MacHalicka v. Lukasevic

This appeal is from an order refusing to open a judgment entered by authority of a power of attorney contained in a promissory note. The issue raised was whether the note had been paid. Each party relied largely on his own testimony to sustain her or his contention. The credibility of the witnesses and the weight of the evidence were for the judge who sat as a chancellor: Augustine v. Wolf, 215 Pa. 558, 562, 64 A. 777;Jenkintown Nat. Bank's Appeal, 124 Pa. 337, 17 A. 2. The issue having been exclusively one of fact, the granting or refusing of the petition to open rested within the discretion of the court below and we will not disturb such an order in the absence of a manifest abuse of discretion: Wright v. Linhart,243 Pa. 221, 89 A. 973; Mutual B. L. Assn. v. Walukiewicz,322 Pa. 240, 185 A. 648; Perri v. Perri, 335 Pa. 394, 6 A. 775. An oath against an oath or a mere conflict of evidence does not warrant the submission of the issue to a jury. The evidence must carry such conviction of truth as to convince the judge that the judgment should be opened: Mielcuszny v. Rosol,317 Pa. 91, 94, 176 A. 236. One of the late pertinent cases isSchuylkill Trust Co. v. Sobolewski, 325 Pa. 422, 424, 190 A. 919, where Mr. Justice STERN thoroughly covered the subject here involved. We find no abuse of discretion.

The order discharging the rule is affirmed at appellant's cost.