Carroll v. Paul's Administrator

16 Mo. 226

• Court: Supreme Court of Missouri
• Decided: March 15, 1852
• Status: Published

Opinion

Scott, Judge,

delivered the opinion of the court.

This was an action of assumpsit, begun by Carroll against Paul, for services rendered as an agent. The account for the services was evidenced by two written agreements. By the first, dated May 1st, 1844, it was agreed that Carroll should have two hundred dollars per year, payable quarterly, in consideration that he would act as agent for Paul, in settling accounts, keeping his books, collecting rents, &c., provided, that on an average, he should not be employed more than three hours per day. This employment was not to interfere with any other business of Carroll’s. If he rendered three hours service a day, he was at liberty to do what else he thought proper. By a second agreement, dated the 15th of February, 1846, Paul agreed to pay for all extra services that had been, or should be rendered under the first agreement, and in it, is contained this admission by Paul: “I do think the services men-? tioned to be equal to about nine hours per day.” Objection was made to the reading of the first agreement, because it was a covenant, and could not be declared on in assumpsit; and to the second agreement, because the claim it established was variant from that in the bill of particulars. Under this agreement, the bill of particulars claimed for seven hours service, extra, per day. No reference is made in the bill of particulars to the agreement, under which the item for extra services is claimed. The bill of particulars claims for full services, under the first agreement, from the 1st of May, 1844, until the 1st of November, 1846, and the extra services are claimed for the same time. Paul was the owner of some city property, and the leasing and the selling of it, and the collection of its rents, &c., the only business in which he was employed. Some time after Carroll left the employment of Paul, an account against him was presented, in which, after allowing credits, a considerable balance was claimed. This account included, amongst other items, one for money due for lands in Lincoln county, sold to Carroll, and gave him credit for his services under the first agreement, at the rate of two hundred dollars per annum. Carroll agreed to pay the account, although he complained that the Lincoln lands were included in it. On the 14th of January, 1847,' Carroll wrote a letter to Paul, in which he acknowledged the receipt of the account, and confessed that he ought to have called before and settled with him, and begged for indulgence. This suit was commenced on the 28th of August, 1847. Many witnesses, acquainted with PauPs handwriting, were examined touching the genuineness of the signature to the agreement, relative to the extra services, some of whom believed the signature to be PauPs, others believed the contrary. There was some evidence that Paul acknowledged a willingness to pay for extra services. The evidence with regard to the number of hours in a day, necessary to transact the business of Paul, was contradictory. Some witnesses thought three hours a day more than sufficient, and one witness testified that he was employed nine hours. A clerk, who did the seryices rendered by Carroll, testified, that bis conscience would not let Mm take twelve dollars per month for them. He thought ten dollars per month a sufficient recompense. There was a verdict for the plaintiff for $973 62. After verdict, Paul died, and the suit was revived in the name of M. Brotherton, his administrator, who appealed to this court. The court gave and refused the instructions which follow.

Those given by the court, on the part of the plaintiff, are :•

1. If the jury believe from the evidence that the defendant; made the agreement read in evidence, dated May 1st, 1844,. and that the plaintiff performed services for the defendant, in conformity with said agreement, then the plaintiff is entitled to recover, according to the price specified in said agreement, for all the services which the jury shall believe from the evidence the plaintiff performed, under said agreement, not to> exceed, however, the amount claimed in his bill of particulars,, in tMs suit.

2. If the jury believe from the evidence, that the defendant'made the agreement, read in evidence, dated February 15th,, 1846, and that the plaintiff performed services specified in said; agreement, for the defendant, then the plaintiff is entitled to-recover, according to the price specified in said agreement, for-all the services which the jury shall believe, from the evidence,’, the plaintiff performed for the defendant, as contemplated by said agreement, not exceeding, however, the amount claimed, in the plaintiff’s bill of particulars.

3. The letter written by the plaintiff to the defendant, dated! January 14th, 1847, is not conclusive evidence against the claim of the plaintiff; therefore, if the jury shall believe from all the evidence, that the defendant was, in fact, at that time,, indebted to the plaintiff for services, as stated in his bill of particulars, then the jury should find for the plaintiff whatever amount the jury shall believe from the evidence the defendant was so indebted.

4. If the jury believe from the evidence, that the instrument, of writing, dated February 15th, 1846, was. subscribed by thn defendant, tbe jury must presume that he knew the contents of said writing, at the time he subscribed it; unless the jury, at the same time, shall believe from the evidence that he was not competent, by reason of some mental or physical disability, to make 'or understand the said writing ; or that the same was obtained from him by fraud or deception.

5. The books of accounts, as well as the account marked “0,” offered in evidence by the defendant, are not conclusive .against the plaintiff, as to the state of accounts between him ■and the defendant, and the whole may be explained by the evidence in the case ; therefore, if the jury shall believe from all the evidence, that the defendant is justly indebted to the plaintiff for the services sued for, the jury should find accordingly.

