Blackorby v. Ginther

158 N.W. 354, 34 N.D. 248, 1916 N.D. LEXIS 36

• Court: North Dakota Supreme Court
• Decided: May 31, 1916
• Status: Published

Opinion

Christianson, J.

In the year 1912 one Carl Schootz leased certain farm lands belonging to the defendant, Ginther. The lease or farm contract was in writing, and provided for a division of the crop between Schootz and the defendant in equal parts. It also provided that title to the crop should remain in Ginther until such division was made. The agreement further provided that in case Schootz failed to perform any of the terms and conditions thereof to be by him kept and performed,. Ginther might enter into possession of the premises and do and perform all acts agreed to be performed by said Schootz and charge all labor so-performed and expenses so incurred to the said Schootz, and deduct the same from the proceeds of the crops that would have belonged to said Schootz if he had complied with the conditions of said agreement. Owing to illness on his part, Schootz became unable to fully perform all the terms of-the agreement, and Ginther thereupon took possession of the premises and performed the remainder of the things which Schootz had agreed to perform. Ginther .also held certain hay land under a lease from the state which he sublet to Schootz by a verbal agreement. The terms of such oral agreement are in dispute, and constitute one of the issues presented in this action. On December 21, 1912, the plaintiff' obtained an assignment in writing from Schootz of all claims of said Schootz against the defendant Ginther arising out of the farming of said land during the year 1912, and, about the same time, the plaintiff obtained a bill of sale from Schootz of the hay cut and stacked by Schootz upon the land leased by Ginther from the state and sublet by him to Schootz.

Plaintiff brings this action as assignee of Schootz, and asks to recover from defendant the amount claimed to be due to Schootz from Ginther under said written and verbal agreements. The defendant, in his answer, denied that he was indebted to Schootz in any amount.. The defendant further asserted, by way of counterclaim, that Schootz had failed to perform the terms of the verbal agreement under which he cut and stacked the hay, and that by reason of such nonperformance defendant became the owner thereof; that plaintiff, acting under the assignment from Schootz, had taken and removed hay of the value of $66.50. The counterclaim set forth in the answer was denied by reply. Upon demand of plaintiff, defendant furnished a bill of particulars of the claims .which defendant had, or claimed to have, against Schootz, Some of the items so claimed are not denied, whereas other items are denied in whole or in part. The cause was tried to a jury, which returned a verdict in favor of the plaintiff for the sum of $207 and interest from December, 1912. The defendant moved for a new trial, and the appeal is taken from the judgment and the order denying a new trial.

(1) Certain assignments of error are predicated upon rulings of the •court in sustaining objections to certain questions propounded to the plaintiff upon cross-examination. Defendant asserts that the cross-examination was unduly restricted, and that the rulings complained of •constitute prejudicial error. An examination of the record upon which the assignments are based, however, discloses that the various questions to which objections were sustained did not relate directly to the facts or circumstances connected with the matters gone into on the direct examination, but related to matters more properly a part of defendant’s own •case. And in this connection it may be mentioned that in one of its rulings the trial judge expressly stated that he would permit the defendant to recall plaintiff for further cross-examination upon the matters •defendant sought to inquire into, if defendant desired to recall him, when defendant’s evidence was being introduced. The logical method of presenting issues in a lawsuit is necessarily a matter in which the trial court must be invested with wide discretionary powers. 40 Oyc. 2506; 3 Ene. Ev. 860. See also 3 Enc. Ev. 822. And in this case we are unable to see wherein defendant was prejudiced by the trial court’s rulings, or wherein such rulings deprived him of the right of cross-examination, nor do we see wherein defendant was in any manner prevented by these rulings from presenting to the jury all the material facts in dispute between the parties.

