220 McCRAW, PERKINS & WEBBER CO. V. YATES. [175 MCCRAW, PERKINS & WEBBER COMPANY V. YATES. Opinion delivered October 31, 1927. 1. ACCOUNT—JURISDICTION OF EQUITY.—In an . action by a cotton factor against a shipper for balance due on cotton sold, an itemized account containing items of credit and debit, and showing the balance due, was not so intricate and complicated as to state a cause of action within the jurisdiction of equity. 2. TRUSTS—NECESSITY OF ACCOUNTING.—Before equity will exercise jurisdiction over a trust for the purpose of compelling an accounting, it must appear from the complaint that an accounting is necessary to determine the amount due. 3. ACCOUNT—NECESSITY OF ACCOUNTING.—A complaint by a cotton factor for a balance due on account, involving items of credit • and debit, and alleging that a quasi-fiduciary relation existed • between the plaintiff and defendant, did not show any necessity for an accounting, so as to give equity jurisdiction. 4. TRIA1—DEMURRER TREATED AS MOTION TO TRANSFER.—Where a complaint in equity stated a good cause of action at law, the
ARK.] MCCRAW, PERKINS & WEBBER CO. V. YATES. 221 court should have treated a demurrer to the complaint as a motion to tiansfer the cause to the circuit court, and should have transferred the cause. Appeal from Sharp Chancery Court, Northern District; Alvin' S. Irby, Chancellor ;. reversed. Horace Sloau, for appellant. HUMPHREYS, J. Appellant filed the following complaint against appellee, omitting caption and verification, in the chancery court of the Northern District of Sharp County: "ComeS the plaintiff, McGraw, Perkins & -Webber Company, a . corporation duly - organized and - existing under and by virtue of the laws of the State of Ten-nessee, and complaining of the defendant, Ben N. YateS, doing business as Ben N. Yates & Company, for its cause of action states : During the years shown on the attached statement niarked Exhibit A is hereby . made a part of this complaint. The defendant, Ben N.. Yates, doing business as Ben N:YateS & Company in Williford, Arkansas. During said period of time plaintiff was engaged in . doing business in Memphis, Tennessee, as a cotton factor. During said period of time said defendant has shipped to the plaintiff, as cotton factOr, certain bales of cotton, also drew various drafts . in wrifing on the . plaintiff, which drafts were accepted and paid by the plaintiff, said drafts being advances made by :the factor on account of the shipment of .said'bales of cotton by the defendant to the plaintiff: The aceount'consists Of Various mutual items of debt and credit, inVolved the sale of numerous bales of . cotton, and that the balance due thereon as . of date July 20, 1923, is the sum of $1,271.65. An itemized account showing said drafts aind baleS of cotton shipped and charges by way of freight; storage, insurance and interest is attached to this complaint, marked Exhibit A and made a part thereof. Said account is complicated and intricate, and. proof supporting the details of said account wilIbe voluminous, intricate and too complicated otber than in a Court of equity. In addition a quasi-fiduciary relation existed between
992 MCCRAW, PERKINS & WEBBER CO. V. YATES. [175 the plaintiff as cotton factor and defendant us customer, and plaintiff is, for that reason, entitled to an accounting in equity. Plaintiff further states that repeated demands have been made on defendant to pay the balance due on the above account, but he has wholly refused to pay same or any part thereof. Wherefore plaintiff prays judgment against defendant for the said sum of $1,271.65, with interest thereon from July 20, 1923, until paid, together with judgment for costs and all other proper relief." An itemized !account was attached to the complaint showing a balance of $1,271.65. Appellee filed a demurrer to the complaint upon the ground that it failed to state an equitable cause of action. The court sustained the demurrer, and dismissed appel-- lant's complaint, from which is tbis appeal. Appellant's first contention for a reversal of the decree is that the complaint states a good cause of action in equity for two reasons : (1).. Because the account is intricate and complicated. (2). The quasi-fiduciary relation existing between factor and principal. (Equity having jurisdiction of trusts and their enforoement). (1). The account exhibited is itemized, containing items of credit and debit, and showing a balance due of $1,271.65. It is not very long, and we see nothing in it which can be characterized as intricate or complicated. (2). It is true that courts of equity have jurisdiction over all trusts for the purpose of compelling an accounting, but, before exercising such jurisdiction, it must appear from the complaint that an accounting is necessary to determine the amount due. There is nothing in the complaint quoted above showing that such a necessity exists. Appellant's last contention for a reversal of the decree is that the court erred in not treating the demurrer as a motion to transfer the cause to the law court. We think the complaint states a, good cause of action at law, so the court should have treated the demurrer as a
ARK.] 923 motion to transfer the cause, and should have accordingly transferred same to the circuit court. On account of the error in not doing so the decree dismissing appellant's complaint is reversed, and the caase is remanded, with instructions to transfer same to the circuit court.
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