6. If the jury believe from the evidence that the moneys collected by Carroll, while acting as Paul’s agent, were paid over to Paul and accounted for to him, then the jury should disallow the claim for said moneys made by the defendant in this, case.

7. If the jury believe from the evidence that the defendant, on or about the time stated by the witness, Barr, rendered the account marked “ 0” to the plaintiff, and that said account does not contain the moneys claimed in this suit by the defendant, as having been collected by the plaintiff and not accounted for, the rendering of said account by the defendant is prima facie, evidence that the claim for such moneys is unfounded, unless the jury shall believe from the evidence, that Paul, at the time he rendered said account, did not know that Carroll had collected the said moneys and had not accounted therefor.

To the giving of each of the above instructions, the defendant, at the time, objected and excepted.

Those given by the court for the defendant, are the following:

8.' IE the jury should believe from the evidence, that the signature to the agreement No. 2, was made by Paul, yet, if they find from all the evidence and circumstances of the case, that Paul did not owe .Carroll anything, upon a fair settlement of accounts, at tbe time of the commencement of this suit, they are authorized to find for the defendant, notwithstanding said agreement No. 2.

9. If the jury believe from the evidence, that Carroll and Paul had a settlement, after Carroll left the employment of Paul: that the bond given by Carroll and his securities to Paul, was cancelled thereon, and that Carroll paid the balance to Paul, which was claimed in account “O, ” without malting any claim at that time for extra services, and that such balance was paid, in accordance with the promise made to John Barr and to the defendant, in the letter of the 14th of January, 1847, then the jury are authorized to find for the defendant; unless the jury are further satisfied from the evidence, that said settlement and payment were not a full and complete settlement between the parties, nor so designed by them.

10. If the jury believe from the evidence, that the plaintiff, upon the receipt of account “0,” wrote the letter to defendant, dated January 14th, 1847, asking further time to be given him for the payment of money acknowledged to be due to the defendant by him, that is evidence (the said letter is not conclusive evidence on that point,) from which the jury would be authorized to infer that the plaintiff, Carroll, did not then regard Paul as his debtor, on the account here sued for.

11. If the jury believe from the evidence, that the signature to agreement No. 2 was written by Paul, yet, if the jury should also believe from the evidence, as presented in the books of account kept by Carroll, the letter of the 14th of January, 1847, written by Carroll, in answer to account “0,” and from all the other circumstances of the case, that said Carroll has fully settled with the defendant for services ; or that said Carroll has, by his acts or declarations, admitted himself to have been fully paid and satisfied for his services, they will find for the defendant.

12. The account kept in the ledger and cash book of Paul, by Carroll, is competent, though not conclusive evidence, to show the state of accounts between Carroll and Paul, as to the matters of account therein embraced and for the period of time therein included.

13. The paper called agreement No. 2 is not prima facie evidence of its own genuineness in this case. The burden of proof of the genuineness of the signature of Paul to said agreement No. 2 is upon the plaintiff.

Instead of the defendant’s first and third instructions, which were refused, the court gave the following :

14. If the jury believe from the evidence, that the signature to the paper, dated February 15th, 1846, is a forgery, or that Paul never signed said paper, or that said paper was obtained from Paul fraudulently, then they will disregard said paper in their consideration of this case.

15. Evidence of verbal admissions of parties to a suit, at a distant period of time, should be received with great caution, in order that the precise admission may be ascertained. In determining what weight ought to be given to the testimony of verbal admissions, the jury should consider the opportunity which the Witness had of hearing distinctly the alleged admissions, and the probability of their being distinctly remembered for so long a period.

The instructions asked by the defendant, and refused by the court, are as follows :

1. If the jury believe, from the evidence, that there is no consideration for the agreement of February 15th, 1846, or that the signature of Paul thereto is a forgery, or that the writing over the signature was filled in by the plaintiff, without Paul’s consent: or that from all the circumstances of the case, said agreement was not held by the plaintiff, and had not been delivered by the defendant to the plaintiff, as a valid and subsisting agreement, then the jury are authorized to disregard said agreement, in their consideration of this cause.

2. If the jury believe from the evidence, that after the plaintiff, Carroll, left the service of Paul, he (Carroll,) acknowledged himself to be indebted to Paul, upon the account delivered to him by John Barr, and asked for further indulgence, that circumstance is prima facie evidence, that tbe signature of Paul to agreement No. 2 was fraudulently obtained.

3. Evidence of verbal admissions of parties to a suit, at a distant'period of time, is a weak kind of evidence, and is always to be received with tbe greatest caution by a jury.

4. Tbe written admissions of Carroll, in tbe books and in tbe letter of tbe 14tb of January, 1847, are testimony of a bigb and authentic character, showing tbe actual state of accounts between tbe parties, at tbe time such admissions were made.

