Smith v. Davis

• Decision Date: 01 July 1890
• Citation: 24 P. 428,44 Kan. 362
• Parties: H. D. SMITH v. JOHN E. DAVIS et al
• Court: Kansas Supreme Court

24 P. 428

44 Kan. 362

H. D. SMITH v. JOHN E. DAVIS et al

Supreme Court of Kansas

July 1, 1890

Error from Bourbon District Court.

THE facts are sufficiently stated in the opinion.

Judgment reversed and cause remanded.

West & Humphrey, for plaintiff in error.

Dillard & Padgett, for defendants in error.

VALENTINE J. All the Justices concurring.

OPINION

VALENTINE, J.:

This was an action brought in the district court of Bourbon county on November 4, 1887, by H. D. Smith against John E. Davis and Margaret L. Davis, husband and wife, to recover for an alleged breach of covenants contained in a deed of conveyance of real estate executed by the defendants to the plaintiff. The plaintiff's petition alleges and sets forth among other things that the deed contained the following covenants, to wit:

"And the said parties of the first part do hereby covenant and agree that at the delivery hereof they are the lawful owners of the premises above granted, and seized of a good and indefeasible estate of inheritance therein, free and clear of all incumbrances, and that they will warrant and defend the same in the quiet and peaceable possession of the said party of the second part, his heirs and assigns forever, against all persons lawfully claiming the same."

A copy of the deed is also given as a part of the petition. The alleged breach of the covenants and the prayer for relief as set forth in plaintiff's petition read as follows:

"Plaintiff alleges that, at the delivery and execution of said deed, to wit, on May 18, 1887, defendants were not the lawful owners of said real estate and seized of a good and indefeasible estate of inheritance therein, free and clear of all incumbrances, but that at that time and ever since there was and has been a lease on said premises from defendant J. E Davis to M. D. Hartman & Co., for the purpose of cutting, hauling and removing ice, which said lease was by its terms to run and continue till September 17, 1894, a copy of which is hereto attached, marked 'B' and made a part hereof, said lease being in fact an incumbrance on said real estate to the extent of one thousand dollars; plaintiff alleges that said lease could not be purchased in for less than $ 1,000, and is a valid subsisting lease from defendant J. E. Davis to said M. D. Hartman & Co., and is to plaintiff a damage of $ 1,000. Wherefore, plaintiff demands judgment against defendants J. E. Davis and Margaret L. Davis for $ 1,000 and costs of suit."

A copy of the lease is also given as a part of the petition. The lease was dated September 17, 1884. The defendant, J. E. Davis, was the party of the first part, and M. D. Hartman & Co. constituted the party or parties of the second part. The ice was to be cut and obtained from the Marmaton river where it runs across the land conveyed by the defendants to the plaintiff. The lease contained the following, among other things, to wit:

"To have and to hold the same unto the said party of the second part from the 17th day of September, 1884, to the 17th day of September, 1894, being for a period of ten years; and the said party of the second part, in consideration of the leasing of the premises as above set forth, and the said sale of the ice thereon, covenants and agrees with the said party of the first part to pay the said party of the first part, his heirs and assigns, as rent for the same, the sum of one hundred dollars per year, as follows: First year, rent to be paid in advance, the receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged, and thereafter on the first day of June in each and every year during this lease. And the said party of the first part, in consideration of the leasing of said premises, further agrees that said party of the second part shall have the right-of-way across said land to and from said river during the ice season, for the purpose of cutting, hauling and removing said ice as aforesaid. The covenants and agreements herein shall extend to and be binding upon the heirs, executors, administrators or assigns of the parties to this lease."

The defendants demurred to the plaintiff's petition, which demurrer was overruled; and they then answered, and the plaintiff replied. Afterward the case was regularly called for trial, and the record with reference to this subject and subsequent proceedings reads as follows:

"And afterward, to wit, on May 23, 1888, said cause came on to be tried, and a jury was impaneled; whereupon defendants in open court offered to confess judgment for one dollar, which offer was by plaintiff refused. Thereupon the plaintiff, to maintain the issue on his part, was sworn and took the witness stand, and was asked to state if he was the plaintiff in this case, whereupon defendants objected to any evidence under plaintiff's petition, for the reason that it states grounds for nominal damages only; which objection was argued by counsel, and the court having heard all the arguments and being fully advised, sustained said objections; to which the plaintiff then and there excepted. Whereupon the court ordered the jury to return a verdict in the following words:

"We, the jury, find for the plaintiff, and assess his damages at one dollar.--ROBERT MCCORD, Foreman."

"Which said verdict said jury thereupon signed by its foreman, and returned it into court.

. . . .

"Thereupon it is considered, ordered, and adjudged by the court that plaintiff have and recover of and from defendants, and each of them, the sum of one dollar, and his costs herein taxed at $ , and execution is awarded. To all of which the plaintiff excepted and excepts."

The plaintiff then moved the court to set aside the foregoing verdict, and to grant a new trial upon various grounds, but the court overruled the motion, and the plaintiff excepted and afterward, as plaintiff in error,...