King v. Gray
King v. Gray
Opinion of the Court
This suit was instituted by Mary J. King against R. W. Gray, alleging, in substance, that at a date named she purchased a certain tract of land represented to contain 104% acres, but which in fact contained 41 acres less. She charged that the representations had been made by mistake or fraud; that she relied upon same, paying for the land the cash sum of $i,750. She further alleged that the defendant, Gray, had executed due conveyance, which contain- • ed a warranty of title, and which in terms described the tract of land as containing 104% acres of land. She, therefore, also declared upon the warranty, and prayed for damages. The defendant answered, pleading, in substance, that at the time of the purchase and conveyance mentioned in plaintiff’s pleadings, the land in controversy was in fact owned by one O. M. Pearson, and that he (defendant) only held the legal title to the land conveyed in trust for said Pearson and as a security merely for the payment by Pearson of an indebtedness due defendant, of all which facts plaintiff was fully cognizant, that plaintiff in making her purchase negotiated with Pearson alone, and that defendant’s only connection with the transaction was to make the conveyance described in the plaintiff’s petition at the direction of Pearson. A jury was impaneled, and after the introduction of the evidence, the court gave a peremptory instruction to the jury to find for the defendant. The verdict and judgment followed in accordance with the direction, and the plaintiff has appealed.
“By the failure of the appellant to bring the alleged error of the trial court before this court for review, the appellant approved and acquiesced in the judgment, and the same cannot be reviewed, and said judgment so approved is final against the appellant, and any other alleged error becomes wholly immaterial; and, although it might appear that the other alleged errors would have been sustained in a proper case for their consideration, they are eliminated for consideration in this case’because of the instructed verdict and judgment not having been complained of or properly brought here for review.”
The question is not without difficulty, and we have felt some hesitation in arriving at a conclusion, being without guide, as stated, by a decision of any of our courts. We have, however, finally concluded that appellee’s objections to the consideration of the assignments, so far as they apply in this case, must be sustained. The law already referred to specifically provides that:
“The rulings of the court in the giving, refusing, or qualifying of instructions to the jury shall be regarded as approved, unless excepted to as provided for in the foregoing article.”
If the peremptory instruction to find for the defendant must be regarded as approved, as this law declares, we have a ease where the plaintiff, after the introduction of testimony, in open court approves an instruction, which in its logical and necessary effect must bring about a verdict and judgment against her on the facts. It is difficult to see upon what principles he should thereafter be heard to say that the evidence did not warrant the charge. It is in effect an invitation for the court to do just what it did do. Cleburne Street Ry. Co. v. Barnes, 168 S. W. 991. And it would seem that thereafter she should be heard to complain only of questions not involving a determination of the sufficiency of the evidence. A failure to complain in a motion for a new trial of a. want of sufficient evidence to sustain a verdict has long been held to preclude such complaint on appeal.
Affirmed.
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Reference
- Full Case Name
- KING Et Al. v. GRAY
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- Published