Arnold v. Kinsey

147 S.W.2d 553
CourtCourt of Appeals of Texas
DecidedJanuary 2, 1941
DocketNo. 3973.
StatusPublished

This text of 147 S.W.2d 553 (Arnold v. Kinsey) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals of Texas primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Arnold v. Kinsey, 147 S.W.2d 553 (Tex. Ct. App. 1941).

Opinions

WALTHALL, Justice.

Al Kinsey, as plaintiff, brought this suit against R. W. Arnold and Leonard Henderson, trustee, defendants, to enjoin recovery on two prominssory notes, bearing interest, for $1,500 each, the notes executed by Roy Sims and Al Kinsey, and payable to R. W. Arnold, secured by a deed of trust executed by Al Kinsey to Leonard Henderson as trustee on certain town lots in the town of Alpine, Texas, and fully described in the petition, to secure the payment of said two notes.

At the request of Arnold, Henderson, the trustee in the deed of trust, advertised the trust property for sale, whereupon Kinsey filed suit and alleged, in effect, that the notes were given without any consideration and were void, and prayed that the deed of trust be cancelled and the cloud cast on the trust property be removed, and that a temporary injunction be granted restraining the sale of the trust property. The injunction was granted and the sale abandoned.

Arnold thereupon filed an answer and cross-action alleging the execution of the two notes and the deed of trust.

Roy Sims filed answer on Arnold’s cross-action and alleged and showed that he had received a discharge of all claims against him through bankruptcy proceedings.

Kinsey further answered Arnold’s cross-action ancl alleged, in substance, that the two notes in question were accommodation notes; that" Sims had become indebted to Arnold, that Arnold requested him, Kinsey, to sign the notes, as an accommodation to him; that no consideration passed between them for his signature; that Arnold verbally promised him that he would not be *554 expected to pay the notes; that he, Arnold, wanted to borrow money on the notes and wanted an additional name for that purpose ; that he executed the deed of trust with the same understanding as above.

Arnold replied to thé above pleading of Kinsey and denied that he ever made such agreement; further alleged that subsequent to the giving of the notes and deed of trust, and before the maturity of the notes, at Kinsey’s request he extended the due date of one of the notes, and pleaded such extension as sufficient consideration for Kinsey’s signing the notes, and as relieving any infirmity, if any, in signing the notes.

The case was tried with a jury and submitted upon two special issues, one of which was whether Arnold requested Kinsey to sign the two notes sued upon, and the second issue was whether Kinsey signed the notes under an agreement with Arnold that he (Kinsey) was not to pay the notes. Both issues were answered by the jury favorably to Kinsey.

The court overruled Arnold’s general and special exceptions to Kinsey’s answer and cross-action, and entered judgment on the verdict that Arnold take nothing by. his cross-action against Kinsey, and that Kinsey have judgment perpetually enjoining the collection of the notes and the foreclosure of the deed of trust, and removing the cloud from title.

Arnold filed and presented a motion for a new trial, and an amended motion for a new trial, and in the latter set up misconduct of the jury as to matters alleged as occurring in the jury room. The court heard the evidence as to the misconduct, and overruled the motions. The court directed that a full statement of the evidence on the matter of misconduct of the jury be sent, up with the record.

Arnold duly perfected this appeal and filed assignments of error, and presents thereunder three propositions.

Appellee Kinsey has filed no brief in this case.

Appellant’s three propositions refer to the matter which is alleged to have, occurred in the jury room, and complained of by. appellant in his motion for a new trial, are closely connected, raise the question of misconduct of the jury, and, if misconduct, does it show reversible error. The court overruled appellant’s motion for a new trial on the ground of the misconduct complained of.

Appellant discusses the three propositions together, and we shall do the same.

The material evidence is substantially as follows:

Kinsey testified: Arnold presented the notes to Kinsey and explained that he would like to get another name on the notes that it would make it look better; thought he might want to borrow a little money on them, and it would help him that much if Kinsey would sign them. Witness did not owe Arnold anything. At that time the notes had been signed by Roy Sims. Kinsey signed both notes on that occasion. Arnold said to Kinsey in conversation that “he didn’t expect to call on me (Kinsey) for any payment of them, or any part of them — that it was only an accommodation to him.”

Later Arnold asked Kinsey if “he would put up some kind of security on those notes,” said “he had been unable to borrow any money on them but with a little additional security he would be.” Said Arnold asked witness again, saying that “a deed of trust on the property (witness had referred to in his first conversation as his homestead) would be all right in law.” Question: “Did he at that time say anything further about not expecting you to have to pay the notes?” Answer: “Only as an accommodation to help him out of a tight, that he was short on cash.” Witness said, “with that understanding with Arnold he executed the deed of trust” on the property involved.

Kinsey at length detailed a c.onversation with Arnold with reference to a car of wine which Arnold said Kinsey' was to have; that while in no danger, the wine would reimburse him for anything he had to pay, should he ever have to pay the notes. We think it not necessary to state the conversation and we omit stating it. Witness never got the wine, said it was “carted out” and sold elsewhere.

Kinsey testified on cross-examination: Arnold brought the notes to him and said he wanted him to sign them to make' it look better, and as an accommodation to Arnold, and said “I wouldn’t ever have to pay it.” Did not know that Roy Sims had been borrowing money from Arnold, or that he was going to give Arnold notes for borrowed money. Did know the deed of trust was being extended; did not know the note was being extended; read in part the instrument he signed (deed of trust) ; did not read it because it was an accommo *555 dation paper. (Witness testified on cross-examination at length along the same line as on direct examination, which we omit, except where apparently there is an addition thereto.)

Witness was not a partner to Sims — was just a clerk, was not getting any of the profits. (Much has been said about the wine, which we omit.)

Witness said he got no profit out of anything.

R. W. Arnold testified at length about the Sims’ notes and the conversation with Sims as to who was to sign them; ’that Sims said he could get A1 Kinsey to sign the notes and he (Arnold) said all right. Witness said he “did not know when Kinsey signed the notes, * * * it (one of the notes) was signed when I got the notes. I don’t know who gave them to me.” Question: “State whether or not when the notes came back to you (from Sims) Mr.

Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
147 S.W.2d 553, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/arnold-v-kinsey-texapp-1941.