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205 Ala. 213

87 So 795

Smith v. Murphree

Supreme Court of Alabama

Decided January 15, 1921

Supreme Court of Alabama · decided 1921-01-15

A. Steele, Judge. Action by H. O. Murphree against Jesse Smith in detinue and assumpsit. Judgment for plaintiff, and defendant appeals. Transferred from Court of Appeals under Acts 1911, p. 449, § 6. The action was in detinue to recover 200 bushels of peanuts, and also in breach of contract to deliver the peanuts, or rather one-half taken as toll for the use of the machine.

Cited by 3 later decisions — most recently March 1932

3 state decisions

Relies on Watson v. Hamilton · Zuber v. Roberts · Howze v. Patterson

Good law ✅— No negative treatment on recordhow we know

Affirmed · Decided 1921-01-15

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BROWN, J.

¶1 Viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the appellant, it shows that the appellee owned a peanut thresher; that he entered into an agreement with appellant for its operation, by the terms of which appellee agreed to furnish the machine, one-half of the gasoline and oil for its operation, and keep the machine in repair, and the appellant agreed to furnish one-half of the gasoline and oil for the operation of the machine, and all the labor necessary for operating the machine in threshing and hulling peas for the public; the peas taken as toll to be equally divided between the parties. The appellee’s evidence was to the effect that his part of the toll peas was to be paid him by the appellant as rent for the use of the machine, and that he did not contemplate engaging in a partnership enterprise with the appellant.

¶2 From this evidence it does not appear that it was contemplated or agreed that the parties should share equally in the losses. Non constat, under the arrangement between the parties, it was not impossible for one to have sustained a loss and the other to have made a profit, and hence it cannot be said as a matter of law that the arrangement between the parties constituted a partnership inter sese. Zuber v. Roberts, 147 Ala. 512, 40 South. 319; Howze v. Patterson, 53 Ala. 205, 25 Am. Rep. 607; Watson v. Hamilton, 180 Ala. 3, 60 South. 63.

¶3 Under the evidence the court correctly refused the charges requested by the appellant. There-is no error in the record.

¶4 Affirmed.

ANDERSON, O. J., and SAYRE and THOMAS, JJ., concur.
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