Rector v. Ranken

• Decision Date: 30 November 1823
• Citation: 1 Mo. 371
• Parties: RECTOR, ADM'R OF LITTLE, v. RANKEN.
• Court: Missouri Supreme Court

1 Mo. 371

RECTOR, ADM'R OF LITTLE,

v.RANKEN.

Supreme Court of Missouri.

November Term, 1823.

ERROR FROM THE CIRCUIT COURT OF ST. LOUIS COUNTY.

JONES, J.

This was an action on the case, brought by the plaintiff, as such administrator, for the use and occupation of certain premises in the town of St. Louis, by the defendant, and at his special instance and request, and, by the permission of the plaintiff, held, occupied, and possessed, for a certain period of time, and alleging the defendant's promise to pay, on request. To this declaratlon, a general demurrer was filed, which was sustained by the court below; on which, error was brought.

On the argument of the cause in this court, the defendant's counsel contended:

First That an action for use and occupation cannot be maintained in this State.

Second. If it can, that the declaration ought to have been special, and a special assumpsit set forth; and

Third. That an administrator, as such, cannot sustain an action for rent, which accrued since the death of the intestate, the heir only having a right to sue.

The record not stating the grounds on which the demurrer was sustained, this court is to decide on the law of the case, as presented by the pleadings.

In our opinion, the defendant, instead of demurring to the declaration generally, ought to have plead to the action; and, on the trial of the issue, if the plaintiff could not prove an express promise, but relied on the implied assumpsit, he could then have submitted the question of law, whether, from the proof adduced, the plaintiff would be entitled to a recovery in the action, as brought. The rule being well established, that on a count of general iudebitatus assumpsit, an express promise may be given in evidence, the court below ought to have overruled the demurrer, so as to have given the plaintiff an opportunity of proving an express promise, or assumpsit.

The next inquiry is, as to the authority of an administrator to bring an action for rent. There is no doubt that an administrator, by the common law, has no such authority; but by the act of 12th January, 1822 (passed prior to the bringing of this action), he is authorized to lease out, in the manner therein mentioned, the real estate of an intestate, who shall have died without leaving known heirs or legal representatives in the State. The defendant, however, contends, that the plaintiff cannot avail himself of the provisions of this statute, under the declaration in the case, because it does not...