—The trial court sustained an objection to the introduction of any evidence on plaintiff’s petition, on the ground that said petition failed to state a cause of action, and the propriety of this ruling is now before us for review.
The petition is very lengthy, but in substance sets up the following facts: In December, 1886, one A. J. Needles was indebted to defendants "Walker, Monson, Wren, Stockwell, Nelson and others. About that time, and while so indebted, Needles conveyed certain lands in Harrison county, Missouri, to plaintiff Lewis. Shortly thereafter these defendants, creditors of Needles, brought suit against Lewis to set aside and cancel the deed from Needles and to subject said real estate to the payment of their claims, basing said action on the alleged fraud of Lewis and Needles to cheat his (Needles’) creditors.
During the pendency of said action, the parties thereto, to wit: Walker, Monson, Wren, Stockwell and Nelson (plaintiffs therein), and Lewis (the defendant in said action) got together and effected a settlement and compromise, whereby it was agreed that Lewis should convey said Needles’ land to said creditors, who were to dismiss the suit brought against Lewis, pay a $700 mortgage, which he, Lewis, had placed on the property, together with $100 in cash; and, besides, said Walker, Monson et al., agreed to, and did, exe
After this settlement was made and bond executed, Travis, another of Needles’ creditors (and who was unprovided for) brought his suit by garnishment against Lewis, charging the conveyance from Needles to have been fraudulent, and made to hinder, delay and defraud Needles’ creditors, etc. On the trial of the issues therein, Travis had a verdict and judgment, and recovered of Lewis the sum of $250 and costs. Of this proceeding the petition, alleges defendants herein had due notice.
Lewis paid the Travis judgment, and seeks by this action to recover the amount from these-’ defendants by reason of their written obligation “to hold said Lewis harmless from all liability for any attacks that may be made upon him by creditors of A. J. Needles, on account of the conveyance to said Lewis from said Needles, or growing out of the connection of said Lewis with said lands.”
The petition in this case discloses a complaint which the courts will not ,heed. It is the province - of courts to enforce lawful contracts, and they will not lend their aid to those which grow immediately out of, and which are directly connected with, illegal or immoral acts. Ex turpi causa nom oritur actio. Any act forbidden by law can not be the foundation of a valid contract. Bishop on Contracts, secs. 471, 549; Harrison v. McCluney, 32 Mo. App. 481; Hatch v. Hanson, 46 Mo. App. 323, and cases cited; Bick v. Seal, 45 Mo. App. 475.
The judgment of the circuit court will, therefore, be affirmed.