(2) Appellant next asserts that the court erred in permitting plaintiff’s counsel to propound the following question to the defendant upon his cross-examination, viz.: “Q. You think because while you were looking after your own interests, because you happened to take off your white shirt for a while and went to work, that you are entitled to •charge Mr. Schootz for that?” The defendant was being cross-examined with respect to certain items charged by him against Schootz. The particular question related to a charge for labor performed in shoveling wheat at the time the grain was threshed. The defendant’s answer to the question immediately preceding the question objected to was as follows: “I was there simply to look things over; that was what I was there for.” And defendant’s answer to the question under consideration was as follows: “Any time I shovel grain on any of the three farms when they are short of help, I get pay the same as any other man that is working there; that is all there is to that.” The defendant further testified that he shoveled grain for three days while the threshing was.going on and charged Schootz the regular going wages for such work. The question doubtless could have been couched in different, language and some of the statements properly eliminated therefrom, but it is inconceivable how defendant could have been prejudiced or denied a fair trial by reason of the court’s ruling on this question. Trial courts necessarily must be, and are, invested with a great deal of discretion in matters of this kind. “Matters pertaining to the examination of witnesses rest ■ largely within the discretion of the trial court, which, in the exercise' of such discretion, may determine the order in which evidence shall be introduced by the parties, the time and mode of examining the witness, the form and propriety of questions, the manner in which questions may be put, the extent to which a witness may be examined, especially with respect to collateral matters, the length of the examination, the use of memoranda by a witness, directing a witness to ascertain some fact in order to be able to testify to it, the reception of answers not responsive to the questions, or the postponement _ of the examination of a witness. The rulings of the' trial court will not be interfered with unless an arbitrary abuse of discretion appears.” (40 Cyc. 2408.)

The objection made is that the question was argumentative and contained insinuations prejudicial to the defendant. It is not contended that the matter under consideration was not a proper subject for cross-examination, but the objection relates solely to the form of the question. This, as we have already stated, was a matter resting peculiarly within the discretion of the trial court, and this court will not interfere unless a manifest abuse of such discretion appears. No abuse of discretion is shown here.

(3) Defendant also complains of the court’s ruling excluding certain slips of paper alleged to show the quantity of certain grain hauled and delivered at a certain elevator. The slips themselves are not contained in the record. Plaintiff testified that he received them either from the. bank at Sarles or from the elevator company’s agent. Plaintiff admitted that he was not present at the time the grain was hauled and weighed. He also admitted that he had no personal knowledge of tire correctness of the slips. The elevator agent who weighed the grain and prepared the slips was not called, nor his absence accounted for. And' it seems clear that the plaintiff, having no personal knowledge of the amount of grain delivered at the elevator, could not be permitted to testify in regard thereto by reason of oral or written statements made to him by the elevator agent. It may, also, be mentioned that Schootz, who testified by deposition, admitted that he hauled and sold two loads of grain, and there is nothing to indicate that the slips contained different or larger amounts than those mentioned by Schootz. We believe that the trial court properly excluded the evidence under consideration.

(4) Among the items which defendant sought to charge against Schootz was one for $15 for destroying Canadian thistles. Schootz. denied any indebtedness for this service, and for the purpose of rebutting defendant’s testimony, plaintiff called one Barker, who testified that he was familiar with the land, had been so during the year 1012,, and for a number of years prior thereto. Barker also testified that he was the manager of the threshing machine which threshed the grain involved herein in the fall of 1912; that he was about such threshing machine at the time the threshing was done, and that he did not observe any Canadian thistles in such grain at that time, nor did he ever observe any such thistles in the fields upon the land during the year 1912. This testimony, while negative in character, was entitled to go to the jury for -what it was worth. Of course, the weight to be given thereto was a matter for the jury. In fact, defendant does not seriously contend that the testimony was inadmissible, but his principal complaint seems to be that the court failed to give proper instructions for the jury’s guidance in considering such negative testimony. It is a sufficient answer to the latter contention to say that no request for such instruction -was made. See also Remington v. Geiszler, 30 N. D. 346, 152 N. W. 661.

