Alberts v. Baker

52 N.E. 469, 21 Ind. App. 373, 1899 Ind. App. LEXIS 104
CourtIndiana Court of Appeals
DecidedJanuary 6, 1899
DocketNo. 2,608
StatusPublished
Cited by2 cases

This text of 52 N.E. 469 (Alberts v. Baker) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Indiana Court of Appeals primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Alberts v. Baker, 52 N.E. 469, 21 Ind. App. 373, 1899 Ind. App. LEXIS 104 (Ind. Ct. App. 1899).

Opinion

Henley, J.

This cause is here for the second time. The opinion upon the former appeal is found in volúme 13, Ind. App. 399. This action was brought by appellants against the appellee to recover the price of five carloads of shingles. The complaint is in four paragraphs. The first two paragraphs of the complaint - proceed upon the theory that the shingles were sold to appellee by one E. B. Newton, who assigned his said account to these appellants. The third paragraph of complaint alleges a sale and [374]*374delivery to appellee of five carloads of shingles by appellants. The fourth paragraph of complaint alleges that appellee is indebted to appellants for five carloads of shingles furnished to appellee by appellants, which shingles appellee accepted and used. Appellee answered in two paragraphs, — the first-a. general denial, the second setting up certain attachment and garnishment proceedings in the Fulton Circuit Court. The averments of this answer present a history of the transaction and are in substance as follows: That in the month of August, one Shrieve, claiming to be a representative of E. B. Newton.«fe Co., a firm or partnership composed of Edward B. Newton and Gertrude Newton, solicited an order for shingles from this appellee; that appellee at said time ordered from said firm seven carloads of shingles, which order was filled by a shipment to appellee of the five carloads of shingles which are referred to in each paragraph of the plaintiffs’ complaint, and which shingles were billed to appellee by said E. B. Newton «& Co.; that appellee’s indebtedness for said shingles, after deducting the freight and discounts, amounted to the sum of $939.34; that on the 21st day of September, 1891, Robert K. and Wm. H. Mann filed in the Fulton Circuit Court in Indiana a complaint against Gertrude Newton and Edward B. Newton on an account and certain.acceptances, on which judgment was demanded in the sum of $1,300, and at the same time said Robert K. and Wm. H. Mann filed their affidavit and bond in attachment and an affidavit in garnishment against the appellee herein, and summons was duly served upon appellee to answer as garnishee on the 10th day of the September term, 1891, of the Fulton Circuit Court; that on the 21st day of September, 1891, a writ of attachment was duly issued by the clerk of the circuit court of Fulton [375]*375county to the sheriff of said county, commanding him to seize and take into his possession the personal property and attach the land of the defendants Gertrude Newton and Edward B. Newton, in his county, and not exempt from execution, or so much thereof as would satisfy the claim of the plaintiff in the action. The answer then fully sets out all of the proceedings in the Fulton Circuit Court in said cause, including the return of the sheriff upon the writ of attachment, the affidavit of nonresidence of the said Newtons, the publication and proof thereof, the default of the said Newtons, and the following finding and decree: “That it is therefore ordered and adjudged by the court that the plaintiffs, Robert K. Mann and William H. Mann, have their attachment against defendants, Gertrude Newton and Edward B. Newton, in the sum of $1,294.47, collectible and subject to appraisement.” It is then further averred in said answer thát appellee, pursuant to notice duly served upon him, appeared in open court in person upon the issue raised by the affidavit in garnishment and testified in said cause concerning his indebtedness for said shingles, whereupon said court rendered judgment against appellee in the sum of $934:44, which was his entire indebtedness for said shingles, which said judgment was never appealed from, vacated, modified, nor in any way set aside, and which, after its said rendition the appellee herein fully paid. The answer concludes with the further general allegation, “And as to all allegations in the several paragraphs of complaint the defendant denies each and every material allegation therein contained.” Appellants’ demurrer to the second paragraph of answer was overruled. A reply was filed in two paragraphs. The first paragraph of appellants’ reply was a general denial. The second paragraph alleged, in [376]*376brief, that appellee knew that appellants were furnishing the shingles, and knew that the debt for the same belonged to them, and that he was in collusion with the said Manns, the plaintiffs in the attachment suit against the said Newtons, to aid them in getting the money, and that the payment of the said money into court by appellee as garnishee was' voluntary. The cause was submitted to a jury for trial, and a special verdict returned by way of interrogtories and answers thereto. Both parties moved for judgment upon the special verdict. Appellee’s motion was sustained; that of appellants overruled. The assignment of errors in this court questions the ruling of the lower court in overruling the demurrer to the second paragraph of answer, the overruling of appellants’ motion, and the sustaining of appellee’s motion for judgment upon the special verdict. We will dispose of the questions arising upon the alleged errors in the order in which they are assigned.

First, as to the sufficiency of the answer. It has been held by the Supreme Court of this State in the recent case of Forgy v. Harvey, 151 Ind. 507, that errors assigned on rulings as to the pleadings need not be considered where the questions urged arise on a special verdict. See, also, Smith v. Manufacturing Co., 148 Ind. 333; Woodward v. Mitchell, 140 Ind. 406; Wilmore v. Stetler, 137 Ind. 127. The special verdict in this cause fully determines all the questions arising upon this appeal. The overruling of the demurrer to the second paragraph of answer did. not prevent appellants from proving the material allegations of their third and fourth paragraphs of complaint, but the special verdict shows that upon the issues presented by such paragraphs there was a finding for appellee, hence appellants were not harmed by such ruling. It is not contended that the answer [377]*377is bad as to the first and second paragraphs of complaint. It is found by the special verdict that during the month of August, 1891, one David M. Shrieve, representing Edward B. Newton & Co., took appellee’s order for seven carloads of shingles, and that five carloads of said order were filled by shipment to appellee; that the debt created by said purchase is the account sued on in this action, and was assigned in writing by said Newton & Co. to these appellants on the 21st day of October, 1891. That on the 21st day of September, 1891, said debt being still unpaid, a complaint was filed in the Fulton Circuit Court of the state of Indiana against the said Newtons by Robert K. Mann and William H.

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Bluebook (online)
52 N.E. 469, 21 Ind. App. 373, 1899 Ind. App. LEXIS 104, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/alberts-v-baker-indctapp-1899.