Self v. Cordell

45 Mo. 345

• Court: Supreme Court of Missouri
• Decided: January 15, 1870
• Status: Published

Opinion

Wagner, Judge,

delivered the opinion of the court.

In this case no bill of exceptions is preserved in the record, and therefore there is nothing to review in this court except what may appear on the face of the record. The action was for damages for the violation of a contract, and alleged that the plaintiff purchased of the defendant a certain carding machine, and paid the purchase money, the defendant at the same time delivering the possession. As a part of the agreement, the defendant bound himself not to set up or superintend the running of any other carding machine in the vicinity of the one sold to the plaintiff, or near enough to be in competition with it, for the period of four years. A breach was alleged.

Defendant answered, denying the allegations of the petition, and set up, as a further defense, the statute of frauds, claiming that the contract was not to be performed within one year, and that, as it was not in writing, it was therefore invalid. There was a-trial by the court and judgment for plaintiff. The only thing that can be noticed here is whether the contract was void under the statute.

It is true that the contract could not be wholly performed within one year; but it was entirely and completely executed by one of the contracting parties, and it is the established doctrine of this court, and the settled law of this State, that where an agreement not in writing has been wholly performed on one side, the other party thereto can not interpose the defense of the statute of frauds. (Blanton v. Knox, 3 Mo. 342; Pitcher v. Wilson, 5 Mo. 48; Suggett’s Adm’r v. Cason’s Adm’r, 26 Mo. 221.)

Judgment affirmed.

The other judges concur.