Mitchell v. Goodell

Mr. Justice Harker

delivered the opinion op the Court.

This is an appeal from a judgment of the Circuit Court, disallowing the claim of appellant against the estate of Elizabeth Beckwith.

The claim was originally filed in the Probate Court by appellant and one M. P. Mitchell, a son of appellant, who had been his partner in the dry goods and grocery business at Marseilles, Ill. It was for a balance claimed to be due on a settlement made in 1885, and for a judgment against E. B. Beckwith, assumed by the deceased, amounting in all to §506.61. The oath attached to the claim was made by M. P. Mitchell. Before a trial, and after the claim had been filed nearly a year, it was amended so as to make it a claim of appellant against the estate, and for balance due on account. A trial in the Probate Court resulted in a judgment in favor of appellant for $441, but the Circuit Court on appeal disallowed the entire claim.

From the evidence it appears that while M. P. Mitchell and his brother, Peter M. Mitchell, were carrying on a mercantile business at Marseilles, the deceased and her husband, E. B. Beckwith, were conducting a boarding house in the same place. ' An account was opened with E. B. Beckwith. Peter retired from the business December 24, 1883, and his father, the appellant, succeeded him and the business was then conducted by appellant and M. P. Mitchell. E. B. Beckwith continued to trade with them until 1885. On the 14th of May, 1886, the business was discontinued, appellant taking the assets and paying off the liabilities.

Appellant claimed the estate was liable, because the goods were purchased for Mrs. Beckwith’s own use, because she used them and promised to pay for them, and because they were used in defraying the necessary expenses of the family which made them chargeable against her under Section 15, Chapter 68, Starr and Curtis’ Annotated Statutes. He failed to support either one of these contentions by the evidence.

M. P. Mitchell was introduced as a witness, and appellant sought to prove by him the purchase of the goods charged, and lay the foundation for the introduction of certain pages of a ledger kept by the firm. But the Circuit Court sustained an objection to his testimony. That the court erred in so ruling, is the chief contention urged here.

It is insisted that M. P. Mitchell was a competent witness because he was not a party to the suit and testified that he had no interest in the claim. It does not appear from the evidence that the claim ever was assigned. The firm became involved, appellant borrowed money, paid off the liabilities and took the assets. Indeed, this very witness swore to it as a claimant, when first presented. The evident purpose in so amending it as to leave him out as a party and have its further prosecution conducted in the name of appellant, was to enable him to testify. The statute can not be whipped around in such a manner. To allow him to testify under the circumstances would do great violence tO' the spirit and intention of the legislature.

It is further insisted that M. P. Mitchell was a competent witness to testify to the book account as provided by Sec. 3, Ch. 51, B. S., relating to evidence, and that the court erred in sustaining an objection to his testimony when it was sought to lay the foundation for the introduction of certain pages in the ledger. It does not appear that the book containing the pages was a book of original entry. The court properly denied his testimony for that reason. Again, the entries made did not purport to be against the deceased, but against her husband, E. B. Beckwith.

We see no reason for disturbing the judgment of the Circuit Court. Judgment affirmed.