s * " r'lprW'W-7V + vrj * * 'E- THE OMAHA DAILY BEE : 7SCOJfDAY , NOVEMBER 12 , 1804. SUPREME COURT DECISIONS Points of Public Interest Passed Upon by the Highest Nebraska Tribunal , CANNOT L'M.T INSURANCE POLICIES | i. la C ie of Tofnl I.o * Faro Value Must Ita i'nld What Conntltiitrn nn I , 1'nckngn Itoliitloni of IIin bnuil nnilVlfc. . At Its slitting last week the Nebraska su preme court handed down a largo number of h decisions , all of Interest to attorneys and I' ' many of Interest to the laity. Ono of the most Important bears on the question of liability of Insurance companies to the Insured. It was written by Mr. Justice Harrison risen , and again holds that In case of total loss cf property the company Insuring the premises Is liable tor the full amount named on the face of the policy , any clause or stipulation limiting the liability of the com pany to a Icta amount being contrary to the statutory rule and Invalid. Justice Harrison also rules that any clause In an Insurance policy which requires that the amount the company Is to pay In case of total loss ( hall be fixed by arbitration before suit can ho commenced Is void , because It ousts courts of their legitimate Jurisdiction. Another opin ion , by Mr. Commissioner Ragan , settles a disputed point relative to the liability of members of mutual Insurance companies. Ono old familiar question came up from Harlan county. It Involved the matter of what Is an "original package. " Justice Harrison risen wrote this decision also , holding that the original package was the packing case In which the bottles of liquor were shipped from St. Louis to Republican City , Instead of the wrappers In which the bottles were Ecparately packed. Sir. Commissioner Ryan writes an opinion more clearly outl nlng the responsibility of railway companies In regard to Injuries In flicted on persons , and setting forth the fact that contributory negligence of a child Is a delicate matter to determine. Commissioner Itagan gives attorneys h point on preparing cases lor appeal. In order that a clerk of the district court may be authorized to sign a bill of exceptions It must bo shown that the Judge of the court Is dead or prevented by sickness or absence from his district from signing the bill. A nice question regarding the relations ol husband and wife , when the specific performance formance- a contract Is Involved , was de cided by Commissioner Ragan against the husband. He also passes on n disputed point of the mechanic's lien law , and decides th.it while the Nebraska divorce law Is liberal and should be liberally construed , It should not bo applied so as to permit designing husbans to legally discard their wives In this or other states , or to escape the performance of marriage contracts. In the court pn Friday the routine proceed Ings were : Eggleston against Slusher , motion to dis miss overruled : Lock against Sloan , motion to quash bill of exceptions sustained ; Donze against Donze , appeal dismissed ; My res , against Mahoney , motion to reinstate , order to show cause and prohibition overruled. Motions to advance were overruled In the following cases : Chicago , Rock Island & Pa- clflo Rallrcad company against Archer , Over all against McShane , Crelghton university against Rlley , Crelghton university against Mulvlhlll. Motions for rehearing were overruled In the following cases : Sandwich Manufacturing company against Feary , Stephenson agalnsi Flagg , Erb against Eggleston , Campbel L against Baxter , Lichtcnberger against Worm , | t Phcnlx Insurance company against Omaha Loan and Trust company , Garllchs against Donnelly , Lincoln Street Railway company against Adams , Carruth against Harris Clark against State ex rel Carey , Aikeu. against State , Schroeder against State ox rel Filbert. The following causes were argued and sub mitted : Dotsch against State , Shafer against Hosteller , on motion ; Eggleston against Sluther , on motion. Court adjourned to November 20 , 1891. Following are the syllabi of decisions ren dered : " SOME INSURANCE DECISIONS. Homo Fire Insurance company ngalnst Bean. Error from Tlmyer county. Affirmed Opinion by Justice Harrison. A demand by an Insurance company for arbitration In the manner provided In Its policy , under which there has been a loss by lire , waives formal proofs of the loss. 2. The petition In this case helil to con tain a sufficient allegation of a demand for arbitration. 3. Where real property Is wholly destroyed by flre any provision of a policy of Insurance - ance covering such property , which In any manner attempts lo limit the amount of the loss to less than the sum written In the policy. Is In conflict with the statutory rule , Invalid , and will not be enforced. 4. A provision In a policy that no suit of notion against the Insurer shall be sustained In any court of luw or chancery until after an award shall have been obtained by arbi tration , fixing the amount due after loss , Is void , the effect of such provision being to oust the courts of their legitimate Jurisdic tion. . . ( See Q rrnan American Insu anca com pany against Ktherton , 25 Neb. , G03. ) G. When a policy of Insurance , as an ex hibit , IB made a part of a pleading or pe tition and Is admitted by the answer tht facts stated therein become a part of the record In the case , and where some of the provisions of the policy are again pleader In the answer as substantive matters of de fense and such provisions of the answer are demurred to by the plaintiff the action ol the court In sustaining the demurrer Is nol prejudicial error. Liberty Insurance company against Ehr- llch. Error from Sewnrd county. Alllrmed Opinion by Justice Harrison. Where an erroneous Instruction has been given , but nn examination and consideration of the whole record of the proceedings at the trial of the case In the district court and more especially the testimony , con vinces that the Jury were not misled by such Instruction to the prejudice of the com- plalnlnir party , the giving of the defective Instruction will not be sufficient reason for reversing the Judgment and granting a new trial. Hurmood ngalnst Farmers Insurance com pany. Krror from Hall county. Affirmed Opinion by Commissioner Itagnn. In a milt by a mutual Insurance company organized under the laws of this state against one of Its members for assessments levied against him to pay losses oC the Insurance company , the fact that the nud Her of the state had refused the Insurance company a certificate of authority to con tlnue doing business In the state Is not a defense , as the refusal of the auditor was only a prohibition upon the Insurance com pany from taking new risks. 2. Neither Is It a. defense to such an action that the directors of the mutual company had made a contract with another Insurance company whereby It was agreed that the mutual company should use Its Influence with Its members to Induce them to Insure their property In another Insurance com Euny , and agreed to surrender to Us mem ere , who should do so , their Insurance am membership contracts. 