(5) Among other defenses interposed was that the defendant had made a full and complete settlement with Schootz. This settlement,, however, was denied by Schootz. The defendant, for the purpose of corroborating the defendant’s testimony, called one Templeton to show that Schootz in a conversation with him (Templeton) had made certain statements tending to show that Schootz and the defendant had made such settlement. As already stated, plaintiff obtained an assignment from Schootz on'December 21, 1912. The witness Templeton admitted that he could not recall, and was unable to state, whether the conversation between bimself and Mr. Schootz was had before or after December .21, 1912. The trial court ruled that the evidence was inadmissible unless it was shown that such conversation took place prior to the time of the assignment by Schootz to the plaintiff. Apparently no serious ■contention was made that this ruling was incorrect, because the record shows that questions were propounded to Templeton endeavoring to elicit testimony from him to the effect that such conversation was had prior to December 21, 1912. At the time the rulings were made by the ■court there is no serious question but that the record failed to show that .such conversation was had prior to December 21, 1912. There is, however, some subsequent testimony which defendant’s counsel contends would justify the conclusion that such conversation must have been had prior to that time. Even conceding that this contention is correct, still we are satisfied that at the time the rulings were made the trial court was justified in rejecting the evidence offered. The other testimony upon which reliance is placed was offered by another witness, and it is only by a combination of testimony from different parts of the record nnd argumentative deduction drawn therefrom that appellant’s counsel justifies the conclusion that such conversation must have taken place prior to December 21, 1912. These facts, however, were not called to the attention of the trial court, and in fact did not exist at the time the rulings were made, because, as already stated, some of the testimony was subsequently introduced. The record does not show that any attempt was made thereafter to have the testimony of Templeton admitted, and, hence, we are satisfied that the court correctly excluded this testimony. See also 16 Cyc. 994; 1 Ene. Ev. 535.

(6) Error is also predicated upon the alleged fact that plaintiff’s ■counsel in his argument to the jury read certain portions of the depposition of the witness Schootz. The record, however, does not sustain this contention. The trial court in its rulings úpon the objection made expressly stated that counsel was permitted to use the deposition for the purpose of refreshing the memory. Counsel’s argument is intended to aid the jury in arriving at the truth, and we are aware of no reason why counsel might not be permitted to state portions of the ■evidence, and if evidence is given by deposition, there seems no valid reason why counsel may not be permitted to refer to the deposition in his argument to the jury. See 38 Cyc. 1483.

(7) Appellant also predicates error upon certain remarks made by tbe court to tbe defendant while be was being examined as a witness. Tbe general tenor of tbe remarks is requests on tbe part of tbe court to tbe defendant G-inther to speak louder so tbat tbe jury may bear his testimony. There is no contention tbat tbe trial court in making these requests or remarks acted in an improper manner. Tbe ■statements made are not contained in tbe record, nor were any affidavits submitted tending to show any misconduct on tbe part of tbe trial court. Tbe assignment rests solely upon tbe statement of tbe trial judge appended to tbe statement of tbe case, wherein be certifies tbat •some such remarks were made by him, and tbat such remarks were occasioned by tbe fact tbat tbe defendant spoke in such a low tone tbat tbe court, jury, court reporter, and counsel on both sides were unable to bear him, and repeatedly made requests that be speak louder; and tbat tbe court reporter, who sat only about 4 feet away from tbe witness, was unable to bear him. These facts are not disputed. Tbe ■assignment of error is wholly without merit.

