Court Opinion

ID: 8262718
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-10-16 15:56:20.097131+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T16:43:14.126916
License: Public Domain

GOODE, J.
This cause was instituted before a justice of the peace to recover the rent of a residence. The defendant Zimmerman and William Purcell were partners in the manufacture of brick. They lived at Caruthersville. When about to start a brickyard in the town of New Madrid, Zimmerman was introduced to the plaintiff and said he wanted to rent a place. Plaintiff told him he would rent him his home for a year. Zimmerman examined it and afterwards told the plaintiff the property would suit them, as it was convenient to where they would work. The plaintiff told him the terms and Zimmerman said not to rent it for he would take it and that his partner would be there in a short time. Three days after-wards Purcell arrived and he and the plaintiff made the following agreement:
“New Madrid, Mo., March 15, 1899.
“This is to certify that E. Y. Lesieur, has this day leased to Messrs. Zimmerman & Purcell, for the term of one year, beginning on the twentieth day’of March, 1899, his home build*664ing, including the residence, all outbuildings and garden lot, except the east room, now occupied by the said Lesieur.
“Eor, and in consideration of the same, Zimmerman & Purcell agree and hereby obligate themselves to pay to the said Lesieur the sum of $12 per month, payments to be made monthly.
“In testimony, etc.
“E. Y. Lesieur,
“Zimmerman & Purcell/'’
Purcell occupied the house and Zimmerman never lived in it, nor indeed in New Madrid; he remained in Caruthersville.
The appellant claims the judgment should be reversed because the entire evidence shows the property was rented to Purcell and for himself exclusively; that Zimmerman had nothing to do with it, and that it was not a partnership affair, so that Purcell could bind him by a contract made in the firm’s name to rent the house. We should be inclined to so hold, probably, if we were the triers of the fact, but are unprepared to say there was no evidence to justify the court in taking the other view, or, that it is apparent the verdict was dictated by passion or prejudice. Gannon v. Laclede Gas Light Co., 145 Mo. 502; Franke v. St. Louis, 110 Mo. 516.
The judgment must be affirmed.
All concur.