor representation as to any particular value being affixed to them. They were selling in the market at a certain price; the plaintiff was perfectly aware of the condition of thq^pompany that issued them, the price for which they were selling in the market, and proposed selling his property to defendant, and receive them in páy ; which proposition was accepted by defendant.

At the time of the sale the market value of the certificates was about equal to the value of the property, but afterwards they became worthless. The plaintiff is in a condition that a great many other men have been placed before him; he *373has lost by purchasing the shares of a worthless and irresponsible company; but we cannot see what claim he has either in the law, equity, or morals, to compel the defendant to pay for his own want of judgment and prudence.

The judgment is affirmed.

Judge Holmes concurs; Judge Lovelace absent.

Reference

Full Case Name
James O'Donoghue, in Error v. Wash. Jones, in Error
Status
Published