3. Whether the directors of a mutual In Buranoo company had any authority to make such a contract not decided. 4. A membership and Insurance contrac between a mutual Insurance company am one of Its members provided : That the In aurance contract mluht be- cancelled at the request of a member by his paying all as BessmentH against him to date of such re quest , together with a cancellation fee of $2 and fcurremlerlng to the Insurance company the membership Insurance contract. A member surrendered his Insurance con tract and paid the cancellation fee. but neg lected to pay nn assessment due from him at the date of surrendering1 his Insurance contmct. Held : The Insurance and membership contrac remained In force. HUSBAND AND WIFE. Green against Green. Appeal from York county. Alllrmed. Opinion by Commissioner Itiican. In a Milt by a husband against his wlft. to compel her to specifically perform a written contract she had made- with hln Jn end by which she agreed to convey to him certain real estate , neither the husband nor the wife can testify one against the other In the cose. Nlland against Kallsh. S7 Neb. . 47 , reaffirmed. 2. Section 331 of the code of civil procedure was not repealed by the enactment of chap ter till , compiled statutes , 151)3. ) entitled "Mar rled Women. " Skinner against Skinner , J8 Neb. . 7M. reaffirmed. 3. A husband brought null against his wife to enforce the specific performance of a contract In writing- made by her In and by which she agreed to convey to her husband certain real estate The wife defended on the grounds that the contract sued on was procured from her by fraud and duress , and undue Influence ex erclsed over her by her hubbnnd , The evl dence failed , to establish that the contrao was obtained from the wife by fraud or durcna. but It did establish that the wife executed the contract because of a species of matrimonial coercion and undue Influence exercised over her by her husband. Heidi That the wife should be released from the lerformance of the contract. 4. To enable a husband to specifically en force ngalnst his wife n contract by which she has agreed lo convey to him certain real estate It must appear that such con- wet had for Its basis some consideration. 6. In such cn o If the claim of the htis- > nml Is that the consideration for the con tract wan her lave and affection for him , or that because of the fact that he was ler husband Pho Intended by the contract u make a gift to him of the land described ihercln , then the burden Is upon the hu. - > and to show that the wife made such contract freely and voluntarily , with full < nowlodgo of all the facts with reference thereto , and without any fraud practiced upon her , and that she was not Induced to make such contract by the coercion or un due Influence of her husband , WHAT A DIVORCE LAW IS FOR. Cochran against Cochran. Appeal from Douglas county. Opinion by Commissioner Rngan , A ccurt of equity will entertain an action lirought for alimony alone and will grant Ihe same , although no divorce or other re lief Is nought , where the wife Is separated from the husband without her fault. 2. The district courts of this state being courts of general equity Jurisdiction are not limited In the exercise of such Jurisdic tion by statute. 3. A husband deserted his wife nnd minor children In the state of WlFconsln , where they resided , took up his abode In tills state and became a citizen thereof , and procured a divorce from his wife on the grounds of desertion , obtaining service on her by pub. llcatlons. The wife had no knowledge of the divorce proceedings until after the date of the decree. Two years after the date of the divorce the wife brought suit In equity against the husband for alimony. Held : (1. ( ) That the action was not brought under nor governed by section 48 , chapter 2.1 , Com piled Statutes of 1893 , nor by section C02 of the code of civil procedure , but was n scpi- rate nnd Independent action , based on the legal obligation nf the husband to support his wife and children. (2. ( ) That the petition stated a cause of action for alimony , nlthonph It contained no allegation that thu wife and children were In destitute circumstances or In actual need of suppcrt. 4. Our divorce laws are liberal nnd should be liberally constiued. Hut they me not iTeslgned for , and should not bo used to , en able designing husbands , without cause , to legally discard their wives , whether domi ciled In this or ether states , or to escape the performance of their marriage con tracts. 5. There Is no fixed rule for determining what portion of n husband's estate should be decreed to his wife for alimony. The amount should be just nnd equitable , due regard being had for the rights of each party , the ability of the husband , the estate of the wife and the character and situation cf the parties. C In estimating the- value of the husband's property for determining the amount of all- mony that should be awarded the wife the court should take the value of the husband's estate at the date of the rendition of the decree for alimony. 7. The value of property acquired by a husband after obtaining a decree of di vorce from his wife by exchanging for It other property , which he owned at the time of obtaining such divorce , should be taken Into consideration by the court In determin ing the amount of alimony to which the wife Is entitled. S. Smith against Smith. 19 Nebraska 7Wi ; Earlc against Earle , 27 Nebraska 277 , fol lowed and reaffirmed : Smlthson against Smlthson , 37 Nebraska G35. Edmonds against State. Error from Otoe county. Reversed. Opinion by Commis sioner Ryan. In a pro ccutlon for larceny proof of the value of the property stolen must be made by nt least one witness affirmatively shown to possess knowledge of the value concernIng - Ing which he H called upon to give evi dence. Following Urocks against State , 2S Nebraska 38D. WHAT AN ORIGINAL PACKAGE IS. Haley against State. Error from Harlan county. Affirmed. Opinion by Justice Har rison. ' Where bottles of Intoxicating liquor were each enclosed In a paper wiapper or box , which was sealed with sealing wax , and a number of the paper boxes , each containing a ilnslc of such liquor , were packed In n wocden box by n party at St. Louis , Mo. , nnd shipped to his agent at Republican City , Neb. , and the npcnt opened the wooden box and took the paper boxes In which the flasks of liquor were contained therefrom nnd sold them separately , held : That the wooden box was the "original package , " and not the scaled paper box or wrapper and the b. ttle therein enclosed , and such a sale was a violation of the provisions of the law of this state , regulating the license and sale of malt , spirituous and vinous liquors. Dletz ncalnst City National Hank of Hast ings. Error from Adams county. Re versed. Opinion by Commissioner Ryan. Where It was known to the president of n bank that the Indorsement of the name of the payee on a note by one assuming to make such endorsement as the payee's agent was outside the scope of his powers sujh Indorsement Is not binding on the al leged principal. 