Davis v. Willis

22 N.Y.S. 339, 50 N.Y. St. Rep. 835
New York Supreme Court·Decided February 15, 1893·Published

Opinion

HARDIN, P. J.

Upon the appeal before us, the appellant is not entitled to have us review the facts, and determine whether the verdict was against the weight of evidence, as there is no order denying a motion for a new trial in the appeal book. Matthews v. Mayberg, 63 N. Y. 656; Hume v. Mayor, 74 N. Y. 268; Burger v. Burger, 111 N. Y. 528, 19 N. E. Rep. 99, 21 N. E. Rep. 50; Homeyer v. Wool Co., (Sup.) 20 N. Y. Supp. 814; Smith v. Simmons, (Sup.) 21 N. Y. Supp. 47; Carlson v. Winterson, (City Ct. N. Y.) 20 N. Y. Supp. 897. There is, however, an order in the appeal book, made at the close of the first trial in the county court, which we reversed on the former appeal. 57 Hun, 200, 10 N. Y. Supp. 883. That order cannot be considered in reviewing the last trial. We have, therefore, before us, on this appeal, only the exceptions taken during the trial, as the appellant’s appeal from the judgment is only effectual in bringing them before us. Boos v. Insurance Co., 64 N. Y. 236; Railroad Co. v. Ebling, 100 N. Y. 98, 2 N. E. Rep. 878. The trial seems to have proceeded in accordance with the views expressed in our opinion on the former appeal. 57 Hun, 200, 10 N. Y. Supp. 883. In presenting the case to the jury the trial judge kept within the principles stated in the opinion of Judge Martin, speaking for this court, and no exception was taken to the charge.

2. The jury found a verdict “for the plaintiff for 15 tons of hay, at $7, equal to $105,” and allowed interest upon that amount. Were there any rulings made which were prejudicial to the defendant? When the plaintiff purchased of Yanderhule the contract, and the property he claims to recover for, he paid for the purchase by giving a note, with a surety, on the 24th of October, 1887. That note was offered in evidence, and defendant objected to it, and took an exception to the ruling admitting it in evidence. The witness had already testified, without objection, that he gave the note, and that it had been paid. We think the defendant was not prejudiced by the ruling. In Roe v. Hanson, 5 Lans. 304, the price at which a cow sold at private sale was held to be inadmissible, and the case does not contain anything which condemns the ruling before us.

3. Plaintiff called McKinnon as a witness, who testified that he went to the bays where the hay was stored, and ^dded: “While there, Davis, Yanderhule, and I looked at the hay in the barn, and measured the mows. . Yanderhule and Davis measured the hay in my presence, and they called off the different dimensions of the bays.” Thereupon the following question was propounded to the witness: “Question. What were the size of those bays, Mr. McKinnon?” This was objected to “upon the ground that it does not appear that he knows.” The court ruled, viz.: “He may answer.” Defendant took an exception, and the witness answered: “They were 30 feet long, and 15 [341] feet wide. I saw the height of the hay. This was a double floor or overshot barn. The hay was above the upper floor about three feet. It would average three feet on both sides; some places, a little more. It was seven feet between the floors. I observed the quality.” We think the exception presents no error.

4. Plaintiff called as a witness Mr. Sisson, who stated that he was a farmer, and that he lived within about a mile of the farm upon which the hay in controversy was situated, and that he had attended a sale of hay that fall in the neighborhood of the farm, and that he had heard the quality of this hay described. He was then asked to give an opinion of the value of the hay. An objection was taken to the question, by stating “that the evidence called for is incompetent.” The objection was overruled, and an exception was taken, and the witness answered, “The average price would be, I should judge, 9 or 10 dollars, —between nine and ten.” An exception was taken, and the witness added, “I think the fair market price was nine dollars.” There was no motion to strike out the witness’ answer last given, and from several other witnesses like testimony was given; and the jury found, specifically, the value of the hay to be seven dollars per ton. Under such circumstances, we are of the opinion that the defendant was not prejudiced by the ruling.

5. During the cross-examination of the defendant, after he had stated that the contract was canceled in the early days of July, 1887, the following question was propounded to him: “Question. Now, what time was this pretended or alleged cancellation of the contract ?” This was objected to by the defendant on the ground that it “assumes that the contract is a pretended one; it is not proven.” The objection was overruled, and an exception taken. Thereupon the witness answered, viz.: “It was early in July, perhaps the 5th or 6th or 7th. I can’t tell the date. I made no particular minute or memorandum. I have none, that I know of, that I can tell the precise date. I know it -as early in July. I did not state on the other trial that it was the 9th. I want the scale to slide a few days, if you want it stated in that way.” We think the defendant cannot successfully maintain that an error was committed, or that he was prejudiced by the ruling.

6. During the further cross-examination of the defendant the following question was propounded: “Question. They put you on the list, in the first place, for $10,000?” (that is, the assessors.) This was objected to as entirely immaterial. It was overruled, an exception was taken, and the answer which the witness made was as follows: “I didn’t know, only from hearsay. I heard they had. I don’t think I went before them later, on what is called ‘Grievance Day.’” We think the ruling presents no prejudicial error.

7. In the assignment executed by Vanderhule on the 24th day of October, 1887, which transferred to the plaintiff the contract as to the land, there were words broad enough to cover the hay on the farm. The assignment purported to transfer “all and every claim I [Vanderhule] have to the personal property mentioned in said contract, and to the hay now in the barn on said farm, or that was cut on the farm this [342] year, and in other places of storage, etc.” The jury, in effect, have found that Vanderhule owned the hay in question at the time the assignment was made. We think there was some evidence tending to support that claim.' >

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Davis v. Willis, 22 N.Y.S. 339, 50 N.Y. St. Rep. 835 (N.Y. Super. Ct. 1893).

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Third Avenue R.R. Co. v. . Ebling
2 N.E. 878 (New York Court of Appeals, 1885)
Boos v. . World Mutual Life Insurance Co.
64 N.Y. 236 (New York Court of Appeals, 1876)
Matthews v. . Meyberg
63 N.Y. 656 (New York Court of Appeals, 1876)
Roe v. Hanson
5 Lans. 304 (New York Supreme Court, 1871)
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10 N.Y.S. 883 (New York Supreme Court, 1890)
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Carlson v. Winterson
1 Misc. 207 (City of New York Municipal Court, 1892)