Case Name: McKee v. Calvert et al., Appellants
Court: Supreme Court of Missouri
Jurisdiction: Missouri
Decision Date: 1883-10
Citations: 80 Mo. 348
Docket Number: 
Parties: McKee v. Calvert et al., Appellants.
Judges: All concur.
Reporter: Missouri Reports
Volume: 80
Pages: 348–350

Head Matter:
McKee v. Calvert et al., Appellants.
1. Practice in the Supreme Court: bill op exceptions. Where neither the motion for new trial nor that in arrest of judgment is preserved in the bill of exceptions, this court will only review such errors as are apparent in the record proper.
2. Petition: assault and battery. A petition for assault and battery which does not charge that the assault was wrongful, but alleges that it was “ with force and arms,” is good after verdict.
3 -; -: general verdxot. One good count in a petition containing two counts for the same cause of action, will support a general verdict.
Appeal from Clark Circuit Court. — Hon. Andrew Ellison, Judge.
Affirmed.
Matlock & Hiller and Berkheimer for appellants.
The petition does not allege that the assault was committed in a wanton, malicious, rude and aggravated manner, or dictated by á deliberate intention to vex, degrade and insult plaintiff. Green v. Craig, 47 Mo. 90. And there was no evidence that the assault was committed in such manner and with such intention, and the court should not •have instructed for exemplary damages, plaintiff' only being entitled to actual damages. Sedgwick on Dam., (4 Ed.) pp. 32, 610; Plummer v. Ilurburt, 5 Clark (Iowa) 308; Buckley v. Knapp, 48 Mo. 153, and cases cite.d; Milburn v. Beach, 14 Mo. 104; Graham v. Bailroad. Go., 6.6 Mo. 536 ; Engle v. Jones, 57 Mo. 316.
D. H. McIntyre and F. M. Brown for respondent.
Neither the motion for new trial nor that in arrest of judgment, is incorporated in the bill of exceptions. This court, therefore, will not notice any of the alleged errors occurring at the trial. Collins v. Barding, 65 Mo.'496; Jefferson City v. Opel, 67 Mo. 394; Bobinson v. Mood, 67 Mo. 660. The petition properly states a cause of action. O’Leary v. Bowan. 31 Mo. 117; 2 Estee’s Plead., pp. 1, 4.

Opinion:
Philips, C.
This is an action for damages for an assault and battery. Yerdict and judgment for plaintiff for the sum of $250. Defendant has brought the case here on appeal. Neither the motion for new trial nor in arrest are preserved in the bill of exceptions, and therefore no alleged errors committed in the progress of the trial can be considered or reviewed by this court. Collins v. Barding, 65 Mo. 496; Jefferson City v. Opel, 67 Mo. 394; Robinson v. Hood, 67 Mo. 660 ; State ex rel. Estes v. Gaither, 77 Mo. 304. On this record no errors are reviewable save such as are apparent in what is known as the record proper.
-It is objected to the petition that it does not state facts sufficient to constitute a cause of action. It charges that on the 13th day of February, 1880, at the county of Clark, State of Missouri, with force and arms, the defendant assaulted, beat and bruised, cut and wounded the plaintiff', by reason of which he sustained damage in the sum of $1,000, for which he prayed judgment. Eor further 'cause of action it is alleged that on the day and place aforesaid, the defendants did unlawfully, with their fists, sticks, knives, and other sharp instruments, assault, beat, and bruise and wound plaintiff, and other wrongs and injuries to plaintiff'then and there did, by reason of which he had sustained damages in the sum of $1,000, for which judgment is prayed.
The only tangible objection to the petition occurring to us is, that it is not affirmatively averred in the first count that the assault was wrongful, but it is alleged that it was "with force and arms," and this we think would be good after verdict. The second count was unquestionably sufficient. And while the petition apparently counts as if for two separate causes of action, they are manifestly for one and the same assault and battery. In such case the good count will support a general verdict for the plaintiff'. Brownell v. Pacific Railroad, 47 Mo. 240.
We perceive no reversible error in the record, and the judgment of the circuit court is therefore affirmed.
All concur.