2. To the ratification of nn unauthorized Indorsement of his name , knowledge of the act to be ratified must be shown to have been had by the party sought to be charged by the alleged ratification. 3. It Is error to permit , after n verdict , an amendment of the petition EO as to sub stantially change the claim made up to that time , especially when such change Is not to conform such petition to the facts proved. Darst ngalnst Perfect. Error from Doug las county. Alllrmed. Opinion by Commis sioner Tlynn. A petition , which In ordinary nnd concise language described the contract upon whlc-h suit was brought and In like language al leged compliance with Its terms , Is sufficient to sustain a Judgment recovered upon the trial of Issues framed without a question as to the sufficiency of the description of such contract or of Its norformapoo. Gllcrest against Nantk r. Error frsm Buf falo county. Affirmed. Opinion by Commis sioner Ryan. A petition In which was alleged false rep resentations of the kind nnd disposition of a horse which thereby plaintiff was Induced to purchase at a certain price from the de fendant was so defective because of an entire failure to aver that damages of any kind or amount had been sustained that , on error proceedings to this court , the judg ment on a verdict In favor of the defendant Is affirmed. Blckcl against Butcher. Appeal from Douglas county , AlllrmeJ. Opinion b/ Com missioner Ryan. In this case there was presented on appeal no question save that of sufficiency of the evidence to sustain the findings of the district court. The proofs upon examination having been found fully to Justify the conclusions questioned the Judgment of the district court Is affirmed. Stone against Neeley. Error from Buffalo county. Reversed and remanded. Opinion by Commissioner Ryan. An action may be maintained against II. L. 8. and G. W. S. , partners doing business ns S. & S. . or against cither of them , hut to render G. W. S. liable for the acts ol II. L. 8. , there should be averment as wel ns evidence to establish between them the relation of partners. An action for failure to pay ever money received by defendant ns the aucnt of plaintiff - tiff cannot be maintained upan m > re pro f ol negligence on the part of the defendant In maklmj collection of the money with the detention of which he Is sought to be charged In the petition , POINTS IN CONTRACT LAW. Shackleford against Hargreavcs et al. Er ror from Adams county. Affirmed. Opinion by Commissioner Ryan. Where parties litigant had entered Into a contract under which the possesslm of n stock of merchandise was transferred from plaintiff to defendants on n sufficient Independent consideration , plaintiff coutf not find n superior right of possession , such as would entitle him to maintain , replevin for said stock , upon nn alleged breach ol said contract by defendants as to retaining plaintiff In their employ nt a certain rate of compensation thereby n Mixed. Heyn against Ohrnan. Error.frcm Douglas - las county. Affirmed. Opinion by Commis sioner Ryan. In nn action for recovery of damages al leged to have resulted from breaches of de fendant's covenants of warranty of title and for quiet enjoyment , the plaintiff , ts establish prlma facie the breaches alleged. Is required merely to prove that he 1ms either been evicted or kept out of possession by one In actual possession claiming title paramount to his own. The presumption ol title which then arises In favor of the party In possession must be overcome bv proving title out of him ; both the aforesaid breaches may be deemed established bi sufficient proof. Smith aealnst First National bank of Crete. Error from Saline county. Reversed. Opinion by Commissioner Ryan. The limitation of two years within which an action under the provisions of section 5.19S , Revised Statutes United States , may be commenced for the recovery from a na tional bank of twice the amount of usury paid to It dates from the actual payment of such Interest , and rot from the bank'e reservation of It from the ortclnal loan by way of discount. Following First National bank , Dorchester , against Smith , 36 Ne braska IK ) . Lexington Mill and Elevator company aealnst Neuens. Error from Dawson county. Affirmed. Opinion by Commissioner Irvine If a person hus advanced money In pan performance of n contract and then refuses to proceed , the other party being ready and willing to perform on his part all the stipulations of the agreement , the former will not be permitted to recover back whal he nan advanced Walter against Heed , 31 Nebraska Ml. foil wed. Cunningham against Burke et al. Appeal 'rom Lancaster county. Affirmed. Opinion jy Commissioner Irvine. . . . When a case Is In Its nature appealable nnd a transcript Is filed within the time allowed for appeal , but thereafter and with. n the time permitted for Instituted proceed- ngs In error the appellant flies and at- aches to Ihe transcript n petition In error , ic will be held to have abandoned his np- ieal and elected to proceed In error. 2. In an action for partition the court found on the trial of the Issues that parti- tlon could not be made , and In the judg ment confirming the Interests cf the par- tics ordered a sale of the land. The Judg ment was held to be Irregular , but not without jurisdiction , nnd , ns It was not complained of because of this Irregularity , either by a motion for a new trial or by assignment oC error , held : That It could not be reversed. Manning ngnlnst City of Orleans. Error from llarlnn county. Reversed nnd re manded. Opinion by Commissioner Irvine. Section 410 of the code of civil procedure provides n remedy substantially like the motion for Judgment non obstnnte vcredlcto of the common law. Such n judgment can only be rendered when the pleadings of the party In whose favor the verdict was ren. dcrcd confesses facts entitling the other party to judgment. 2. In a case In which a party Is entitled to a Jury trial , and where the pleadings do not confess the right to n judgment , the court cannot disregard the verdict and en ter such judgment as the evidence warrants. If the verdict Is not sustained by the evi dence the remedy Is by motion for a new trial on that ground. 