Hale v. Hale
Hale v. Hale
Opinion of the Court
After the preliminary averment that the parties litigant had jointly purchased horses and sold them to the United States for the use of its cavalry, pursuant to an agreement to -hare equally in all profits and losses, the ultimate facts upon which plaintiff obtained a judgment from which the defendant appeals, are stated thus: “That thereafter, and on or about the 13th day of December, A. D. 1898, the plaintiff and defendant had a settlement, and defendant made and rendered plaintiff an account stated of the balance of net profits due plaintiff on account of the sale of said cavalry horses to the government, showing the sum of seven hundred and twenty-seven dollars, which said defendant then and here agreed to pay plaintiff. But the defendant has failed, neglected, and refused, and still neglects and refuses, to pay the same, or any part thereof, except the sum of one hundred and seventy-seven dollars paid by defendant to plaintiff on December 14, 1898, leaving a balance due plaintiff on account of said account stated of five hundred and fifty dollars. Wherefore plaintiff demands judgment against defendant for the sum of five hundred and fifty dollars, with interest at seven per cent, per annum from December 13, 1S98, besides his costs and disbursements herein expended or incurred.” An exception was taken to the action of the trial court in overru’ng the following objection: “The defendant at this time objects to the Introduction of any evidence in support of this complaint, for tire reason that its face fails to state the cause of action, in this: diat they alleged the partnership, that these men were co-partners, in a partnership business, and it is nowhere alleged that the partnership business has been settled.” Considered in the light most prejudicial to the ruling, the objection is not sustainable, for the reason that a cause of action is well pleaded upon an account stated by the partners after an accounting between themselves, which amount appellant actually
In support of his complaint, respondent testified in part as follows: “On or about the 13th day of December last there was a difference between us as to the balance due me on our partnership dealings in horses. I came to Sturgis on that day to adjust this difference with him at Mr. Hoehn’s office. The defendant went with me.. Mr. Hoehn and the auditor were present at Hoehn’s office at the time. We agreed to leave the • case to Max Hoehn as an arbitrator. He took Mr. Hale’s books first. I said, ‘We are trying to get at what is coming to me.’ The defendant,said, T can tell you.’ He took his book and piece of paper and his pencil, and figured awhile, and said, ‘There is seven hundred and twenty-seven dollars coming to you.’ I said, ‘That settles it, we will have no more talk over this matter.’ Mr. Hoehn said ‘Reddy’ (meaning the defendant), ‘are you satisfied?’ , ‘Yes.’ ‘Jack, are you satisfied?’ ‘Yes.’ ‘Well then, I have nothing more
Reference
- Status
- Published
- Syllabus
- 1. A partner sued Ms. co-partner for a balance due him under their partnership agreement, alleging a settlement, and that defendant rendered plaintiff an account stated of the balance due, which defendant then agreed to pay. Held to state a good cause of action on an account stated after an accounting. 2. Defendant in such action testified that he did not pay because there was a mistake in calculating the amount due, and offered testimony relating to the original subject-matter, which testimony was rejected. Held proper since the recovery was based on the subsequent agreement, constituting an account stated.