(8) Appellant also contends tbat tbe evidence is insufficient to sustain the verdict. There is no dispute as to the amount of money realized by defendant from tbe crop and hay. It is conceded tbat be received in all $489.70, proceeds of tbe grain, and $71.50, proceeds from tbe sale of bay, which moneys would have belonged to Scbootz if be bad fulfilled bis agreement with tbe defendant. Tbe questions in dispute were (1) whether Scbootz bad complied with tbe terms of tbe verbal agreement under which be rented tbe bay land, so as to become tbe owner of tbe bay; and (2) what items was tbe defendant entitled to ■charge against Scbootz by reason of bis (Schootz’s) failure to comply with tbe terms of tbe cropping contract. Tbe evidence was in conflict upon tbe first question, and several of the items which defendant sought to charge against Scbootz were also in dispute. Tbe case was tried upon tbe theory tbat tbe defendant was entitled, under tbe terms of tbe cropping contract, to perform those portions thereof which Scbootz bad failed to perform, and charge and retain tbe amount of such expenses and tbe value of such services against tbe moneys which Scbootz would be entitled to receive from tbe proceeds of tbe grain. No exception was taken to any of tbe court’s instructions. Hence they are presumed to be correct. Defendant’s counsel argues that tbe testimony of Schootz, taken by deposition in Indiana, ought not to be given the same weight as the testimony of the defendant and his witnesses, who appeared and testified orally upon the trial. This contention is'without merit. The question of weight to be given to the testimony of the different witnesses was a matter for the jury. 38 Oyc. 1516, 1518. The trial court, who heard and saw the witnesses, has refused to set aside the verdict. The verdict has substantial support in the evidence, and, hence, this court will not endeavor to determine the weight of the conflicting evidence, nor will it disturb the verdict based thereon, or the order denying a new trial. Rickel v. Sherman, post, 298, 158 N. W. 266. See also Malmstad v. McHenry Teleph. Co. 29 N. H. 21, 149 N. W. 690; Hayne, New Trials & App. Rev. ed. § 97; 29 Cyc. 1009, and note.

(9) In support of the motion for a new trial, defendant submitted certain affidavits for the purpose of showing accident and surprise. The substance of the affidavits was to the effect that the witness, Templeton, in conversations prior to the time he was called as a witness, had informed defendant that the conversation which Templeton had with Schootz occurred at some date prior to December 21, 1912, and that the inability of Templeton to recall whether such conversation occurred before or after December 21, 1912, was due to physical disability at the time he testified. Counter affidavits were submitted by the plaintiff tending to show that at the time of the trial the witness, Templeton, although ill, was in full possession of all his mental faculties, and that his mind was in no manner affected. The affidavits also show that Templeton is dead and that consequently his testimony could not be procured upon a new trial of the action.

A new trial will ordinarily not be awarded where it would be ineffectual, or if there is no reasonable prospect that the result would be different upon a retrial, and it is therefore incumbent upon the party who moves for a new trial on the ground of accident or surprise to show upon his motion for new trial that he will probably be able to avoid the difficulty upon a new trial. Hayne, New Trials & App. Rev. ed. § 85. Whether the ends of justice required that a new trial be had on the ground of surprise was a matter which rested largely within the trial court’s second judicial discretion. 29 Oyc. 1009, and note; Hayne, New Trials & App. Rev. ed. § 86. And “the function of this court on. this appeal is merely to review the ruling of the trial court on this motion, and this review is limited to a determination of the question of whether, in denying a new trial, the trial court abused its discretion, and thereby effected an injustice. The discretion vested in the trial court should always be exercised in the interests of justice. The presumption is that it was properly exercised.” State v. Cray, 31 N. D. 67, 153 N. W. 425.

The trial judge, who saw and heard all the witnesses, including Templeton, and who was familiar with all the incidents of the trial, as well as with different affidavits submitted for, and in opposition to, the motion for a new trial, was of the opinion that a new trial ought not to be had. There is nothing to justify this court in saying that the trial court erred or abused its discretion in so holding. See Aylmer v. Adams, 30 N. D. 514, 153 N. W. 419; State v. Cray, supra; McGregor v. Great Northern R. Co. 31 N. D. 471, 154 N. W. 261.

The judgment and order appealed from must be affirmed. It is so ordered.