3. Where the verdict Is general and Is unassalled by a motion for a new trial , Judgment must , except In the cases stated In the first paragraph of this syllabus , be entered In conformity with the verdict. Connor against Schrlekcr et al. Error from rtoone county. Affirmed. Opinion by Com- mlfloncr Irvine. A , the owner of land , demised the same to 1) , reserving as rent one-fourth of the crops : B sublet a portion of the premises to C for money rent : C paid n portion of the rent to H and theraftcr paid the re mainder to H's administratrix ; the admin istratrix paid the latter sum to A , who ac cepted the same. Held : That the payment to and ncccptnnce by A of the money oper ated as a rcllnqulshtnent of any Interest he might Imve had In the crop raised on the land sublet to C , and evidenced a new con tract between A and B's administratrix , whereby as to this land a money payment was to ha received In lieu of rent In kind. VALUE OF MECHANIC'S LIEN. Moore et al against Vaughn et al. Ap peal from Hnrlun county. Reversed and remanded. Opinion by Commissioner Ragnn. The. mechanic's Hen law of this state re quires tnnt a contract for material , labor , etc. , for an Improvement on real estate shall be made with the owner thereof or hla agent ; and a tenant of real estate because of his tenancy Is not the agent of his land lord In such a sense as to render the latter or his real estate liable for materials fur nished the tenant and used by him In erectIng - Improvements on such real estate. Waterman against Stout , 33 Nebraska 393 , reaffirmed. 2. A landlord leased his premises to a tenant for one year , with the privilege Qf re-leaping for another year nt the end of the term. The tenant , during his lease , moved a dwelling house belonging to his landlord and standing upon other land of his upon the leased premises , and perma nently affixed It to the land. He then made contracts with certain material men In nnd by which they furnished him material which he used In repairing and building ad ditions to the dwelling house moved upon the leased premises. In a suit brought by the material men against him , In which they claimed liens upon the premises for the material fur nished to and used by him In the erection of such improvements , the court decreed that the Improvements on said real estate should be sow to pay and discharge the claims of the material men against the. tenant. Held : (1. ( ) That when the dwelling house was moved upon , the leaped premises nnd fixed to the land It became n part thereof : and that the court was without authority to order said dwelling house and additions severed and sold to pay the claims of the material men. (2. ( ) That the material men by furnishing material to the tenant for the erection of Improvements on the leased premises nc- qulied Hens ngalnst the tenant's Interest only In paid premises. Patrick Land company against Leaven- worth. Error from Douglas county. Af- Hoagland ngalnst Lowe , OS N. W. Rep. , followed nnd reaffirmed. 2. Where the vendor of land took by agree ment a second mortgage to secure the un paid portion of the purchase money nnd the cash payment was made from the loan se cured by the mortgage which was made , superior to the purchase money mortgage , with the knowledge of nil parties , but with out previous agreement , It being the under standing that the loan was being made foi the purpose of erecting Improvements on the premises nnd the owner contracting to erect such Improvements , but there being no contmct that the money obtained by the loan should be so used , and the loan com pany not undertaking to see to the appli cation of the money , held : That by virtue of these facts the priority of the mortgages as against mechanic's liens for the work begun and material furnished after the re cording of the mortgages was not disturbed. 3. The loan company was not by estoppel or otherwise prevented from asserting the superiority of Its mortgage us to the whols amount thereof became of the foregoing fact. , or of the fuitlur fa't that a mechanic , Induced by lepresentatlons of the owner , rti- lied on payment out of the loon , n part of which was In fact appropriated to another purpose. It not nppsarlng that the loan com pany had Itself by the contract or by con duct led the mechanic to rely upon Its see ing to the application of the money. 4. An action cannot be maintained by the payee against the drawee of an order upon a fund payable to the drawer where the drawee hns refused to accept the order. 5 One of several defendants demurred to a petition ; the demuirer was sutained. Ills codefendonts after answer day filed cross- petitions seeking affirmative relief against him. No summons or notice was served upon him of the cross-petitions and he did not appear thereto. Held : That the court pioperly refused judgment against him on the cross-petitions. Arnold against Badger Lumber company , 36 Neb. , 841 , followed. JUDGES MUST SIGN EXCEPTIONS. Scott ngalnst Spencer et al. Appeal from Buffalo county. Affirmed. Opinion by Com missioner Ragan. To confer authority upon the clerk of a district court to sign and allow a bill of exceptions It must appear that the judge Is dead , or that he Is prevented by sickness or absence from his district from signing nnd allowing the bill , or the parties 'to the liti gation or their counsel must agree upon the bill of exceptions nnd attach thereto their written stipulation to that effect. Section 311 , Code Civil Procedure. 2. The mere stipulation of counsel In a case that the clerk of the court may sign and allow a bill of exceptions Is not suffi cient to confer authority upon him to do so. 3. Where it Is sought to present to this court alleged errors occurring at the trial In u ( IHtrlct court a bill of exceptions set tled and signed an required by law Is In dispensably necessary. Edwards against Kearney , II Neb , , 83 : Reynolds against Dletz , GS N. W. Rep. , p. S9 , reaffirmed. Guthrle et al against Brown. Error from Nuckolls county. Alllrmed. In order to authorize the clerk of the district court to set tle a bill of exceptions It must appear thai the conditions exist whereunder section 311 of the' code of civil procedure permits the clerk to cxcrclso auch authority. Therefore , although the parties may have agreed In advance of the preparation of the bill that the clerk might settle the same , he Is not authorized to do so when the proposed bill. Instead of being agreed upon , Is returned with proposed amendments , and those are not complied with. 2. When a defendant answers denying the allegations upon which plaintiff's claim Is founded , and at the same time pleading a counter claim , a general finding for the plaintiff Is sufficient to dispose of the issues both on the petition and on the counter claim , 3. An action was brought to foreclose n mechanic's lien. There was a general find ing for the plaintiff for a sum less than $200 ; a personal judgment was entered , but no decree establishing and foreclosing the lien. Held : That the general finding established the right to a Hen and determined that the action was not one within the jurisdiction of a Justice of the peace , nnd entitled plain tiff to recover his costs. The fact that the court failed to enter judgment In accord ance with the finding did not render a Judg ment for costs erroneous. PLEADINGS IN R.EPLEVIN. HanOall against Persons. Error from Hall county. Reversed and remanded. In replevin , as In all other actions , the evidence should correspond with the al legations In the pleadings. And where a plaintiff In replevin bases , hla right to the possession of the property claimed by rea son of a special ownership therein or Hen thereupon he should set , out In hla petition the facts with reference to such special ownership or Hen. Haggard against \Vul- len , G Neb. , 271 , reaffirmed. 