Byram v. Galbraith

75 Ind. 134
CourtIndiana Supreme Court
DecidedMay 15, 1881
DocketNo. 8144
StatusPublished
Cited by22 cases

This text of 75 Ind. 134 (Byram v. Galbraith) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Indiana Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Byram v. Galbraith, 75 Ind. 134 (Ind. 1881).

Opinion

Bicknell, C. C.

This was an action by the appellants against the appellees, for goods sold and delivered.

The complaint stated a joint liability.

An account annexed to the complaint set forth several sales amounting in all to $1,606.34, and several credits, amounting in all to $671.69. It appeared by the account, that the first two of the sales, together amounting to $161t2/j, [136]*136were made on March 15th, 1876 ; the credits were of different dates between March and August, 1876.

The appellees answered separately; Galbraith pleaded the general denial, and a discharge in bankruptcy. Boyce pleaded the general denial and payment by Galbraith. The appellants replied denying the special defences.

A default taken against Galbraith had been set aside^ on his motion.

The first error assigned by appellants is, that the court below erred in setting aside said default, but this error is not alluded to in the brief of the appellants’ counsel, and is, therefore, regarded as waived.

There was a trial by jury, with a general verdict for defendants, and the jury returned answers to ten interrogatories put to them by the court on behalf of the plaintiffs, and also returned answers to fourteen interrogatories put to them by the court on behalf of the defendants.

Upon the return of the verdict and answers, the appellants moved the court “for judgment in their favor, upon their cause of action, upon the answers of the jury to the interrogatories propounded by the plaintiffs, notwithstanding the general verdict for the defendants.” This motion was overruled by the court; the appellants excepted, and moved for a new trial, assigning the following reasons :

First. The verdict of the jury is contrary to the law and evidence in the cause ;

Second. The verdict of the jury is not supported by the evidence;

Third. The verdict of the jury is not supported by sufficient evidence;

Fourth. The verdict of the jury is contrary to law;

Fifth. The court erred in admitting as evidence to the jury, over the plaintiffs’ objection at the time, the certificate of discharge in bankruptcy of the defendant Arthur N. Galbraith ;

[137]*137Sixth. The court erred in permitting the defendant James Boyce, while testifying in his own behalf as a witness, to testify in answer to this question of his counsel: ‘ ‘Did you ever execute or sign any writing to the plaintiffs, as security or endorser?” “I never did;”

Seventh. The court erred in allowing the following question to James Boyce, defendant, while testifying, over the plaintiffs’-objection at the time: “What paper or agreement, if any, did you sign or execute to the plaintiffs, for the benefit or security of Galbraith, your co-defendant, when he purchased the goods in controversy?” and in .permitting' the witness, over the plaintiffs’ objection, to give the following answer: “Not any ;”

Eighth. The court erred in giving to the jury, on its own motion, the instructions numbered from 1 to 6, each and all inclusive;

Ninth. The court erred in refusing to give to the jury the instructions asked for by the plaintiffs, numbered from 1 to 7, each and all inclusive ;

Tenth. The court erred in permitting to go to the jury, to be answered by them, over the exceptions and objections of plaintiffs, the interrogatories propounded by the defendants, and numbered from 1 to 14, each and all inclusive, as answered by the jury; .

Eleventh. The court erred in overruling the plaintiffs’ motion for judgment against the defendants, on the answers of the jury to the plaintiffs’ interrogatories.

' The court overruled the motion for a new trial; the appellants excepted ; judgment was rendered for the defendants upon the verdict. There is a bill of exceptions, which contains only the evidence to which appellants objected, all the instructions given or refused by the court, the submission of the interrogatories to the jury; the interrogatories and the answers thereto ; the appellants’ motion for judgment, notwithstanding the verdict; the action of the court [138]*138thereon; the motion and reasons fora new trial, and the action of the court thereon. It does not purport to contain all the evidence given in the cause, and it contains no statement that it exhibits all of such evidence. The errors assigned by appellants, in addition to the first one, already referred to and waived, as hereinbefore stated, are :

Second. The court erred in overruling plaintiffs’ motion for judgment on the answers of the jury to the plaintiffs’ interrogatories, notwithstanding the general verdict.

Third. The court erred in overruling plaintiffs’ motion for a new trial.

The statute provides that, at the request of either party, the jury may be instructed by the court, that, if they render a general verdict, they shall find specially upon particular questions of fact, to be stated in writing, and that said special finding shall be recorded with the general verdict. Practice act, sec. 336, 2 R. S. 1876, p. 171.

“When the special finding of the facts is inconsistent with the general verdict, the former shall control the latter, and the court shall give judgment accordingly.” Practice act, sec. 337.

Under these statutes, it is held that judgment must be rendered on the verdict, unless the same be “irreconcilably inconsistent” with the special findings, Woollen v. Wishmier, 70 Ind. 108 ; Edwards v. Applegate, 70 Ind. 325 ; Fromm v. Leonard, 21 Ind. 243 ; Miller v. Wade, 58 Ind. 91; Murray v. Phillips, 59 Ind. 56 ; Nelson v. Neely, 63 Ind. 194 ; Ohm v. Yung, 63 Ind. 432 ; Monroe v. The Adams Ex. Co., 65 Ind. 60; The Grand Rapids, etc., R. R. Co. v. Boyd, 60 Ind. 526 ; Long v. Brown, 66 Ind. 160 ; and that the antagonism must be incapable of removal by any evidence legitimately admissible under the issues, Amidon v. Gaff, 24 Ind. 128 ; and that all the facts necessary to authorize a conclusion adverse to the verdict must appear by such special findings. The Bellefontaine R.W. Co. v. Hunter, 33 Ind. 335 ; [139]*139Campbell v. Dutch, 36 Ind. 504; Snyder v. Robinson, 35 Ind. 311. And it is held that, if the special finding be so uncertain that its meaning can not be definitely ascertained, judgment can not be rendered upon it in opposition to a general verdict, Comer v. Himes, 49 Ind. 482 ; and that, if the interrogatories and answers do not show the facts of the case, with such certainty as will enable the Supreme Court to judge correctly of its merits, the judgment of the court below will be respected. The Indianapolis, etc., R. R. Co. v. McCaffrey, 62 Ind. 552. It is also held that, where the interrogatories and answers refer to maps and diagrams, not in the record, judgment can not be rendered on the answers, in opposition to a general verdict. Scheible v. Law, 65 Ind. 332.

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75 Ind. 134, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/byram-v-galbraith-ind-1881.