Shareman v. St. Louis Transit Co.

85 S.W. 358, 186 Mo. 323, 1905 Mo. LEXIS 320

• Court: Supreme Court of Missouri
• Decided: February 15, 1905
• Status: Published

Opinion

BRACE, P. J.

— This is an appeal by the defendant from a judgment of the St. Louis circuit court in favor of the plaintiff for the sum of two thousand dollars in' an action for personal injuries.

The appeal was taken at the February term, 1902, of said court. Counsel for appellant in their brief say: “The court of its own motion instructed that nine of the jury could return a verdict herein and the verdict was rendered by nine alone. This being before the constitutional question, arising upon the adoption of that constitutional amendment, had been passed upon by this court, the appeal was therefore taken to this court. ’ ’

It is true that the trial court did so instruct the jury, and that the appeal was taken before the decision in the case of Gabbert v. Railroad, Dec. 24, 1902, 171 Mo. 84. But the statement that the verdict was rendered by only nine of the jury is not borne out by the record. On the contrary, it thereby appears that the verdict was unanimous. The entry thereof and of the judgment thereon as they appear in the record are as follows:

“verdict.

“Hermina Shareman v. St. Louis Transit Co.

“We, the jury in the above-entitled cause, find for the plaintiff, and assess her damages at the sum of two thousand dollars. O. H. Peckham,

“Foreman.

“And, thereupon, on the same day, the court rendered and entered judgment on said verdict in favor of the plaintiff and against the defendant for the sum of two thousand dollars and costs.”

So that, it appearing from the record that the verdict was unanimous, no right under the Constitution was denied by reason of such instruction, and there is no constitutional question in the case, nor ever was, giving this court jurisdiction. [Kimble v. Railroad, 183 Mo. 70; Meng v. Railroad, 183 Mo. 68; Portwright v. Railroad, 183 Mo. 72.]

The case is therefore transferred to the St. Louis Court of Appeals.

All concur.