2. A litigant cannot plead one thing and prove another , He cannot plead that he Is the absolute owner of property and satisfy such plea by proving that he simply has a Men upon It. Nor can he plead that he Is entitled to the possession of property by virtue of a Hen upjn It and satisfy such plea by proving that he la the absolute owner of the prop erty. 5. The legal title to property pledged by a chattel mortgage remains In the mort gagor until divested by foreclosure proceed ings and sale In pursuance of law ; and until the title of the mortgagor Is thus di vested the mortgagee has merely a Hen upon the property Musser against Klnc. 59 N , W Rep. , 711 , reaffirmed 4. A plaintiff In replevin pleaded that lie was Ihe absolute owner and entitled U > tJif mmcdlatc posscslsottirfjthe property replev- ned. The defense was t a itnencral dental. To make his case plalntla , Introduced In evi dence a chattel mortgage executed to htm on the property. Uelft : Irrelevant under the Issues. , Jeffrcs against Casliman. Error front Qreeley county. Affirmed. Opinion by Com- mlsFloner Rngan. n ' Where the errors"'nsnlgned ' nnd argued here nro that the trial court erred In giving nnd refusing to givecertain Instructions , nnd It appears from the evidence that the verdict returned by the Jury and the Judg ment pronounced thereon by the district court are the only , ones that could have been rightfully returiiea nnd pronounced , this court will not .examine the errors as signed. Everett ngnJnEl lloblcmnn , 15 Neb. , 37lS , reaffirmed. Wright et nl against Grimes. Appeal from Jjhnson ( .aunty. Alllimed. Opinion by Com missioner Rngnn. The evidence In this case examined and found to support the finding of the district court , nnd the decree affirmed. Mctcalf against Bockoven. Error from Douplna court ) * . Affirmed. Opinion by Com missioner Ragan. The evidence In this case examined and held to support the finding of the district court , "That the partnership alleged to have been entered Into between Horace C. Met- calf and Anna S. Bockoven , as set out In the amended petition and denied by her answer , never existed. " CHILD'S CONTRIBUTORY NEGLIGENCE The Omaha & Republican Valley Railway company against Cool : . Error from HowArd - Ard county. Affirmed. Opinion by Com missioner Ryan. ' In nn action ngalnst a railway company for personal Injuries by It Inflicted , the trial court very properly refused to give nn In struction requested In which the right of plaintiff to recover was made dependent upon the absence on her part of a very slight want of ordinary care , when there liad already been given instructions In which had been clearly explained the nature nnd effect of negligence on the part of each party to the suit. 2. Where the plaintiff was Injured by n locomotive of the defendant nt a place on defendant's track where such plaintiff had no right to be , nnd where In fuel she was a trespasser , the Jury was properly Instruct ed that the engineer was under obligations ns soon as he discovered that plaintiff was on the track to use all possible means and efforts consistent with the safety of his train nnd any passenger or persons wno might be thereon to avoid Injuring the plaintiff , and fulling to do so would render the company liable. 3. In n case wherein the evidence admit ted of the application of the principle stated , the trial court properly Instructed the Jury that the rule of law as to the contributory negligence of n child Is that It can only be expected and required to exercise that degree of care and discretion which a child of such age would ordinarily nnd naturally use and exercise under the circumstances shown in cvlCcrce nnJ In the same s tuition , bearing In mind also the amount of Intel ligence or want of the same of the child , If any such had been shown by the evi dence. Stedman ngalnst Rochester Loan nnd Bankingcompany. . Error from Sherman county. Affirmed. Opinion by Commissioner Ragan. In n suit by nn endorsee of a promissory note ngalnst the maker thereof , the latter alleged as a defense that the note was given for certain stock In a milling corpoia- tton falsely represented by the original payee of the note to be solvent and earning annual dividends of 30 per cent. The undisputed evidence showed that the Indorsee purchased the note before Its ma turity In the usual course of business for a valuable consideration , and without any knowledge or notice of the defense pleaded by the maker , held : That the court properly Instructed the Jury to return a verdict for the Indorsee. 2. In said suit the maker of the note of fered to prove that 'tlie note was not In tended to be delivered to the original payee thereof to become his property , except upon the condition that the stock of the milling corporation for which the note was given should yield a dividend of 3 } per cent per annum , and that the original payee of said note agreed nt the timcof Its execution and delivery to hold It In trust for him , the maker. The answer of life , maker of the note did not allege an agreement on the part of the original payee of the note that he would hold such note In trust for the maker. Held : That the evidence offered was. Irrelevant under the Issues , aid ) prpperly excluded , WHY HILL SHOULD HANG. Hill against State , , Error from Cass county , Alllrmed. Opinion by Justice Post. In one count of the Information for mur der the accused WAS charged with having putposely nnd of his deliberate nnd pre- meciltat.ed mallccv killed the deceased. And In two other counts the klllliiffMs alleged to have been done In 'an attempt to rob the deceased. Held to charge but one offense , and a motion to require the state to elect between the several counts of the Informa tion was properly overruled. .Furst ngalnst the State , 31 Neb. , 403. 2. The law does not distinguish between principles of the first and second degree , hence all persons who , being present , aid , assist or1 abet In the commission of a felony may be prosecuted. 3. Objection by an accused on the ground that there has been no preliminary exam ination for the crime charged should be by the . 4. Complaint upon which the accused was committed , examined and held to state the crime charged In the Information filed In the district court. 0. In reviewing the rulings of the trial. court receiving' and rejecting evidence , this court will confine Its examination to the objections made at the trial. Schlencker against the State , 9 Neb. , 211. 