Lengle v. Smith

• Decision Date: 31 July 1871
• Citation: Lengle v. Smith, 48 Mo. 276 (Mo. 1871)
• Parties: S. S. LENGLE, Defendant in Error, v. G. W. SMITH, Plaintiff in Error.
• Writing for the Court: BLISS
• Court: Missouri Supreme Court

48 Mo. 276

S. S. LENGLE, Defendant in Error,

v.G. W. SMITH, Plaintiff in Error.

Supreme Court of Missouri.

July Term, 1871.

Error to First District Court.

G. W. Miller, for defendant in error.

Wright & Snoddy, for plaintiff in error.

BLISS, Judge, delivered the opinion of the court.

The petition states that the plaintiff and defendant entered into a contract for the purchase and sale of hogs and cattle; that the plaintiff was to give his personal services to their purchase; that defendant was to advance the purchase money, receive them when purchased, and ship them to market for sale; and “that, when the cattle and hogs were so sold, the net profits arising therefrom should be equally divided between plaintiff and defendant, share and share alike.” The petition further sets out the amount of the purchases and sales, charges the net profits to have been $4,200, half of which belonged to the plaintiff, and asks judg ment for damages for withholding the amount from him. The answer denied all the allegations of the petition, and set up sundry counter-claims which were denied by the reply. The case was submitted to a jury like an ordinary action at law, and the plaintiff recovered judgment for some $800. The defendant, upon appeal, attacks the judgment, principally because the petition shows that the parties to the suit were partners, and hence the plaintiff mistook his remedy; while the plaintiff claims that there was no partnership, and also objects to the regularity of the appeal.

The plaintiff and defendant were partners. The one gave his services in buying and collecting the cattle and hogs; the other gave the use of the necessary capital; and they were to divide the profits. This community in the profits made them liable for the losses, there being no special contract in regard to them. Thus were they partners both in the profits and losses of the adventure. (Meyers v. Field, 37 Mo. 434; Whitehill v. Shickle, 43 Mo....