Public-domain · open source
OpenJurist

4 Ark. 159

Brooks v. Palmer

Supreme Court of Arkansas

Decided January 15, 1842

Supreme Court of Arkansas · decided 1842-01-15

Debt, on a bond for $595, with interest at ten per cent., determined in Jefferson Circuit Court, in October, A. D. 1841, before the Hon. Isaac Baker, one of the Circuit Judges. John Palmer sued Brooks and others, upon a declaration with a single count, the breach of which alleged the non-payment of the principal alone. The defendant demurred to the declaration, in short, on the record.

Decided 1842-01-15

¶1By the Court,

Dickinson, J.

¶2The only question presented for our consideration, is, as to the effect of the demurrer, no defect or imperfection in the pleadings being set out. The plaintiff below certainly does set out facts sufficient to entitle him to a recovery upon the writing obligatory for $595. Therefore, as the defendants omitted to specify in their demurrer in what respect the declaration is defective or insufficient, the Circuit Court rightly overruled it. Davis vs. Gibson, 2 Ark. R. 115. The plaintiffs in error, however, relied upon their demurrer, and the Circuit Court was only authorized to give judgment in accordance with the breach in the declaration, which is confined exclusively to the debt demanded in the' declaration, and contains no averment of the nonpayment of the interest; consequently, as there was a special contract to pay at a certain rate of interest, the allegation in the breach must be governed by the nature of the stipulation, and be co-extensive with it.

¶3There being an entire omission of any breach as to the interest, the judgment of the Circuit Court is clearly erroneous, having been given for more than the pleadings warranted.

¶4Judgment reversed.

/4/ark/159 · .json · Public domain