5. If tbe jury believe from tbe evidence, that Carroll has not accounted for all tbe moneys of Paul, which he had collected, while acting as Paul’s agent, they are authorized to find a verdict for tbe defendant, for such sum as tbe jury shall believe from tbe evidence, tbe said Carroll has failed to account for ; and in ascertaining such amount of money not accounted for, tbe jury are authorized to regard tbe condition of tbe plaintiff, as to means and capital, when be went into tbe defendant’s service, bis means of accumulation while in such service, and tbe amount of property and money be bad at the conclusion thereof.

6. Tbe evidence of tbe plaintiff’s admitted bandwriting, in tbe letter of January 14th, 1847, and in tbe defendant’s books, is of a much higher and more reliable character, than tbe evidence given in relation to verbal declarations of tbe parties, at a remote period of time. Tbe written testimony is certain and definite, so far as it goes ; tbe verbal testimony, as to tbe declarations of parties, is to be received with great caution.

1. There was no error in receiving tbe first agreement in evidence under tbe pleadings. Tbe action was assumpsit in form, and tbe agreement, not being under seal, was, of course, evidence in support of tbe common counts in tbe declaration, tbe agreement having been executed. The instrument not being sealed, it was not necessary to declare upon it.

2. We consider that there was a variance between tbe second agreement and tbe item founded upon it in tbe bill of particulars. This objection, however, might have been obviated by an amendment, on such terms as would serve the ends o£ justice, and as the circumstances of the case required. This, however, could only have been necessary on the first trial. As the last was the third trial of the cause, we are at a loss to conjecture how the defendant could have been injuriously affected by the introduction of such testimony. It certainly created no surprise, as the former trial must have informed him of the future course of the plaintiff. Under the circumstances, we consider the objection untenable.

8. This court will not interfere with verdicts, on the ground that they are against the weight of evidence. We do not sit here to reverse the verdicts of juries, when the law of the case has been properly put to them. The propriety of this rule is demonstrated by the fact, that every member of the profession deems it a good one, if so limited in its operation as not to affect his cases. It is obvious, that any relaxation of the rule, in particular cases, would have the effect of bringing up for review a large number of verdicts, as the zeal of parties would readily persuade them, that their cases were within the exception. But while this is our purpose, we cannot shut our eyes to the fact, that under the operation of this rule, some hard cases will arise. In such, this court must be satisfied that the instructions given for the party obtaining a verdict, are omni exceptione majores ; for we will not presume that, in a plain case, the jury have trodden the facts under their feet, but that they must have been misled by the instructions of the court. It is but occasionally that juries will take the bit in their teeth and go where they please. In most cases, they are willing that the responsibility of their verdict should rest on the court.

The second instruction given for the plaintiff cannot be maintained, as it involves a misconstruction of the second agreement. That agreement contains an expression of the opinion, on the part of Paul, that the services of Carroll were equal to about nine hours a day. That opinion must be construed to mean, that nine hours a day were necessary to do the services required, as the opinion is expressed, not only for the term past, but for that to come. There was no evidence that more than nine hours were employed. Indeed, it was conceded in the argument, that compensation could be claimed for but nine hours service. This instruction, then, taken in connection with the bill of particulars, to which it refers, authorized the jury to fix the services at ten hours.

4. The instructions given, with regard to the effect of the admission of the justice of the account, and that contained in the letter of the 17th of February, 1847, were not expressed in terms, such as the circumstances of the case required. The verbal admission and the letter made the account rendered a stated account. The account had both a debit and credit side, and the plaintiff was credited for services, from the 1st of January, 1846, till the first of November following, and was allowed only for three hours services per day. The plaintiff admitted twice, that this account was just. Under such circumstances, the jury should have been told, that the account was conclusive between the parties, unless some fraud, mistake, omission or inaccuracy is shown. It is no answer to say, that the fifth instruction (No. 10 of the instructions given,) asked by the defendant, gives the same law as to the inconclusiveness of the effect of the admissions. If the parenthesis in that instruction was inserted by the defendant, such an act must have been induced by the previous instruction of the court, given at the instance of the plaintiff. The defendant was obliged to take the law as it had been declared by the court. He did all he could; he excepted to the instructions, and was compelled to go to the jury with the law as it had been given. When an account between parties is stated, as this one is, with debit and credit sides, and the very matter, about which the controversy arises, is stated in the account, the presumption of law is, that the account is just, and by that presumption the jury should stand, until they are satisfied that there is some fraud, omission or mistake. Gibson v. Hanna, 12 Mo. Rep. 162.

5. There was no error in refusing defendant’s instructions numbered 2, 4, 5 and 6, as they were comments on, or directions to tbe jury, to draw inferences from certain facts. Such instructions involved no law, and comments on tbe evidence are not to be given to tbe jury by way of instruction. If tbe Judge sees proper to comment on tbe evidence to tbe jury, be should do it in sucb a way as not to infringe on tbe rights of juries. They are not obliged to take his views of tbe evidence in a cause, although be may grant a new trial, where justice requires it. Tbe other Judges concurring, tbe judgment will be reversed, and tbe cause remanded.