Case Name: The State v. Gaither and Pearce, impleaded with Gaither
Court: Supreme Court of Missouri
Jurisdiction: Missouri
Decision Date: 1825-04
Citations: 1 Mo. 501
Docket Number: 
Parties: The State v. Gaither and Pearce, impleaded with Gaither.
Judges: 
Reporter: Missouri Reports
Volume: 1
Pages: 355–355

Head Matter:
The State v. Gaither and Pearce, impleaded with Gaither.
Where there are issues of fact and issues of law, a general judgment on the demurrer, without disposing of the issues of fact,is error.

Opinion:
Pettibone, J.,
delivered the opinion of the Court.
In this case there was a special plea, to which there was a demurrer and joinder;. also, a plea of non-assumpsit and issue. A general judgment has been entered for the plaintiff, in the words following: " This day came as well the State by her attorney, as the defendants by their attorneys, and thereupon, the demurrer of the plaintiff to the plea of the defendants being urged, and adjudged good, it is considered by the Cdurt, that the defendants did assume and promise to pay, as charged against them, and that the plaintiff recover against the defendants," See. This can be considered only as a judgment on the demurrer, especially as the issue in fact does not appear to have been submitted to the Court. This judgment is wrong. There is yet an issue to be tried, which, if found for the defendants, will bar the action of the plaintiff; and until all the issues which go to the right of action are disposed of, a general judgment of this kind cannot be entered.
The judgment must be reversed, and the cause remanded for the trial of the other wsqe; and the plaintiffs in error must recover their costs in this Court.