6. The provision of the criminal code making conscientious scruples of a Juror against capital punishment ground for chal lenge for cause In prosecutions for murder was not repealed by the amendment of 1S93 , conferring- upon the Jury discretion to fix the punishment upon conviction for murder In the first degree at Imprisonment for life Instead of the death penalty. 7. Affidavits after a verdict contradicting the answers of a Juror on his volre dire examination on account of prejudice against the unsuccessful party should be received with caution , and when , contradicted , nn order denying a new trial will not be re versed on appeal. 8. Proof of voluntary Intoxication Is ad missible In prosecutions f r murder In the first degree , not to excuse the crime charRCd , but as a circumstance tending to show that the killing was not the deliberate and premeditated act of the prisoner. Where , however , continued drunkenness has produced such a condition of Insanity or mbeclllty ns would relieve from responsi bility for criminal nets. If produced by any other cause , such condition may bo shown as a defense , nnd the fact that It was caused by voluntary drunkenness Is Imma terial. 9. The limits within which cross-examina tion will be allowed respecting the past life of a. witness other thi-.n the defendant In a criminal proseputlpn , for the purpose of affecting his credibility , rests In the discre tion of the trial court. Accordingly held not error to permit a witness for the defend ant to be asked on cross-examination If he had been arrested for vagrancy , drunken ness nnd other misdemeanors. 10A.v.Ju < l'imfnt ' wl" "ot bo reversed be the trial cause court In n prosecution for murder has In charBliifir the Jury , assumed material facts as proved , where ft Is clearlv Sl.w2 ! , liy.wthe record tn"t th v wete ad mitted ly the pilfon-r nt the tiia' or treated by him as proved. 11. The trial court should avoid the BV- Inff of undue prominence to a particular proposition by frequent repetitions thereof In charging the jury. But a violation , of that rule In a. criminal prosecution Is not Itself reversible error , where It Is apparenl that there was mycontroversy respecting the proposition stated , nnd where It is clear that It did not have the effect to ex clude from the consideration of the Jury other propositions stated by the court 12. Where fn n-pHrnlnal case the trial court has correctlv hnrged upon nil of the ' questions presented tat' the trial the fact that u single proposition jnliht have been stated with greater precision In a single paragraph Is no ground for reversal , particularly where the Instructions givro-irre a substantial com pliance with the reauejjts presented by the prisoner. - 13. It Is not eirtmHal to the crime of robbery that the -preperty be taken from the body of the person robbed. It is suffi cient If taken from7 Ms-personal presence .HI.C or personal protection i I 1 14. Abuse of privilege by counsel In ad dressing the Jury. toM , , ? available on appeal , must be excepted Id fA the time. McLalt against the State.llsicJcb. . 151. ii'f-.li"1 tlmt T.fyJ" n < application to ? ! ? the trial crurt. It'-M-Jne duty of the pre siding Judge. whethef So requested or not , to protect the court , , bj > . nn enforcement of the rules essential lo.'an orderly and Im partial administration of the law And should an attorney persist In attempting to nfluence the Jury by reference to facts not In evidence or appeals to prejudice unwar ranted by the proofs- , the ccurt should not hesitate on motion to set aside a verdict In his favor , although no objection may have been Interposed when the offense was com- milled , 10. Evidence examined and held to sustain the verdict of murder In the first degree and to warrant the extreme penalty Im posed by the Jury. Chicago. Burllncton & Quli cy Railway compnry ntnlnst Ccchrnn. Error from Lan caster county. Reversed nnd remanded. Opinion by Justice Pom. One who refuses to perform the conditions Imposed upon him by the terms of a con tract cannot recover for a breach thereof by the other party. Mattlscn against Chicago , Rock Island A Pacific Railway company. Appeal from Cass county , Opinion by Justice Harrison , Parol evidence Is Incompetent to provo a c ntemporaneous oral agreement by which It Is HouKht to change or alter the terms of a written coc tract , and the result of which would be to change the effect cf the writ- tea contract In a material portion of It and to Insert or read Into It n condition or reser vation not contained In It , or Implied by Its terms. POINT IN SCHOOL LAW. State ex rel School District No. 1 of Sioux County ngalnst School District No. 19 ct al. Error from Sioux county. Affirmed , Opin ion by Chief Justice Norvnl. After a school district has exercised the franchises and privileges thereof for the period of one year Its legal organization will be conclusively presumed , whatever may have lA en Ihe detects and Irregularities In the formation or organization of such dls- tilot. Hedrlck against Strauss ct nt. Error from Hitchcock county. Affirmed. Opinion by Chief Justice Norvnl. Instructions will not be reviewed where they arc not pointed out In both the mo tions for a new trial nnd the petition In error. 2. A purchase of property of an Insolvent debtor , with Intent to nld In hindering , de laying or defrauding his creditors. Is void as to such creditors , though a full considera tion Is paid for the property. 3. In order to constitute one nn Innocent purchaser of property sold for the purpose of defrauding the creditors of the vendor the whole consideration must be actually paid before the purchaser had notice of the fraudulent Intent. If after part of the consideration has been paid the purchaser receive notice of the fraud , he will only bo entitled to protection to the extent of the consideration paid , or parted with , before notice. As to the purchase price not paid , such vendee will not be regarded ns nn in nocent purchaser of the property. 4. Held , the defendant's third Instruction was applicable to the evidence In the case and that thu trial court did not err In giv ing the same to the Jury. 6. Certain paragraphs of the charge of the court not considered , since the alleged errors In their glvlns are not sufficiently assigned In either the motion for a new trial or the petition In error. G. In order to n review of Instructions by the appellate court nn exception must have been taken ln > each specific Instruction claimed to be erroneous. A general excep tion to Instructions given or icfuscd Is unavailing. 7. It Is within the sound discretion of the trial Judge to submit to , or withhold from , the Jury questions for special findings , and his rulings In that regard will not be disturbed unless a clear case of abuse of discretion appears. Hule applied. 8. This court will not consider objection to the admission of testimony when the particular ruling Is not pointed out In the petition In error. 