Mt. Carmel Church ex rel. Broyles v. Journey
Mt. Carmel Church ex rel. Broyles v. Journey
Opinion of the Court
delivered the opinion of the court.
Nance authorized a subscription of $25 in shingles to be charged to him towards building a church at or near Mt. Carmel Church. The heading of the subscription was reduced to writing, after the subscriptions were authorized, by J. A. Pitts, who wrote it out in conformity to the agreement and in pursuance of his implied authority to do so. It bound the subscribers to pay the amount annexed to their names, to build
It was objected in the circuit court that there was no promise to pay any one, . much less “ Mt. Carmel Church,” and no suit could be maintained in the name of Mt. Carmel Church. The paper shown does contain a promise to pay whenever the “building committee requires the money.'” And we think this fairly implies a promise to pay the money to the building committee, and that regularly, the suit should have been brought in the names of the building' committee for the use of the parties to whom the claim was assigned.
The record shows that a building committee was appointed, and that they transferred the claim on Nance to Broyles & Tatum. The court refused to instruct the jury as requested, that the suit could not be maintained in the name of “Mt. Carmel Church” for the use of Broyles & Tatum, but said that if the facts showed plaintiffs were entitled to recover, they might,
The section of the Code cited (4124), authorizes any justice of the peace where the subject-matter does not exceed fifty dollars, to hear and determine the cause, upon principles of equity, and render such judgment or decree as the merits of the case may require, as fully, -and in the same manner, as courts of chancery. In this case the assignees who have the benfi-cial interest in their claim sued on, are the real parties, and the judgment is for their benefit. The facts showing their interest and title appear in the evidence, the claim belongs to them and the judgment reaches the justice and merits of the case.
It is not objected that Nance, after the subscription was made, and lumber bought, and preparations to build begun, notified the building committee that he would not pay his subscription unless the title to the site was obtained before further expense was incurred.
Upon this point the circuit judge instructed the jury that if no such condition was annexed to the subscription when made, it could not be afterward insisted on. It appeared that the land had been the site of a church for forty years, and that the tract of land of which it was a part, had been sold for debt, after the owner had promised to make a deed. We think there was no error in this instruction.
Upon the whole, we are of opinion that the merits, of the case have been reached, and the judgment will be affirmed.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- Mt. Carmel Church use of Broyles & Tatum v. Jno. F. Journey, Adm'r. of Hugh Nance
- Status
- Published