Galpin v. Wilson ( 1874 )

Cole, J.

I. The evidence shows that the defendant, Kelso, was about seventy-four years old when the note in controversy was given, but as to the extent of his imbecility and incapacity for business, as well as in respect to the representations made to him to induce him to sign the note, the evidence is conflicting. If the jury gave full credit to the testimony of the defendant’s witnesses upon these points, their verdict was not-unreasonable: It is very probable that the want of capacity to contract was not so clearly shown as to justify the jury in finding the contract void on that account alone; but the imbecility — the mental and bodily weakness, — taken in connection with the representations made at, and the circumstances attending the execution of the note, afford a sufficient-basis for the verdict, and we cannot set it aside as being contrary to the evidence.

II. The plaintiff asked a series of instructions, all of which were refused. The court also gave a series of instructions, to 1. ERAro:-mii sumeef • in-' struetion. some of which the plaintiff objected. Exceptions were duly fa^en to the refusal of the series, and also the giving of those objected to. The first asked by plaintiff was as follows: “ Fraud is never to be presumed, but must be satisfactorily proved by some kind of satisfactory evidence, either circumstantial or direct.” This was refused,, but the court gave the following, it being numbered seven of the series: “ Fraud is not to be presumed, it must be proven; but, like every other fact, may be found from circumstances.” The refusal of the first, and the giving of the seventh, is here urged as error. The precise point made is, that by authorities cited by appellant’s counsel, it is shown that fraud must be “ fully,” “ clearly,” or “ conclusively ” proved. But the only difference in the instruction asked and the one given consists in the word “ satisfactorily.” This difference is merely 2. i,-, Courtu?in™e straction. iu words, and not in the essential meaning of the two- The jury could not find that fraud was proven, unless they were satisfied of that fact from the evidence. If an appellate court should reverse judgments upon such a criticism of instructions, it would probably reverse every judgment in cases where any instructions were given.

. The objections made by counsel to the second instruction given, upon the subject of the defendant’s mental weakness, and his want of capacity to reason, are critical l-ather than substantial. The instruction is too long to insert in this ' opinion, but we have carefully examined it in the light of the very astute and able argument by appellant’s counsel, and are constrained to say that we find no substantial error in it.

III. The third and fourth instructions are also objected to on the grounds that there was no evidence upon which to rest 3. contract: maife;t3fraud. them, and that the jury were allowed by them to consider whether defendant might not be more easily defrauded than a person of strong mi'nd. There was evidence of the payee’s declarations as to what occurred when the note was executed, and of the facts and circumstances leading to and attending its execution. Upon these the jury were allowed by the instructions to consider the mental weakness and the partial or total want of capacity to contract, and if the want of capacity was partial, then the jury were allowed to consider that fact in connection with the representations made, if any, for the purpose of determining whether the defendant was induced by fraud to sign the note. We see no objections to the instructions as a whole, nor to the judgment.

AFFIRMED.