Bentley v. Ross

154 Ill. App. 583, 1910 Ill. App. LEXIS 709

Opinion

Mr. Justice Freeman

delivered the opinion of the court.

It is contended in behalf of appellant, William J. Eoss, that the overwhelming weight of the evidence shows it was never agreed to give the complainant a third of the net profits of the tunnel contract, but that the sole reason for executing the assignment of date November 11, 1901, was to secure complainant’s testimony in rebuttal and prevent him from assisting the city in the cause then pending.

In a supplemental report the master'in chancery to whom the cause had been referred, reported that after a full consideration of all the evidence, he was convinced the testimony of the complainant Bentley was more reliable than that of the defendant Eoss, and that the evidence in complainant’s behalf was more credible than that offered in behalf of the defendants. He finds that in May, 1897, the defendant Eoss verbally agreed with complainant Bentley that if the latter would continue as superintendent of the tunnel work on the 68th street water tunnel Eoss would give him $150 a month and one-third of the net profits of the tunnel contract. The testimony of the parties is directly in conflict on this preliminary proposition. Complainant testifies to the effect "that he began work for defendants on the 68th street tunnel in the latter part of December, 1896. He was employed as a brick layer. The tunnel was a seven foot water tunnel extending from the shore of Lake Michigan out to a point a little over a mile in the lake. After working as a brick layer two or three weeks he became brick layer foreman and so continued until the fourth of May following, when' he became superintendent of the work. At that time he was receiving $7 a day. As superintendent he received $150 a month and his board. The proposition to become superintendent was made to him by a letter signed “W. J. Eoss for Eoss & Boss, ’ ’ dated May 4,1897. In that letter Boss stated that matters had “been going very unsatisfactorily,” and that after serious consideration he had decided to offer Bentley “the position as superintendent at the crib at a monthly salary of $150 per month, which may lead to better.” The letter expresses the writer’s confidence in Bentley’s ability to handle the work and says “it is a chance which I think you should embrace;” that Bentley will have absolute control and that he is “authorized to discharge and employ men as it may seem best for the interest of the work;” that the writer realizes “the position means anxiety and responsibility,” but that “close attention and looking a little ahead will very much reduce the obstacles .which are sure to arise in the conduct of such work.” Upon the 20th of May following Boss again wrote Bentley that he decided not to visit the crib “until you had everything going in good working order, so that it could not be said that you did not handle the job wholly yourself.” Among other suggestions the writer says “the cheaper work is done, the more encouragement it gives to the contractor to pay such a superintendent the very highest wages; and there is no telling where it will eventually end.” Complainant testifies that when the letter of May 4th was delivered by the defendants’ bookkeeper, he— Bentley—said he did not want the position of superintendent ; that later when defendant Boss- visited the crib and expressed satisfaction that complainant had “got everything working in good shape,” the latter said, “Now Mr. Boss I have got this job straightened out so it is in good working order and I don’t want this position any longer,” giving as reasons that the compensation was not enough in the first place, that he could make more money working at his trade, that he had the responsibility, a twenty-four hour day and a big job on his hands; that he could make $9 a day working at his trade, and did not propose to continue as superintendent and have the responsibility of the job and the worry and excitement, and did not want to continue any longer. Complainant states that Boss then said: “John, I will tell you what I will do. * * # I will give you $150 a month as superintendent. You will get that monthly toward your expenses, and I will offer you one-third of the net profits of this work for your brains and labor.” Complainant says he accepted the offer, 'and he con- • tinned as superintendent until about the 20th of January, 1898, when the city undertook to forfeit the contract and took possession of the plant. Defendant Boss denies that any such conversation and agreement occurred. It is argued in his behalf that a careful and prudent man like Boss would not “volunteer to give a man who had not requested it such an extraordinary copartnership contract.” There is however no inherent improbability in an agreement to give a third interest in a tunnel contract as compensation for the responsibility and care involved in taking charge of the construction, a work which Bentley had apparently shown himself competent to handle, at a time when previous management had been unsatisfactory at least if not unsuccessful.