9. An assignment of error not Included In the points relied on for a reversal will be deemed waived. WYOMING ASSIGNMENT WAS VOID. Connor ngalnst Omaha National bank. Error from Douglas county. Affirmed. Opin ion by Commissioner Ragan. One France , a citizen of Wyoming , made an assignment there for the benefit of his creditors. At the date of the assignment he hadon deposit to his credit and subject to his check t In a bank of this state. The day after the assignment the bank ap plied the money It held on deposit to the discharge of the miniatured notes of France held by It. The assignment law of Wyoming provided that an assignment for the benefit of cred itors should be In writing , subscribed and acknowledged by the assignor , nnd before taking- effect filed and recorded In the office of a probate judge ; that within twenty days after making nn assignment the assignor should make an Inventory , verified by his nffldnvll , of his assets , liabilities , debtors and creditors , and ( Ho the same with the probate judge : that "An assignment for the benefit of creditors Is void against creditors of the assignor unless It Is recorded , and unless the Inventory required Is ( lied within twenty days after the date of the assign ment. " The assignees of France sued the bank In a court ot this state for the money he had on deposit theieln at the date he made an assignment , nnd on the trial failed to prove that France , within twenty days after making ing- such assignment , made nnd filed the In ventory required by the Wyoming statute. Held : That the assignees were not entitled to recover , as the failure of the assignor to make nnd Hie within twenty days the Inven tory Required by law rendered the assign ment absolutely void. fllalne against Poyer. Error from Web ster county. Opinion by Commissioner Hagnn. Where a litigant flics nn application for a continuance on the ground of the absence of a material witness , and the adverse party stipulates In open court that. If the appli cation for a continuance be overruled , that the affidavit made for a continuance may be read on the trial ns the evidence of the absent witness , such stipulation Is valid and binding , nnd every fact which It Is alleged In the affidavit the absent witness would testify to , which Is competent , material and relevant testimony under the Issues , the ap plicant for a continuance Is entitled to read from the affidavit In evidence to the Jury , and It Is reversible error for the court to exclude such evidence. And In such case the facts which the affi davit alleged the absent witness would tes tify to are not Incompetent , Irrelevant , Im material or Improper evidence because such facts are stated In the form of a conclu sion. SHARP PRACTICE IN A LAND TRADE. Chamberlain against Grimes , Appeal from Jolnson county. Affirmed. Cp nlon by Com. mlssloner Ragan. Ono Wright brought suit against one Grimes to cancel and be allowed to redeem from the Hen of a void tax deed held by Grimes against the land of Wright , nnd to have the title to said lands quieted In him. Wright employed one Chamberlain , nn at torney at law. to Institute nnd prosecute said action. And as compensation for his services In the premises duly executed to him a conveyance for an undivided one-half of the real estate In controversy. While Iho action was pending Grimes with actual knowledge that Wright had al ready conveyed one-half of the real estate to Chamberlain , nnd that such conveyance was unrecorded for n consideration paid to Wright , obtained from him a dismissal of said suit and a quit claim deed to him , Grimes , for all the real estate Involved therein. Held : (1. ( ) That the decree of the district court cancelling the lien of the void tax deed , end cancelling the deed obtained from Wright by Grimes as ngalnst nn undivided one-half of said real estate , and permitting Chamberlain to redeem one-half of said real estate from the Hen of said tax deed , and quieting the title to one-half of said premises In Cham berlain , was correct. (2. ( ) That If the contract between Wright and Chamberlain was chnmpertous It was not a defense of which Grimes could avail himself In this action. 2. If the defendant In a trial court omits to make a meritorious defense , which he might have made , he > will be bound by the record made there and cannot Interpcse such de fense for the first time In this court. Court- nay against Price , 12 Nebraska 188 , re affirmed. Reed against Wood et nl , Error from Pawnee county. Affirmed. Opinion by Chief Justice Norval. 1. An assignment In a petition In error will be disregarded by this court where the same Is not relied upon In the briefs filed. 2. An assignment of error , which Is di rected generally by numbers merely , against three out of four Instructions slvon at the request of the successful party , la sufficient where none of said instructions nro num bered , since It Is too Indefinite nnd uncer tain ns to the particular Instructions In tended. COLLECTING UNMATURED DEBTS. Cox & Cornell against Peorla Manufactur ing company. Error from Saunders county. Alllrmed. Opinion by Chief Justice Norval. The filing of an answer after a special de murrer to the petition Is overruled Is waiver of an exception to the decision of the court on the demurrer. 2. Answering over after the overruling of ft , general demurrer to the petition Is no waiver of the defect that the petition falls to state n cause of action. 3. An action cannot be maintained on a debt prior to the maturity thereof only In the exceptional cases bpaclflcd In section 273 of the code. 4. Such an action cannot be prosecuted to judgment unless a. writ of attachment hns been allowed and property seized thereunder. 6. Where a creditor brings an action on a claim before It Is due nnd sues out an at tachment It Is not necessary that he should set up In the petition the fraudulent acts of the defendant which arc rdled upon ns the basis for the granting of the attach ment , but the same should ba set forth In the attachment affidavit. C. Where a district judge allows an order of attachment on a debt not due the pre sumption Is , In the absence of n contrary showing , that the same was made while the court was In session , and especially BO where the judge at the time of the granting of the writ was presiding nt a regular term of the district court In which such action was brought. 7. A district Judre ; has the power to hold court In a district other than that one for which he was elected , and It will be pre sumed In case he does EO that It was at the Instance of the judge of the propr district. 