Graves v. Clark's Administrator ( 1871 )

Opinion by

Judge Pryor:

We perceive no error in the refusal of the court to give instruction No. 1 asked for by appellant.

The words, “actual payment,” were calculated to mislead the jury, and withdraw from their consideration all the testimony bearing upon the issue, except that direct and positive in its character. The same objection applies to this instruction as modified by counsel. The same degree of proof and no other was required to support the issue made in the case, as would be required in any other civil action.

The jury must have believed from the evidence that the note was paid off before finding for the defendant, and the weight of evidence should control in this as in any other issue of fact tried by a jury in an ordinary proceeding.

The instruction given at the instance of the appellee should have been refused. This instruction selects from all the facts proven those most favorable to1 appellee, and these facts are made more prominent than any other by having the attention of the jury called specially to this by the instruction. They must decide the case from all the evidence adduced, and the facts embodied in the instruction are to be considered by the jury in connection with all the other facts proven.

By section 361, Civil Code, it is made the duty of the court, when the jury disagree as'to the testimony or any part of it, or desire to be informed upon any legal question arising in the case to give them the information desired in the presence of or after notice to the parties or their counsel. In this case, the jury after retiring to their room returned into court and asked that the instructions be simplified. The court then gave'verbal instructions in explanation of the written instructions already given, to which appellants objected at the time, and required that the instructions should be reduced to writing. This the court refused to do, and this refusal on the part of the court is also complained of as error. Section 348, Code of Practice, reads: “When the evidence is concluded, either party may request instructions on points of law, which shall be given or refused by the court, which instructions shall be reduced to writing if either party require it.”

Breckenridge & Buckner, for appellant. Kinkead & Biickner, for appellee.

This provision of the Code is imperative as was decided by this court in the case of Ferguson v. Fox, Admr., 1 Metcalf 85. For this error, if no other, the cause is reversed with directions to set aside the verdict and judgment in the court below and give appellant a new trial and for further proceedings not inconsistent with this opinion.