Winslow v. Bailey , 16 Me. 319 ( 1839 )

The opinion of the Court was by

Emery J.

The suit is ou a note of the 28th of May, 1835, given in payment for a bond assigned by the plaintiff to the defendant.

The defendant resisted payment, because he alleged, that the note was obtained by false representations of the quantity of timber on lands reserved for public use in the town of Chester, in the county of Penobscot, containing 1000 acres more or less, for which the bond was given to Winslow. There was a certificate of Jeremiah Jameson, dated May 14, 1835, that he had explored the tract, and that it contained 10,000 feet of the best quality of pine timber to the acre in his opinion.

It was also proved, that the plaintiff between the 10th and 20th of May, 1835, bad been on to the land, and that there was very little timber on the tract. And it was proved, that this paper was in the plaintiff’s possession at and about the time it was made, and that he used it to induce others to purchase the laud, and was in his possession a short time before the sale of the bond, and a few days after in the hands of one of the defendants. After these facts and circumstances were proved, the defendants offered the Jame-son certificate which they alleged was false.

To the admission of this paper in evidence, to show that it was used by the plaintiff in the sale of the bond to induce the defendants to purchase, the plaintiff objected, until proof was introduced to shew that it was so used. And it is insisted, that the proof of this fact should have been addressed to the Court, that it was a fact to be decided by the Court, and exclusively within their province. We conceive with the plaintiff’s counsel, that the authorities cited by him do establish, that it is the exclusive right of the Court to decide on the legality and competency of all testimony, which is to be read or given to the jury.

That the certificate was made by Jameson, was not contested. That the plaintiff had it in his possession at and about the time it was made being proved, as well as the fact that the plaintiff had it in his possession a short time before the sale, and had used it to induce others to purchase the bond, would not alone, be evidence that it was used to induce the defendants to purchase. It was therefore necessary to exhibit some other proof, by which the Court should be persuaded to the conviction, that it ought to go to the jury as tending to maintain the ground of defence. That proof was given of the subsequent possession of this very paper by one of the defendants. We think this well justified the Court in permitting it to be read. The subsequent remarks of the Court were full of good sense, and were of the most favorable character towards the plaintiff’s case; that if the jury were not satisfied that it had been used to induce the defendants, it would not be evidence in the case. Though fraud is not to be presumed, it is usually proved by circumstances. It is most natural to suppose from the circumstance that the plaintiff obtained the certificate on the 14th of May, 1835, of the quantity of pine timber of the best quality to the acre on the tract, and had used it before the sale to induce others to purchase, that it was a principal consideration of himself and others, with whom he should deal, to talce the land thus loaded with a most valuable commodity. This may properly be presumed. It is not pretended that there were any gold or silver mines on it, or slate or granite quarries to work upon the imagination of purchasers. The defendants having in their possession this paper, did come before the jury with strong moral evidence, that they received it from the plaintiff, in a rightful manner. lie never complained, that it had been wrongfully withdrawn. It was most natural to suppose it would be delivered over by him to the purchasers, with the design that it should be accredited. But if it was not so done, he had the liberty to call upon Wilson, the witness, or introduce any testimony to render it doubtful to the jury, whether it had been so employed.

The instruction of the Judge, that the defendant was not bound to restore the bond assigned before its expiration, unless he had ascertained that the statements were false and fraudulent before the expiration of the bond, was entirely right.

It would be utterly absurd to suppose the defendants were at liberty to rescind the contract, until they had ascertained the worthlessness of the purchase, and the false and fraudulent representations of the plaintiff. Yet, had these facts been ascertained before the expiration of the term limited by the bond, it ought to have been restored. For though when one has been practicing a fraud to effect the sale of a bónd to one person, he who so practices, has but slight claim on the one attempted to be made a victim, and it might at first appear proper, that the instrument of deception should be impounded, yet it is to be remembered, that on the return of the papers, the plaintiff might possibly have effected a sale fairly without any misrepresentation to some subsequent purchaser. But when the defendants discovered what ought to relieve them, the bond had lost vitality, by lapse of time, but without any fault on the part of the defendants.

The exceptions are overruled.