The suit brought by Ross & Ross against the city, ' after the attempted forfeiture of the tunnel contract, came on for trial in October, 1901. The verdict was returned November 27, 1901., A motion for a new trial having been overruled, judgment was entered against the city in April, 1902, for $35,000. While that trial was in progress complainant testified in behalf of Ross & Ross and was deemed an important witness. It was during that trial that the assignment of November 11, 1901, now in controversy, from Boss to Bentley of a third of the claim then in suit' was executed. Complainant states that he had a conversation with appellant Boss, and told the latter he was liable to be called to California at any time because of the illness of his daughter who had been sent there for her health; that if he should go, he did not know when he would return, and that there ought to be a written agreement between them; that if anything happened to either of them, he would have nothing to show his interest in the work. He says Boss agreed to this and that one McKechney, who appears to have been assisting Boss in the trial in some way, happening to approach, Boss asked him “to go ahead and draft the paper,” giving the substance of the paper to be drafted. The assignment in controversy was the result. Defendant Boss now claims that this assignment was extorted from him by threats that if he did not sign it he would be “thrown in the air” by Bentley as a witness; that Bentley had said “he was going to give evidence for the city,” and that he signed upon assurance by McKechney to the effect that it was necessary to do so for his own protection in the then pending litigation. It is impossible within appropriate limits to analyze the large mass of evidence. There is evidence in complainant’s behalf tending to show that appellant Boss at different times and to different persons admitted that complainant had a third interest in the fund in controversy. Bentley assisted in the preparation of the case against the city, and it is claimed by his counsel that his action in this respect tends to indicate he was in some way interested in the outcome. He was in court nearly every day and was in the office of the attorneys for Boss it is said about a hundred times. He testified three days in October and again in rebuttal in November. His testimony as to the alleged verbal agreement with Boss for a one-third interest is apparently consistent with expressions in the latter’s letters of May 4 and May 20, 1897. In the former of these letters is the offer of the position as superintendent at $150 a month, with the intimation that it “may lead to something better.” In the letter of May 20th, after stating that the cheaper the work is done “the more encouragement it gives the contractors to pay such a Supt. the very highest wages,” Boss adds, “and there is no telling where it will eventually end. I am thoroughly convinced that you have the ability to make a success. ’ ’ These expressions indicate that Boss may have had in mind then an offer of something that might be better than the “very highest wages” if necessary to induce Bentley to take the superintendency of the tunnel work, which he writes had “been going very unsatisfactorily” before Bentley took hold. His letters indicate anxiety to retain Bentley’s services in that capacity.

On the other hand it is said that at the trial of the tunnel case Bentley gave and intended to give in his testimony and statements an impression that he had no interest in the tunnel litigation. The master found that on the witness stand in that case “he evidently sought to convince the court and jury that he had no interest,” but finds that the fact he attempted to conceal his interest in the litigation “may be explained very easily” on the theory that if his interest appeared his testimony would be of much less value. No direct question as to Ms interest was however put to Mm on the witness stand and as a witness he made no denial of the fact. That he sought to conceal his interest could not however, as said in Smith v. Cremer, 71 Ill. 185-189, “affect the good faith of the original transaction.” It is not claimed Bentley testified that he had no interest; and should any of his testimony in that case be regarded as affecting Ms credibility as a witness, he was not thereby estopped from asserting M this proceeding such actual interest as he may be able to show.

It is contended “that oh November 27, 1901, the appellee by an instrument in writing released appellant from all liability under the Bentley assignment.” A written instrument was introduced, purporting to be a release by Bentley of all claims of every kind against defendants, which is claimed to have "been executed the evening of November 27, 1901, the date the verdict for $35,000 in the assumpsit suit was returned. TMs alleged, release is before us as an exMbit, and is denounced as a forgery by complainant. It is written in pencil in the handwriting of appellant Boss. It is singular that if signed by Bentley November 27, 1901, it should be dated, as it clearly is, November 27, 1902. The signature alleged to be Bentley’s is witnessed by appellant W. J. Boss and his brother, one Kenneth Boss. The instrument is as follows:

‘6 Chicago, Nov. 27th, 1902.

In consideration of Boss & Boss giving me a promissory note for three hundred dollars at three months the same being a cancellation of all claims of every kind which I may have against Boss & Boss, the said promissory note being dated 27th of Nov’r 1902.”

This so-called release was produced when Bentley was under cross-examination, and he denied its signature. It is contended by his counsel that the testimony as to the alleged execution of the instrument is demonstrated to be absolutely false. The master finds the instrument was written by Boss, that it was dated in 1902, and was not signed by Bentley. One witness familiar with Bentley’s handwriting testified he thought it was Bentley’s signature. Two experts on handwriting testified it was not. But the contradictory evidence of the defendants’ witnesses who claim to have been present at the alleged execution of this so-called release, the mute testimony of the document itself in the handwriting of defendant Boss, its date of 1902 although it is alleged to have been executed in 1901, the evidence not only of the witnesses but of a time book showing complainant’s whereabouts at the time it is alleged by defendants to have been executed by him, the improbability that a man holding a written assignment of a third interest in a verdict for $35,000 against the city, which had been rendered a few hours before, would abandon it under the circumstances alleged, and other evidence not necessary to review at length, tend strongly to justify and confirm the master’s finding and to create a conviction that the instrument in question is the result of an elaborate scheme deliberately planned, involving forgery and perjury, in behalf of appellants. In this connection reference may be had to an instrument introduced in behalf of complainant by the witness McKechney, who testified that it was written by defendant Boss prior to the execution of the assignment of November 11, 1901, to express, as Boss is said to have claimed, more exactly the intention of the parties. It is said to have been written by appellant Boss while the assignment was in preparation and to have been left by him on the table where it was found and retained by McKechney, to whom the preparation of the assignment had been intrusted. Appellant Boss denies that he wrote this memorandum. If in fact written by him it tends to show that his testimony to the effect he had nothing to do with suggesting the terms of the assignment in controversy is untrue. The master finds the memorandum to be in the handwriting of appellant Boss and we are of opinion the great preponderance of the evidence justifies the conclusion. The memorandum is as follows:

“We agree to pay John Bentley 1-3 of any amount which may be due Boss & Boss after final judgment in the final court of resort. Certain obligations & undertakings have already been entered into by Boss & Boss and it may be found necessary to enter into further obligations and undertakings to carry the suit through to a final settlement, and after payment of said obligations and undertakings the remaining amount shall be divided 1/3 John Bentley, 2/3 Boss & Boss, and it is further agreed that this agreement shall be held in the custody of Mr. John McKechney of the City of Chicago as trustee, until a final adjustment is had.”