8.S here f'e me-nlers cf an Ins-il c it pa t- nershlp divide between themselves all the firm assets , without regard to the Interest or share ot the respective partners therein , with the Intention and for the sole purpose of enabling earh to claim the portion so transferred to him as exempt against the creditors of the partnership. It Is sufficient ground for an attachment , since such trans fer tends to hinder and delay the firm cred itors In the collection of their claims. Norwegian Plow company against Mower. Error from Lancaster county. Affirmed. Opinion by Chief Justice Norvul , Where a judgment conforms to the plead- Ultra and evidence In the case , and no briefs are filed by the party In this court , the Judgment will not be disturbed. Damon against City of Omaha , 33 Neb. , va , S' ' uth Omaha et nl ngalnst Taxpayers' L' ' ague ot al Error from Douglas county. Opinion by Chief Justice Harrison. Where It Is sought by legislative enact ment to amend and repeal a former act or "It's Cruel for them not to give you Pearline for your washing. Your folks can't know much about it. My ! They could save their money , and all your hard work besides. I'm thankful the lady I live with is just the other way. She knows what \ . Pearline will do , and she i \ wants it. She'd never let me lose my time trying to get things clean with soap and she wouldn't stand it to have her clothes all worn out with rubbing , cither. " That's the truth. The lack of Pearline comes just as hard on the mistress * clothes as it * docs on the laundress' back. Peddlers and some unscrupulous Rroccrs will tell you " this is as POCK ! as" or "the same as Pcarlinc. " IT'S FALSE Pcarlino is never peddled , . Jf T3 _ 1 and if your grocer sends you something in place of 1'carline. bo L JDcLCK honest tenJit tact. 437 JAMBS PYLE , New York. THE ESTATE BESTSTOTE on EARTH READ THE ( ITICIAL TIST Official Report on ' 'Estate ' O.iks. " E. &L. . Ooiitlumon This N to certify that I have nmdo a sorlos of to.Hs with "l < 'SorliM" Kstnto Oak lloat- niK stoves , todetermlno , 1'lrxt , how long thu stovu uould hold lire , ; Second , how thu govoral parts of the stovoiictundor nhlph red bout I llrcu the Htovus roponlodly until they WITO rod hi.t all ovor. I hpntod thoni to tlm highest possi ble tunipur.ituru and cooled thorn off as rapidly as possible. Under these niojthuvuro tests the expan sion and contraction did notiitTcct the plates In thu least particular. I elm rued one of thorn with unu and ono-half small huckotfuls of coil slack on Tuosdiiy evening , JunOoO , 1MI1 , ut 5 o'clock. I'll I II thcfotloirliiii Tlnirsilait af toiiivoii at 4 o'rlork the lioilij of tiintofe roiitliini'il tolif 90 warm Hint /iiii ( ( nnllil not comfortiMi/ Icltttd upon It. sifter Hint Ilinei/i t < i ; < ni to cool o/f. flte live roali I i tin tlicurlfiliHil tlinvycs of tlaeli nl'orrri/iriTeil to it'ere visible until 111 o'tliiel : dud t > tnlniitcfoftht ciflllnitoftliut ( tit \l. \ It will therefore l > o seen that till * itoreartualtilltclilflt'r coiitlniiitim l\lfartlft\i \ \ tlirv liour anil fifteen tiitntitea. Thin lit tin r.rtrttunltn-i- ry rerurtl , unit one of wlilclt yoi * roti ir < fl lvi 'ftttit. Jtett'eel/'iilly nuliinlttcil , COKltAlt 1IUVXE , Sap'l. Presents Gien Awiy This With 110.00 worth of poods , Sotsllvurp atcd tcajnooni With J25.00 worth of Rood s. Iluaittlful blsquo flguro With J50.00 worth of goods , A hiindsomo picture- With $76 0 worth of foods , A cenulnn oak center table With f 100.00 worth orgoods , Cash or Weekly ; or Monthly An ulogant oak rocker Payments. Formerly People's Mammoth Installment , House. Open Monday and Saturday Evenings- DON'T BORROW TROUBLE. " BUY 'TIS CHEAPER IN THE END. "CUPIDEHE" MA190Q RESTORED Tlil Rreat\Vgetnbl * - - Vltullz rUieprr : rp ! tlon of a faniounKrciicli physician , w2l quickly cure you of all ner vous or dlwaws of the generative orKam , ( inch us J-ost Manhood , IruKimnla. I'ulnslti tfio/Ifck.fctemlMBl KmluloniNervous Dcbill'jr. Dimples , Unfllnca V , Marry , Exhausting Drilna. Varlcooflo and Conntlpatlon. CUl'JlJSNlcleanc ; thollTorlha ttldnoya and the nrinatr [ BEFORE AND AFTER orcansol all Impurities. CUnniiKI ! strengthens nnd tostorcs nmivll weak onrnnB. TlmrpiBonaiiffi'rt'rBarBnov curodby Doctors lo bocauBa ninety par oentoro troubled with. rroatutltU. CIIl'IDUNT. IH tlm only known roir.wly to euro without an oporntlon. 0.000 tes timonials. A vrrltlDnpuaraiitfoclven nnrt money reliii-ned If six Doxos docs not ' 'ffiict a por- manentcnrc. Sl.OOu box.six for M.RO.bv mail. Send forolroiilarnnrt toHtlninnlalr. Artow DAVOF. M'-'inoivr < ti..P O Hos ' . ' 070 Sail Frr.wilwn.c.il. ForsalBby UOODMAN 1)UUQ CO. , 1119 raruamBtroot.Oinaha. there l > no hnpo for an" to joa I or. who are rluklni ; Into ffunonalU.iril ( ' i tao ( lrkneM an.l inl < fortino , I'l' . uud Pi ccx.3piriiKKKimioijn aTyrnmg xe * A ot ' Writs n full hlllorjcfjInrMU , ind for QUESTION LISTS > nd ICnFift Rook. 11 r rnone.i il. bo n < V . mjr ikill U ( ml. I liiiiennJ Ib.'tmndi. I fl Cl 118 Till' . T' ul > ii < ri ne . ir Iff UtT. Ell bifgrilikluf , btl. . n.il , lrr * Dil l.ertd. wriu tr > nc nnl Coniullill n > ixnomllf or by ! „ . , . „ „ _ _ _ lifdltl > r.l tri > r llr lbut .f < rU.II.D. ln M.rr4.l 1 lntn.1l . ; Irtur m y d.r.ol fee lu IltlLTU , Or. ti. E. WJUD. President. CHICAGO MEDICAL & SURGICAL INSTITUTE. 30 Van Curen St. Chicago , ! ! ! . any section or sections thereof there Klionld be a compliance with the requirement ! ) of the constitution In reference to amendment and repeal of laws. 2. The act entitled "An act to amend sec tions 1 and 2 of an act entitled 'An act to Incorporate cities of the first clnss. having less than 21,000 and more than 8OW Inhab itants ! , and regulatlnc their duties , powers and government , ' known as chapter xv of the general laws of 1SS9. and punned and approved March U , 1SS3/ ' laws of 1&91. p. lK-3 ! , not having complied with the require ment of the constitution contained In sec tion U of article III. wherein It Is provided that "no law shall be amended unless the now act contains the section or sections so amended , and the- section or sections so amended shall be repealed , " Is void and without effect. 3. Where the acts of a municipal corpora tion are presumably without color ot law an action of Injunction may he maintained by a party showing n sufficient Interest and that Irreparable Injury will result to him through such nets , and this notwithstanding a decision of the Issues In the case may In volve a decision of the particular clans to which the municipal corporation belongs. 4. ruder the facia as developed In this case , held. That Injunction was the proper remedy. jhnolirs flnlemlH cnratlmiwent for Nenroui or fofc ! Haitdiicli * , Uraln Kiliautllon , HlMpliMqiM. l cUI or Kencraltioumlclai alto lor Jtn i > lattUra , flout , Kidney JMuiruori , Acla Er * I IMU , Anwmla. Antlilot < i for Aloobula ami other eicowoo. i'rlco , 13 , 2S nJ COtttOk iDIerrwcont. THE ARNOLD CHEMICAL CO. IB ! S. V/eitern Avsnuo , CIIICAUO. For sale by all druKguu , Omaha , j i ; WM. LOTJDON , Commission Merchant Grain mid Provisions. Private wires to Chicago and New YorH. All business orders pluced on CiUeaad Hoard of Trade. Correspondence solicited. Office , room 4 , 130'I / Oinabu. Telephone 130 * .