Bartley v. Ford's , 220 Ky. 71 ( 1927 )

Reversing.

Mrs. Elizabeth Ford, as executrix of the will of John W. Ford, deceased, brought this action in equity against G.W. Bartley and his wife, Pricy Bartley, alleging that the defendants were the purchasers at decretal sale of a certain house and lot in Hellier, Ky.; that at their request her testator became surety on the two sales bonds executed for the purchase price of the lot; that as such surety he was required to and did pay off both of said notes at maturity with their accumulated interest. He paid the first $1,137.55, on July 19, 1921, and the second, $1,162.38, on December 5, 1921; and he also paid for defendant the 1921 taxes on the property mentioned amounting to $13.44. It is further alleged that to indemnify her testator against any loss that he might incur by reason of the suretyship, the defendants executed and delivered to him the mortgage mentioned, a copy of which was filed as an exhibit with the petition. The prayer was for a personal judgment against both the defendants and to subject the property described to the lien.

The copy of the mortgage which is filed as an exhibit with the petition recites that G.W. Bartley was the purchaser of the lot for which the sale bonds were executed. In this respect it contradicts the allegation of the petition that G.W. and Pricy Bartley were both purchasers. However, without demurring, defendants filed joint and separate answer denying the allegations of the petition as alleged. Pricy Bartley specifically denied that she was present at the commissioners' sale or participated in the purchase of the property or had any interest therein; and further alleged that she joined with her husband in the mortgage of indemnity to Ford for the purpose of conveying her inchoate rights of dower in the property, described therein but at no time claimed any other interest in the property, and that she was not the principal in the purchase-money notes. The court sustained a demurrer to this pleading and granted plaintiff the relief sought, including a personal judgment against Mrs. Pricy Bartley for the debt sued on.

The petition failed to describe the alleged sale bond. It does not state who was principal thereon or that such principal failed to pay the bonds at maturity or why J.W. Ford was compelled to pay them, or that the Bartley's have not repaid Ford for any sum so paid by him; hence it was fatally defective. Lossie v. Frederick, 108 S.W. 885, 32 Ky. Law Rep. 1343; Bridges v. Reed, 9 Bush 329; Bentley v. Bustard, 16 B. Mon. 675, 63 Am. Dec. 561.

Again, while the petition alleges that Mrs. Bartley was a joint purchaser of the land with her husband, this is contradicted by the exhibit filed with the pleading, which recites that her husband alone was the purchaser, a matter not otherwise explained in the pleading, and as the exhibit is controlling, we must assume that she was not the principal in the transaction, and of course she could not bind herself personally for the debt of her husband. Also the answer of Mrs. Bartley raised an issue on that question; hence the court erred in sustaining the demurrer to the answer and also erred in not carrying the demurrer back to the petition and adjudging it insufficient. This will not preclude the plaintiff from perfecting her pleading in this particular upon a return of the case.

Wherefore the judgment is reversed and cause remanded for proceedings consistent with this opinion.