Cauble v. Key , 256 S.W. 654 ( 1923 )

Statement. On September 24, 1920, S. S. Key sued C. M. Cauble, in the county court of Tom Green county, claiming a balance due him by Cauble of $470.50, under a verbal contract to work on Cauble's ranch. He did not allege the residence of defendant, but instead alleged that he was "at least temporarily in Tom Green county, Tex., where service may be had upon him." Defendant was served with process in Tom Green county on November 14, 1921, and, failing to appear or answer, judgment by default was rendered against him for the amount sued for, on January 3, 1922. On March 31, 1922, at the same term of said court, defendant filed his amended motion to set aside said judgment and grant him a new trial, which was, on the same day, overruled. The case is before us on writ of error under assignments of error and bills of exception. Opinion. There is no statement of facts. The bills of exception undisputedly show that on the trial the plaintiff was the only witness, and that he was not sworn. By his first and fifth assignments plaintiff in error contends that, being an unliquidated demand, this does not comply with article 1939 of the Revised Civil Statutes, which requires the court, in such cases, to "hear evidence as to the damages and shall render judgment therefor," and that the trial court therefore committed fundamental error in his failure to comply with the law.

The defendant in error urges that, in the absence of a statement of facts, this court is not authorized to go into the sufficiency of the evidence upon which the original judgment was rendered. This has been repeatedly held by the appellate courts, and we are not to be understood as deciding to the contrary in the case before us. The question here, however, is not one of the sufficiency of evidence or of its admissibility, but rather whether the trial court complied with the law in hearing any evidence at all. "Testimony" has been defined as a statement made by a witness under oath in a legal proceeding. 38 Cyc. 248; 4 Words Phrases, Second Series, p. 891; 24 Cyc. 2410. We think that the administration of the oath by a competent officer is a fundamental and essential requirement to give testimony its binding force. The Constitution (section 5, art. 1) clearly implies that such is a prerequisite to the giving of evidence. Certainly no one should be allowed to invoke the aid of the courts of the land to litigate his rights, procure relief through unsworn testimony, and, if such were false, be immune from punishment. True, it has been held by the Supreme Court of the state that where a party sits and allows an unsworn witness to testify without objection, he thereby waives such irregularity. Trammell v. Mont, 68 Tex. 210, 4 S.W. 377, 2 Am. St. Rep. 479. But such can apply only where both parties are before the court and have opportunity to invoke its aid in the matter. In no event could the defendant in this case be held to have waived swearing the witness. Even though he defaulted, he had a right to presume that the law would be complied with and only competent and legal evidence admitted. It is an essential element of waiver that a party must voluntarily and intentionally surrender a known right. 4 Words Phrases, Second Series, p. 1223; 40 Cyc. 252; 27 R.C.L. 904. Certainly a party cannot be held to have waived something he knew nothing about. In our opinion, there was no legal evidence heard by the court, as required by article 1939, Revised Statutes, and we sustain these assignments of the plaintiff in error.

By his second assignment plaintiff in error complains that plaintiff below did not comply with article 1827, Revised Statutes of 1911, in that he failed to allege the residence of the defendant, or that same was unknown to him. Article 1827 provides:

"The petition shall set forth clearly the names of the parties and their residences, if known, with a full and clear statement of the cause of action, etc."

On this point plaintiff's petition alleged that the defendant "is at least temporarily in Tom Green county, Tex., where service may be had upon him." Plaintiff should have complied with the statute, but his failure to do so in this instance we do not consider fatal. His allegations were sufficient to enable the clerk to issue citation to the proper county, as required by articles 1850 and 1852, Revised Statutes 1911, and the defendant was duly served in that county. This assignment is overruled.

Plaintiff in error also complains that the citation should have been accompanied by a certified copy of the petition because he was a nonresident. We think there is no merit in this contention. Plaintiff's allegation was that he was, when the suit was filed, to be found in Tom Green county, and he was later found and duly served there, hence it was not necessary that a certified copy be attached.

In the fourth assignment plaintiff in error urges that the trial court erred in overruling his motion to set aside the judgment, in that the proof showed that he had made a bona fide effort to reach San Angelo to defend said suit, but was prevented by circumstances beyond his control, and that his default was not due to his own carelessness. The trial court evidently found that he did not show proper diligence to appear in time. We think that is true. He was served in Tom Green county November 14th, some 48 days before return day. He employed no counsel, and did not leave his home in a distant county until a day before court met. He did not, when delayed en route, seek to employ counsel at San Angelo until, it seems, default judgment had already been rendered against him and then, so far as the record shows, took no diligent steps to protect himself. His motion to set the judgment aside seems not to have been filed until late in March. Under such circumstances we think he clearly failed to show diligence, and was not entitled to have the default judgment set aside. The granting of a new trial on this ground was a matter within the discretion of the trial court, and we do not think that court abused its discretion in this instance.

We think the plaintiff in error has shown no such diligence as to excuse his default at the time of the trial, and that he is entitled, on a new trial of this cause, only to have the law complied with as to the legal evidence required under article 1939 of the Revised Statutes of 1911, and that plaintiff below should not have cast upon him again the burden of the whole case. Western Union Tel. Co. v. Skinner,60 Tex. Civ. App. 477, 128 S.W. 715; Tankersley v. Martin-Reo Sales Co. (Tex.Civ.App.) 242 S.W. 328.

Because of the errors committed, we have concluded that the judgment should be reversed, and the cause remanded, with instructions that the trial court permit the plaintiff, if he so desires, to introduce evidence as provided in article 1939 of the Revised Statutes of 1911; and it is so ordered.

Reversed and remanded, with instructions.