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1 Posey 511

Walton v. Talbot

Texas Commission of Appeals

Decided June 21, 1880

Texas Commission of Appeals · decided 1880-06-21

<p>1. Pleading — Limitation.—Where the petition does not show on its face that the right of recovery is barred, the defense of limitation cannot be set up by demurrer against it.</p> <p>2. Pbactioe — Pleading.— However inconsistent or repugnant the allegations may be in the pleadings of heirs who have been made parties in a suit by the administrator of their ancestor, they will not have the effect of annulling what the administrator has sufficiently alleged. Smith v. McGaughey, 13 Tex., 464.</p> <p>3. -Stale demand.— General allegations of absence, fraud, concealment, minority and coverture are too indefinite to avoid the defense of stale demand.</p>

Decided 1880-06-21

Quinan, J.

¶1We are of opinion that this assignment is well taken.

¶2Whatever may be said of the imperfection of the pleadings of the heirs of Hughes, who were called in and made parties by the defendants, it cannot be doubted that the petition of Walton, administrator of Hughes, set up a good cause of action, entitling him to recover, if the averments were sustained by the proof. It certainly did not show on its face that the right of recovery was barred by limitation, and consequently the defense of limitation could not be set up by demurrer against it.

¶3Nor did the pleadings of the heirs vitiate that of the administrator. However inconsistent or repugnant their alie**514gations may be, they could not have the effect of annulling what he had sufficiently alleged. Smith v. McGaughey, 13 Tex., 464.

[Opinion delivered June 21, 1880.]

¶4For this cause the judgment must be reversed. It is unnecessary to comment upon the sufficiency of the allegations of the heirs in their petition, or to determine whether the claim, as stated by them, is subject to demurrer as a stale demand. The agreement or contract between Hughes and Mudd is not before us, and we can express no opinion whether it was executory or substantially executed. The facts in connection with it can be developed on the trial. Bell v. Warren, 39 Tex., 106. We need only say that if it should become necessary to avoid the defense of stale demand by proof, general allegations of absence, fraud, concealment, minority and coverture, are altogether too loose and indefinite. Story’s Equity Pleadings, sec. 814.

¶5The judgment will be reversed and the cause remanded.

¶6Bevbrsed and remanded.

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