Court Opinion

ID: 7037564
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-07-24 06:47:03.515829+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T16:11:12.967683
License: Public Domain

Frazer, C. J.
— The McColes and three of their creditors sued Davenport. The complaint shows that the McColes, a mercantile firm, in September, 1857, made a general assignment to Davenport for the benefit of their creditors, and that Davenport accepted the trust and took possession of the effects. Preferences were made among the creditors, making three classes: the first to be paid in full; then the second, if the assets were sufficient; and then the third, if any assets remained, after paying the first and second classes. One of the plaintiffs was a creditor of the third class, and the others were creditors of the second class. There was no averment that the assets were sufficient to pay the first class in full. It was alleged that Davenport had wasted the assets, applied them to his own use, and had failed to use them according to the directions of the deed of assignment, and that in making a final report of his proceedings to the Court of Common Pleas, upon resigning his trust, he failed to account for a large part of the assigned property.
A demurrer to the complaint, for want of sufficient facts, was overruled; and this is the first error assigned.
It seems to us that the complaint showed no right of action whatever in the three creditors of the McColes, who were joined as plaintiffs. Unless the assets were more than sufficient to pay the creditors of the first class, those of the second and third classes were entitled to no relief. In such a case we have held, after the fullest consideration, that a demurrer for want of sufficient facts should be sustained. Berkshire v. Shultz, 25 Ind. 528.
Though there are some other errors in the record, so glaring that it seems to us they might well have been avoided, we do not deem it our duty to notice them, inasmuch as all *497proceedings subsequent to tbe filing of tbe demurrer must lie set aside at any rate.
J. & W. O'Brien, for appellant.
We cannot forbear remarking, that this record is so greatly incumbered by unnecessary matter, that the court bclowwill neglect a very obvious duty, if it does not strike out a good many scores of pages'. The practice is becoming too common of putting into the pleadings copies of all writings-intended to be offered in evidence. The remedy lies with the lower courts.
The judgment is reversed, with costs, and the cause remanded, with directions to sustain the demurrer to the complaint.