Kimbrough v. Ragsdale & Co.
Kimbrough v. Ragsdale & Co.
Opinion of the Court
delivered the opinion of the court.
The petition in this cause is based upon a sale to Fuller and Kimbrough jointly. The court properly overruled the motion to dismiss the petition, for it could not know that the contract, as stated, would not be proved. No objection was made to the evidence offered Iby the petitioner to establish the sale to Kimbrough alone. The slightest reflection should have suggested that in that way only can advantage be taken' of a variance between the cause of action as stated in the pleadings, and that sought to be proved. Our code, § 1134, provides that one or more of several joint- contractors may be severally sued, but it was never intended to permit a plaintiff’ to declare upon a joint contract, and recover upon a several one.
The second instruction for the plaintiff was directly upon the weight of evidence. The defendant was certainly entitled to have the jury determine whether the goods were charged upon the plaintiffs’ books to Fuller alone, because he was the purchaser, or whether such entries were for the convenience only of plaintiffs. This was a question of fact, and not of law, and the court should not have expressed any opinion concerning its solution.
Reversed, and remanded for a new trial.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- A. McC. Kimbrough v. Ragsdale & Co.
- Cited By
- 14 cases
- Status
- Published
- Syllabus
- 1. Pleading. Practice. Variance. Premature objection. Where a petition to enforce a mechanic’s lien is against two, jointly, in advance of the testimony, it is proper to over-rule a motion to dismiss the suit on the ground that there is no joint liability. 2. Variance. Sow availed of. Objection to testimony. A variance between the cause of action as stated in the pleadings, and that sought to be proved, can only be taken advantage of by objection to the testimony. Without such objection, the variance will not be considered on appeal. 3. Instruction, Weight of evidence. Province of jury. Case. Where there is a controversy as to whether goods were sold to defendant or another, plaintiffs’ books showing that they were charged to such other for defendant, it is error to instruct that the manner of keeping the account was merely a matter of convenience for plaintiffs, “and does not change defendant’s obligation to pay the debt sued on, if he owes the same.” Such an instruction is on the weight of evidence. It is for the jury to say what effect, if any, is to be given to the manner of keeping the account.