Russell v. Penniston

[493]

STURTEVANT, J.

The plaintiff commenced an action against the defendants to recover damages for alleged fraud. The Fresno Investment Company appeared and answered and filed a cross-complaint. The parties stipulated that the answer of the Fresno Investment Company stand as the answer of the defendant Penniston, and that the allegations of the cross-complaint be considered as denied. A trial was had by the court sitting without a jury, judgment went for the defendants, and the plaintiff has appealed. The appellant claims that the findings made by the trial court are not supported by the evidence. In this contention we think that the appellant is entirely in error. To make that remark clear it becomes necessary to state the issues and the findings made thereon. In his complaint the appellant inserted two counts. The first count has reference to an automobile truck and the second count has reference to an automobile trailer. The allegations of the second count are parallel with the allegations in the first count. The allegations of the first count are, among other things, that on the twenty-fifth day of August, 1919, the defendant Penniston represented that he was the owner of the truck; that relying upon such representation the plaintiff purchased the truck under a conditional sales contract which is attached as an exhibit and which appears on its face to be a contract to buy and sell, which provides for certain deferred payments including $200 for the month of November, and $200 for the month of December, and which provides that the title is to remain in the seller until the truck is fully paid for; that the plaintiff believed, relied on, and acted on said representations; that Penniston was not at said time the owner but that George B. Henderson was such owner; that plaintiff made installment payments aggregating $381.79; that on the twenty-sixth day of August, 1919, the defendant Penniston assigned the contract to the defendant Fresno Investment Company. That to secure an installment falling due in October, 1919, the plaintiff executed to the Fresno Investment Company his note in the sum of $198.93, and a mortgage to secure the same; that on the third day of January, 1920, the said George B. Henderson asserted his title to the truck, and that the plaintiff called upon the defendant Penniston to defend the plaintiff’s title and that Penniston has refused and neglected to do so; that the