Dorrance v. McAlester

45 S.W. 141, 1 Indian Terr. 473, 1898 Indian Terr. LEXIS 72
CourtCourt Of Appeals Of Indian Territory
DecidedApril 2, 1898
StatusPublished
Cited by5 cases

This text of 45 S.W. 141 (Dorrance v. McAlester) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court Of Appeals Of Indian Territory primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Dorrance v. McAlester, 45 S.W. 141, 1 Indian Terr. 473, 1898 Indian Terr. LEXIS 72 (Conn. 1898).

Opinion

Springer, C. J.

(after stating the facts.) The errors assigned in this case will be considered in detail.

The first error assigned is to the effect that the court erred in allowing defendants’ counsel to interrogate witness Oziah, on cross examination, as to matters not brought out in the direct examination, unless defendant first make Oziah his own witness, and that the court erred in stating to the jury that defendant was not bound by such testimony. It is the rule in most of the states of this country that the cross-examination must be limited to the matters stated in the examination in chief, and, if the party cross-examining inquires as to new matter, he makes the witness his own. Steph. Dig. Ev. p. 223 note 1, and authorities there cited. It is not always clear as to what is legitimate cross-examination, and what relates only to new matter. The examination of Oziah in chief related to the fact that he was in business at Purcell, the identification of the bill of sale to Mrs. Dorrance, to which his signature was attached, and the value of the stock of goods transferred by it. On cross-examination the witness was asked: “How much money did you put into that business? Answer. $500.” The next question put was: “Where did you get it?” To this question counsel for appellant objected on the ground that it was not cross-examination of anything upon which the witness was interrogated. In view of the fact that the transfer of the stock of goods by witness to his sister was attacked as fraudulent by appellees, and that the witness was evidently hostile to them, we are of the opinion that the question put was proper cross-examina[480]*480tion, that appellees bad the right to put the question., and that they were not bound by the answers that the witness gave. The appellees had a right to probe the transaction to the bottom, and to bring to light every fact relating to it. It was especially proper to subject the witness Oziah to a rigid cross-examination as to everything which would throw light upon the transaction. The question did not relate to new matter, but to the very subject-matter of which the witness, in his examination in chief, testified, namely, to the sale of the stock of goods.

Cross examination. Statements of attorney.

The second assignment of error is as follows: “The court erred in admitting in evidence the testimony of J. W. Hocker in the cross-examination as to his knowledge of the financial condition of Oziah, and as to whether or not witness made inquiry as to the financial condition of Oziah, and as to his solvency. Mr. Hocker was the attorney of appellant, and was present as such when the sale of the stock of goods took place. Mrs. Dorrance, the appellant, testifies that Mr. Hocker knew what the stock of goods amounted to, and that she “took his advice.” In answer to the question, “Did Mr. Hocker help you to make the trade?” she answered, “Yes, sir. ” She and her attorney were together at the time, and he was advising her and helping her. She was bound by his statements and admissions in the line of his duties, and within the scope of his general authority as her attorney. Steph.Dig. Ev. p. 46; 1 Greenl. Ev. § 186.

The third assignment of error is to the effect that ‘ ‘the court erred in admitting in evidence the testimony oí defendant Halsell relating to conversations had between witness and Oziah not in the presence of Mrs. Dorrance, the plaintiff herein. ’ ’ The question put to witness Halsell tc which the objection was made and the exception taken was, “What did Oziah say about paying you this debt?” His answer was to the effect that Oziah said that- he started his [481]*481business “on wind;’’ that he did not have a cent, and would not pay a cent. This statement was made just after the sale to Mrs. Dorrance. The sale had just been announced. The witness was present, trying to secure his own debt, and was trying to find out what had been done as to his claim,— whether it had been secured or not. Mrs. Dorrance ha,d told witness she did not know anything about his claim, and that he must look to Oziah for payment. Then the question came, ‘ ‘What did Oziah say about paying you this debt? ’ ’ Mrs. Dorrance having referred the witness Halsell, who was a creditor seeking payment of his debt, to look to Oziah, it was competent to ask him what he said about the payment. She was not prejudiced in the least by his answer. Mr. Easton, who was Oziah’s clerk in his store, was called as a witness for the defendants, and testified that Mrs. Dorrance ’ told Mr. Hocker, her attorney, while the papers were being drawn up, that he had better hurry up and make the bill of sale; that Mr. Halsell was trying to fix his business up with Mr. Oziah. She knew, evidently, that her brother was indebted to Mr. Halsell, and she was trying to get possession of the stock of goods, so as to defeat Halsell’s claim. Oziah’s statements at the time were in reality a part of the res gestee. They were all consulting and acting together, and had not separated when the statement to which exception was taken was made.

Res Gestae. statements prior to sale.

The fourth, fifth, and sixth assignments of error, which relate to the testimony of Eaton, William, and Josh Clardy, come under the rule stated above in the consideration of the third assignment. Statements made by Oziah to these witnesses, prior to the time of the sale to Mrs. Dor-rance, as to his efforts to sell his stock of goods, his reasons therefor, and his liabilities, could not prejudice her rights, except in so far as they might serve the purpose of explaining her acts and intentions in the matter.

instruction - Refusal not error.

The seventh assignment of error is to the effect that the court refused to submit to the jury the instruction set forth in the exception. The exception would have been well taken, had not the court given instruction No. 5, which fully covers the ground. It is not error to refuse an instruction when the court has already instructed the jury fully to the same purport in another instruction. Counsel for appellant insist that the charge of the court, taken as a whole, did not , express the law as asked for in his instruction. Learned counsel may be able to see some difference in the legal principle as stated in the two propositions, but we are quite certain that the jury must have regarded both as embodying the same meaning. The substantial point in both instructions was that fraud was never to be presumed, and that the burden of proving it was on the party that alleged it. This was the idea that both propositions clearly set forth, and, the court having given one instruction, it was not error to refuse the other.

The other assignments of error relate to the giving of the following instructions by the trial court: “(6) The plaintiff, Mrs. Dorrance, had the right at the time to purchase from her brother,j Oziah, the property, to protect herself on any bona fide claim which she held against him, or upon which she was security; and she would have the right to do that though he was insolvent at the time, and was seeking even to defraud his creditors, provided she was not at the time a party to a combination with him, and aiding him in his efforts to defraud his creditors. (7) If, therefore, she! knew he was insolvent, or in failing circumstances, and knew I of his purpose to defraud his creditors, and participated in 8 the transaction, she could not recover in this case.

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
45 S.W. 141, 1 Indian Terr. 473, 1898 Indian Terr. LEXIS 72, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/dorrance-v-mcalester-ctappindterr-1898.