Duffy v. Kaufman

18 Pa. Super. 362, 1901 Pa. Super. LEXIS 187

• Court: Superior Court of Pennsylvania
• Decided: October 28, 1901
• Docket: Appeal, No. 47
• Status: Published

Opinion

Per Curiam,

This is an appeal from an order refusing to open a confessed judgment in an amicable action of 'ejectment entered upon a lease. The defendant admitted the execution of the lease, and in her affidavit upon which the rule was granted, did not intimate that it was not the lease under which she held the premises. But in the presentation of testimony taken under the rule, she shifted her ground and alleged that the lease was superseded by another executed about the same time, and by still another executed in November, 1900. Her testimony in support of this allegation was extremely vague, unsatisfactory and contradictory. It was, moreover, contradicted by the testimony adduced by the plaintiff. It is a mistake to suppose that the court to which such an application is made cannot judge of the weight of the evidence and the credibility of the witnesses, but in every case where there is a conflict of testimony must send the case to a jury. This is so well settled as not to require the citation of authorities. We must presume that in discharging the rule the court exercised this power to weigh the evidence and concluded that there was such a clear preponderance against the defendant’s contention that it was not a case requiring a jury trial. After a careful perusal of the testimony we are unanimously of opinion that the court properly and wisely exercised the discretion vested in it. Having arrived at this conclusion it is-unnecessary to discuss the question raised on the motion to quash this appeal.

Order affirmed and appeal dismissed at the costs of the appellant.