Allen's v. Mathews' administrator

1 Stew. 273

• Court: Supreme Court of Alabama
• Decided: January 15, 1828
• Status: Published

Opinion

JUDGE GAYLE

delivered the opinion of the majority of the Court.

The counsel for the plaintiff in error contends, that the Court below erred in the charge as to the presumption of consideiation, and went beyond its proper sphere in instructing the jury to find a verdict for the defendant.

It appears that Allen endorsed the note, and his order to credit the drawer, shews that it was made in order to be discounted by the Bank, for the benefit of Mathews. It is not shewn that it was discounted, and afterwards paid by the endorser, nor could these facts be inferred from the circumstance of the note being in Allen’s possession.

a

The province of the jury is to ascertain facts which are controverted. If by a special verdict, a case agreed a demurrer to evidence, or other means, the facts are established, it becomes the duty of the Court to declare the judgement which the law requires to be rendered ; so it is the duty of the Court, to determine on the construction and effect of all instruments of writing. In the argument of the counsel for the plaintiff, facts and the evidence of facts, appear to have been confounded. It is the province of the jury to determine on the credibility of witnesses, and to weigh variant and contradictory testimony. But in this case, the plaintiff in his bill of excep-iions states, that certain facts were proved. If the Court had charged the jury hypothetically, that if these very facts were proved to their satisfaction, they must find a verdict for the defendant, it could not be said, that the charge was as to the matters of fact; so if by special verdict, the same facts were found to be true, which the bill of exceptions state were proved to be true, it would have been the duty of the Court to give judgement for the defendant. It is the opinion of the majority of the Court that there was no error in the charge. Judgement affirmed.

Judge White dissents. Judge Saffold having presided in the Court below, gave no opinion here.

Landrom vs. Brookshire, Executor, Anti. p. 252.