Case Name: H. G. GILMORE, Appellant, v. J. R. HARP, Respondent
Court: St. Louis Court of Appeals
Jurisdiction: Missouri
Decision Date: 1902-02-18
Citations: 92 Mo. App. 386
Docket Number: 
Parties: H. G. GILMORE, Appellant, v. J. R. HARP, Respondent.
Judges: Blancl, P. J., and Goode, J., concur.
Reporter: Missouri Appeal Reports
Volume: 92
Pages: 386–389

Head Matter:
H. G. GILMORE, Appellant, v. J. R. HARP, Respondent.
St. Louis Court of Appeals,
February 18, 1902.
1. Circuit Court: WHEN RECORD CAN BE AMENDED. The record of a circuit court may be amended to conform to the truth "diere evidence thereof exists in a written memorandum of the clerk.
2. -: NUNC PRO TUNC ENTRY, WHEN CAN BE MADE: NEW TRIAL: MOTION. Where a motion for new trial has been indorsed as filed hut. no minute or entry of the filing has been made of record, the omission may he corrected, on motion, by an order to that effect mmo pro t-wno, at the next term of the court.
3. On the merits of this case the court follows Gilmore v. Harp, 92 Mo. App. 77.
Appeal from Obristian Circnit, Court. — Son. Jumes L. Neville, Judge.
REVERSED AND REMANDED.
8. S. Bronson and Gideon & Gideon for plaintiff.
We do not understand that an actual division fence in fact is necessary to take tbe case out of tbe operation of tbe stock law, but that tbe agreement to build and maintain one is all that is required, and if tbe defendant failed to comply with bis agreement and build bis part, be is guilty of contributory negligence; be invites the trespass, injury, and damages and can not complain or shield himself behind tbe stock law. Eield v. Bogie, 72 Mo. App. 185. Hopkins v. Ott, 57 Mo. App.. 292.

Opinion:
BARCLAY, J.
This is an action for specific personal property, namely: a lot of bogs, admitted to belong to plaintiff. Tbe defense is that tbe bogs escaped from plaintiff's premises, adjoining those of defendant, and that defendant lawfully detained the animals by authority of the law (B. S. 1899, secs. 4777, 4791) for the restraint of such animals in Porter township, Christian county, where the controversy and the suit arose. The learned circuit judge made a finding of facts at the trial before him (a jury having been waived) March 6, 1900, and on the facts found the court entered a general verdict for defendant, assessing his damages at two dollars, defining defendant's interest in the property at that amount. Whereupon judgment to that effect was rendered and plaintiff took an appeal in due form.
The finding of facts discloses the material features of the litigation as follows:
"The court finds that the stock law, the law restraining hogs from running at large, was adopted in Porter township, Christian county, Missouri, by the general election in 1896; that notice was duly given thereof to the people, and that the same is and was in force at all the times mentioned by the evidence in this controversy.
"The court further finds that early in 1898, the plaintiff and defendant, who were adjoining proprietors in Porter township, made an agreement to and with each other for the erection of a,division fence; that plaintiff at the time duly erected his portion of said fence; that the defendant failed to erect his portion up to the time of the trespass upon which this action arose and that the stock escaped onto the defendant's premises through and over that portion of the dividing line which the defendant had failed to fence. At no time from the adoption of the stock law to the time of the taking of the hogs, by the defendant, was there any complete fence over one-half of the dividing line between them; at the time of the trespass of the hogs the plaintiff's portion of the fence was down in two places, one place caused by himself and one by defendant. The hogs escaped from a pen on plaintiff's premises and were not intentionally turned onto his field adjoining defendant. A short time prior to tbe trespass, plaintiff requested defendant to put up bis portion of tbe fence. Defendant bad previously bauled rails along tbe line but bad not put them up, except a few panels."
Tbe plaintiff in this action excepted at the time to tbe finding of fact touching tbe 'adoption of tbe stock law in Porter township, aforesaid.
1. In all substantial particulars, except one to be noted later, this cause presents tbe same state of facts considered by this court in Gilmore v. Harp, decided heretofore at this term (92 Mo. App. 77). Tbe rulings on that appeal indicate that tbe above-mentioned difference in tbe records of the two appeals is not such as to require tbe application of other principles than those adjudged to control the former case.
2. A distinctive phase of tbe case at bar is found in tbe order for an entry now for then by which tbe motion for new trial was placed in position to be acted on by tbe circuit court. It appears by tbe record of proceedings brought here by tbe bill of exceptions, that tbe motion for new trial was filed in tbe clerk's office of tbe circuit court Mfarcb 10,' 1900, at tbe February term, and that a memorandum of tbe fact of filing was indorsed at tbe time on tbe paper which contained the motion. But, by an oversight, no entry or minute of tbe fact of tbe filing of said motion was placed on tbe record or minute book of tbe proceedings of said court. Afterwards, at tbe August term, 1900, on formal application, tbe court ordered that an entry of the filing of said motion be placed on tbe record of tbe court proceedings as of tbe day when, tbe memorandum of tbe clerk of tbe court showed said filing to have taken place.
It is well-settled law that tbe record of a circuit court may be amended to conform to the truth in this manner where the evidence of tbe fact to be shown exists, in such a written memorandum as here appears. Tbe action of tbe learned trial court in this particular was entirely correct. Ross v. Railroad, 141 Mo. 390.
For the reasons given in the .opinion in the other case of Gilmore v. Harp (above cited) the judgment in this action is reversed and the cause remanded for a new trial.
Blancl, P. J., and Goode, J., concur.