Case ID: mo-app_236/html/0819-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "\n      SHAIN, P. J.", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

Emmett Hinkley, Respondent, v. I. C. Little, Appellant.
    157 S. W. (2d) 545.
    Kansas City Court of Appeals.
    December 1, 1941.
    
      Henry S. Jcmon and Ernest A. Brooks, II, for appellant.
    
      
      Cyril G. Bauche and Walter J. Gresham for respondent.
   SHAIN, P. J.

— From the printed abstract of the record, filed by the appellant herein, we conclude that- there was a default judgment for $750 actual and $250 exemplary damages, against him and in favor of respondent, had and entered in the Circuit Court - of Johnson County, Missouri, on July 22, 1940. Further, that on October 2, 1940, appellant filed motion to quash writ of execution and writ of garnishment issued. No disposition as to such motion is shown, and the motion itself is not included in the record.

It .is further shown that on October 26, 1940, that appellant filed what purports to be an “Amended Motion to Set Aside Said Judgment Granted on July 22, 1940.” It further appears that on said day the said motion was taken up and submitted to the court and the same was overruled. It is further shown that on the same day appellant, defendant below, filed motion for new trial on aforesaid motion. It is further shown that motion for new trial was taken up on December 21, 1940, and disallowed.

It is further shown that on February 24, 1941, a certified certificate of judgment-transcript was filed in this court. There is no showing, either in the printed abstract or in the certified transcript, that shows that any objection or exception was ever made, or had concerning any ruling made by the trial court.

As the showing made by all records before us fails to show any exceptions to any ruling of the trial court, we are confronted with the fact that when a question arises on a motion in a case, the same is not reviewable on appeal unless an exception appears to have been saved. [Lilly v. Menke, 92 Mo. App. 354; Piekel v. Pickel, 176 Mo. 673.]

There are other reasons than above deductable from the record before us that would justify a final determination of the appeal herein. However, the above reason is all sufficient.

For the reason that under the showing made herein, the motion to set aside judgment was filed in time to give application to the provisions of Section 1267 of Eevised Statutes of Missouri, 1929, wherein this court has the right to set aside a judgment based upon irregularity on the face of the record, and for the further reason that the certified transcript filed by tbe clerk of tbe court berein is a full and complete transcript,' pleading included, of tbe case in which tbe judgment complained of was rendered and also a transcript'of proceedings to set aside, confusion is brought into tbe case that we deem justifies further comment. It is manifest that tbe respondent as well as appellant joins in tbe conclusion that in a review herein this court must base its conclusions upon the whole proceedings to-wit:. Proceedings in trial wherein judgment was bad and proceeded under motion to set aside. Tbe above is conclusive from tbe fact that tbe respondent in a motion to dismiss tbe appeal bases same on grounds that appellant’s abstract does not correctly show the record of proceedings of tbe circuit court. Tbe respondent refusing to supply tbe full record points out, among other things, to-wit:

“There'appears of record in tbe office of tbe Circuit Clerk of Johnson County tbe return of tbe sheriff of said county to tbe process issued in said cause, showing personal service of summons on defendant I. C. Little in said county on February 6, 1940, and return of non est as to defendant A. B. Payne.”

Further:

“Evidence offered at tbe time of tbe trial, beard by tbe trial court and referred to. in tbe judgment entry, showing that tbe assault complained of took place on January 12, 1940, and could have occurred at no other time, which evidence was taken down by tbe court reporter and was available to appellant for the purpose of a bill of exceptions. ”

■ Tbe appellant, in tbe motion to set aside judgment, alleges as to irregularities patently appearing upon tbe face of tbe record. .The appellant evidently includes and alleges as to irregularities in tbe original suit in -which default judgment was bad.

As there was never an appeal taken from tbe default judgment of July 22, 1940, tbe mere fact that the clerk of tbe circuit court did on February 11, 1941, include a transcript of tbe proceedings, wherein default was bad, in tbe certified judgment-transcript of tbe proceeding on motion to set aside, appealed from, cannot be construed as calling for action based upon any irregularity patent upon tbe fact, if any, in tbe proceedings of July, 1940, wherein no appeal was taken.

Tbe only matter before us for review is that contained in tbe transcript record of tbe proceedings on motion appealed from. We find no irregularity, patent or otherwise, in tbe record of tbe proceedings from which tbe appeal berein was taken. '

Tbe perplexities arising in tbe review of tbe case are somewhat novel. By diligent research on tbe part of members of tbe court, we find but one reported case in Missouri which completely states tbe conclusions and reasons for conclusions that should be reached berein and we feel justified in quoting same in full.

In Salisbury v. Wright et al., 35 Mo. 481, 482, Dryden, J. the opinion oí the court which, in full, is as follows:

. “In this case the defendants below moved the court to set aside the judgment by default, because of the insufficiency of the service of the process on two of the defendants. The refusal of the court to sustain his motion is the only error assigned. The decision upon the motion was not excepted to. There is no bill of exceptions in the record. There is therefore no ground for the interference of the court. Let the judgment be affirmed. Judge Day concurs.”

This opinion, handed down in 1865, seems to have escaped research, as in no text citation do we find the same cited or mentioned.

Concluding as we do from the showing of the record herein, that the trial court’s actions in overruling the motion to set aside is all that is presented to us for review, then in view of the fact that there was no exception saved to the action of the trial court there are no grounds for the interference of this court and, as to action on said motion, the judgment overruling said motion should be affirmed, and it is so ordered.

All concur.