If written by Boss the memorandum is inconsistent with his assertion that the assignment of November 11, 1901, was executed merely for the purpose of securing the testimony of the complainant in the assumpsit suit against the city and without consideration.

It is urged the decree “should be reversed .because it was awarded upon a finding of facts contrary to and different from the facts alleged in the bill.” We do not concur in this contention. The bill alleges that complainant had a third interest in the claim set up in the assumpsit suit in the Circuit Court, and that it was the claim in that suit which complainant and defendants alike intended and agreed should be “covered and described in the instrument of assignment.” Inasmuch as by the terms of the written assignment defendants Boss & Boss assigned and transferred “to said Bentley one-third of their said claim in said suit and one-third of any final judgment which may be entered in their favor in said suit and one-third of any settlement or compromise of said claim,” this contention of the bill is sustained in this respect by the written instrument. If that instrument was intended to embody literally the alleged previous verbal agreement, it does not say so. It superseded the verbal arrangement, but its purpose and object appear to have been substantially the same, and it must be deemed to express the final agreement and understanding of the parties. The amended and supplemental bill seeks to enforce the lien of the written assignmént. We are unable to concur in appellants’ contention that it was incumbent on. complainant “to allege and prove that the tunnel contract was' completed at a profit. ’ ’

In view of the conclusion above stated, it is unnecessary to review the evidence relating especially to the error in the assignment by which the number of the trover suit of defendants against the city was inserted in the assignment instead of the number of the assumpsit suit. It clearly appears that this was a mistake from the wording of the assignment itself, which relates by its terms to the claim of defendants for damages under the contract for the water tunnel. The trover suit was not a'claim under that contract. There is no error in reforming the assignment in this respect, as was done.

It is urged that the court erred in taxing master’s fees against appellants. The decree finds that $1016.50 was “a fair and reasonable compenstion for the services rendered by the master;” that of that sum $550 had been paid the master by complainant and the balance by defendant Boss, and that complainant is entitled to recover the $550 paid by him as part of his costs in the case. - The ground of the objection is stated to be that “the master did not transmit with his report an itemized statement of his services * * * and the only evidence upon which the decree in this cause with reference to the master’s fees was entered was a certain conversation which took place between counsel for the parties at the time the decree was proposed and prior to its entry.” No other objection is urged in this court, and this objection was not made before the chancellor. The conversation referred to was in substance a statement of matters as to which counsel on both sides agreed, and was in the nature of a stipulation. The record in the cause shows 1274 pages of testimony taken before the master. The statutory fee for this testimony would apparently be about $522.34. This would leave a balance of $494.16 allowed the master for the work involved in analyzing the conflicting evidence, the arguments of counsel and preparing the reports. It is said in Gottschalk v. Noyes, 225 Ill. 94-101, the chancellor was able to determine from an inspection of the report what fees would be reasonable for the master’s work “and it was not necessary to produce evidence.” It is true however that this record does not show that the master itemized his charge and therefore does not “show the time he was necessarily employed in the examination of questions of law and fact and in preparing his report of such findings and conclusions” (Fitchburg Steam Engine Co. v. Potter, 211 Ill. 138), as it should have done. In such cases the Supreme Court has said (Wirzbicky v. Dranicki, 235 Ill. 106-115) that it will not “enter upon an independent examination of his report for the purpose of attempting to state correctly the items covered by the charge, the time given by the master to each service and the amount that should be allowed on account of each, in order that he may be decreed the sum that could properly have been allowed him had he complied with law in reference to stating his claim. In such instances nothing will be allowed by us on account of services covered by the gross charge.” The objection to the master’s fee urged before the chancellor was that the fees charged were excessive and unreasonable. That point is not urged here and is therefore waived. Dunn v. Crichfield, 214 Ill. 292-299; McCarthy v. Neu, 91 Ill. 127-131. Had the objection that the master did not present an itemized statement been made before the chancellor the omission doubtless would have been cured then and there. The contention raised in the Circuit Court that the charge of the master was unreasonable and excessive having been waived and abandoned in this court, the objection that no itemized statement is furnished becomes purely technical. The object of such itemized statement here is to enable us “to state correctly the items covered by the charge” (Wirzbicky v. Dranicki, supra), and there is no necessity for such examination and statement except when we are called on to determine whether the charge is excessive.

In view of conclusions stated we deem it unnecessary to discuss other and minor points referred to in the briefs. For the reasons indicated the decree of the Circuit Court will be affirmed.

Affirmed.