Martz v. Cook ( 1900 )

Comstock, J.

Appellee sued appellant, alleging that he had executed to her his note for $1,800 as payment for her undivided interest in certain real estate, the property of her husband, Lincoln Cook, who had made an assignment for the benefit of his creditors. She further alleged that her husband wrongfully and without ¿right took possession of said note, and wrongfully and without right, and without her consent, delivered it to appellant, who still holds the same, and that it was due and unpaid. Appellant answered in two paragraphs, — the first a general denial, the second, ■payment. To the second paragraph appellee replied in general denial. The cause was tried by a jury, a general verdict returned in favor of appellee, and judgment rendered thereon for $2,142.99.

The only error assigned is the action of the court in overruling appellant’s motion for a new trial. Only the second, seventh, eighth, eleventh, twelfth, and thirteenth reasons for a new trial are discussed by appellant’s counsel. They will be considered in the order named. The others, under the rule, are waived.

The second reason for a new trial is that the verdict of the jury is not sustained by sufficient evidence. The execution of the note was not denied. The ultimate question under the issues was the payment of the note. Counsel for appellant, while disclaiming any request upon this court to weigh the evidence, admit that, while appellant and two members of his family testified to the payment, that the husband testified that it was not made, and insist that the evidence was insufficient to justify the verdict. There was, too, a conflict in the evidence as to whether appellant was authorized by appellee to pay the husband. These were questions of fact submitted to the jury, and upon which they necessarily passed in forming the verdict. We are unable to seej notwithstanding the very able argument of appellant’s counsel, how the judgment could be disturbed without weighing the evidence.

The seventh reason is based on newly discovered evidence, consisting of a letter written by appellee to one John Buskirk, in which she mentions money due them from one George, which she says that they must have. The tone of the letter indicates poverty. It was written October 13, 1897. The note was dated January 21, 1897, due thirty days after date. Appellant testified that he paid off the note in February, 1897, before it was due. The letter was, therefore, written some eight months after appellant claimed to have paid the note. The letter speaks of the sickness of her husband, and expresses fear that he is becoming insane. Counsel for appellant claim.that this letter, showing the necessitous condition of the family, is inconsistent with the proposition that appellant was at the time indebted to her on a note past due, for a large amount, of which she made no mention, and insist that this circumstance would make it probable to the minds of tbe jury that tbe note in question had been paid. Tbis letter would bave been competent. A new trial could not be granted for newly discovered evidence unless of sucb a character that it would probably, in tbe event of a new trial, change tbe result. Tbe letter in question does not offer sucb promise. John Bus-kirk, to whom tbe letter was written, was a witness for appellant. Tbe record fails to show that any diligence was used to discover it.

Tbe eighth reason for a new trial is also newly discovered evidence, as follows: Sarah A. Blue, who resided in Montgomery county, knew and would swear to tbe following facts: In July, 1890, she visited at tbe home of tbe defendant, and there, in a conversation with Lottie Martz, wife of appellant, was informed by her that she, Lottie, bad received, and bad in her possession in tbe bouse then, tbe money she had inherited from her mother’s estate, and intended to build a bouse with it. It is not necessary to state tbe purpose of tbis testimony, nor to determine whether due diligence was used to discover it. It was not competent,' and could not properly bave been admitted if offered.

' Tbe eleventh and twelfth reasons for a new trial are based upon tbe action of tbe court in permitting certain impeaching questions to be put by counsel for appellee to John Buskirk, a witness for appellant. Tbe record, however, fails to disclose that either of said questions.were objected or excepted to by counsel for appellant, or that any motion was made to strike them and tbe answers thereto out. These reasons, therefore, present no question for review.

Tbe court permitted counsel for appellee to ask the witness Buskirk upon cross-examination the following question: “I will ask you if you did not tell Dr. Sheppard at that time [the time and place having been fixed by previous questions and answers], that this farm of Lincoln Cook had been sold by bim, but that the sale was a sham sale, as the land was to be transferred back to Mrs. Cook.” To which question counsel for appellant objected on the ground that the alleged conversation was bad between the witness and a third person in the absence of defendant, and was in no way connected with this suit. This action of the court is made the thirteenth reason for a new trial, and is the remaining question discussed by appellant’s counsel. The ground of the objection stated to the trial court is the one upon which the ruling complained of should be judged. Fitzpatrick v. Papa, 89 Ind. 17. Buskirk was an important witness for appellant. He was the assignee of appellee’s husband. The testimony of this witness was that the assignment from Oook to the witness, and all the transactions growing out of it in which be took part, were fair and regular. For the purpose of impeachment, the question was proper, without reference to the presence or absence of appellant. We find no error. Judgment affirmed.