Berry v. Hardin , 178 Iowa 165 ( 1916 )

Deemer, J.

I. A motion to dismiss the appeal has been submitted with the case; but, in view of the disposition made of the appeal, it is not necessary to consider it.

L nS^of^gnáí of proof: bills and notes. As defendant’s denial- of the signature to the note was under oath, the burden was upon him to- prove that he did not sign or authorize anyone to sign the same for him. No one saw the defendant sign the note, but it was sent to him by mail by his codefendant, Hardin, for signature, and Hardin received .... it back by mail, with what purports to be Purdy’s signature attached thereto. It is claimed that the verdict is without support in the testimony. It is true that defendant denied positively that he signed the note or authorized anyone to do so for him, and he also introduced various expert witnesses, who testified that, in their opinion, the signature in question was not that of the defendant. In addition to-the prima-faeie case made for plaintiff by the testimony _ of Hardin, certain admittedly ■ genuine signatures of defendant were offered, and received in evidence, for the purpose of comparison, and these, in the opinion of the jury, may well have strengthened plaintiff’s prima-faeie case. In addition to this, certain experts, who examined all the signatures, testified that the one in question was made by the same person as those given them for comparison, which were admittedly genuine. This was enough to take the case to a jury, upon the issue joined.

2. Appeal and error : estoppel: basing error on requested instruetion. II. Certain exhibits which bore a disputed signature were introduced in testimony, over defendant’s objections. They were not received by the court as standards for com-' parison, and this was distinctly stated to the . ml . ,. . . ,. ' , jury. The instruction given by the court on this subject, was as follows:

“While Exhibits B and E have been withdrawn from your consideration as affording a standard for comparison in determining whether or not the signature to Exhibit A of the defendant S. H. Purdy is his genuine signature or not, yet said 'exhibits are admitted, and should be considered by you as bearing upon the credibility of witnesses who testified in relation to said exhibits, and as to whether or not they were genuine in their judgments, and you should consider them for this purpose and for no other.”

This instruction was almost identical with an instruction asked by defendant, and he is in no position to complain of it. Again, the instruction was not properly excepted to, as required by recent statutes. See Sec. 3705-a, Code Supp., 1913. Moreover, the court expressly instructed that these signatures, which were in dispute, eould not he used as standards for comparison; so that there was no error in admitting the testimony.

3' cesSveverdici: agreement: effeet. III. By agreement of the parties, the verdict was reduced from $460.30 to $442. This is said to be evidence that the verdict was the result of passion and prejudice, and should not be allowed to stand. As the reduction was by agreement of the parties, no such deduction as counsel would have US draw, is legitimate.

No prejudicial error appears, and the judgment must be, and it is, — Affirmed.

Evans, C. J., Weaver and Preston, JJ., concur.