Frick v. Kabaker

90 N.W. 498, 116 Iowa 494

• Court: Supreme Court of Iowa
• Decided: May 13, 1902
• Status: Published

Opinion

Deemer, J. —

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3 The first questions presented relate to matters of practice, and they will be disposed of before going to the merits of the controversy. In order to dispose of these questions it will be necessary, however, to briefly recite some of the facts. Prior to his death, in May, 1898, Julius Brown was engaged in business in the city of Burlington. Tie had a limited capital, and defendant, who was his friend, and was engaged in a like business, furnished him goods from time to time with which to conduct the business. Defendant claims that the amount at the time of Brown’s demise was $2,787.87. On May 3 or 4, 1898, it is claimed that Brown, who was then about to leave Burlington to go to a hospital in Chicago for medical treatment, executed and delivered to defendant the following paper: “Burlington, Iowa, Mary 3rd, 1898. This is to certify that I, the undersigned, make statement regarding my effects that I individually conducted a clothing and gents’ furnishing goods store at 707 Jefferson street, in the city of Burlington, Iowa, Des Moines county, and I have bought goods of Chas. Kabaker, of same city, and of which I owe to said Olías. Kabaker, of same city, the sum of ($2,787.87) two thousand seven hundred eighty-seven and 87-100 this day. Julius Brown. Witness: TI. Ñaman.” On the fifth day of May, 1898, Brown also executed to defendant a paper which on its face, purports to be a bill of sale for the stock of merchandise in consideration of the amount due as stated in the first exhibit. This document was also signed by defendant, and contained a release of Brown from all demands of defendant on account of money advanced. Defendant immediately took possession of the stock of goods, and was disposing of the same when this action was brought. May 12, 1898, plaintiff was appointed administrator of Julius Brown’s estate, and as such appeared in the probate court, and asked an order on defendant to turn over the goods received by him from Brown. On the hearing of this application the administrator was ordered to bring suit to determine the validity of the bill of sale. Pursuant to that order plaintiff commenced this action, which as we have seen, as originally commenced, was purely an action at law for the conversion of the property. Defendant denied plaintiff’s right to the possession of the property, pleaded the settlement with Brown and the bill of sale. Plaintiff pleaded, in reply, fraud in obtaining the account stated and the bill of sale; that the bill of sale was intended simply as security; that Brown was not owing defendant anything at the time the bill of sale was executed, and that, as a matter of fact, the paper was executed as a power of attorney to allow defendant to transact business while Brown was at the hospital in Chicago; that the paper was obtained through misrepresentation and deceit, and at a time when Brown was so weakened by disease that he was incapable mentally of transacting business. A motion attacking this pleading was overruled, and defendant then, filed an amendment to "his answer, pleading that the first exhibit above set out was the result of the settlement of an account between himself and Brown, and that the value of the stock of goods did not exceed the amount found due on the settlement. Thereupon defendant moved to refer the case to a referee, because the issue involved a long accounting, and also moved that the case be transferred to the equity docket for trial of the matters pleaded in plaintiff’s reply. This motion was overruled.

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7 It is plain, we think, that this ruling was correct. Down to this time there was no equitable issue for trial, and no such prayer for an accounting as would justify the sustaining of the motion either to refer or to transfer to the equity docket. An instrument absolute in form may be shown to be a mortgage either at law or in equity, and fraud is not solely of equitable cognizance. Boyce v. Allen, 105 Iowa, 249; McAnnulty v. Seick, 59 Iowa, 586; Bank v. Delahaye, 82 Iowa, 34. The account stated pleaded by defendant constituted a new promise distinct from the original items, and no accounting was necessary under the issues as they stood when the motion was filed. Schulz v. Morette, 146 N. Y. 137 (40, N. E. Rep. 780) ; Porter v. Railway Co., 99 Iowa, 351. Before the motion was ruled on however, defendant filed an amendment to his answer, and a cross-petition, to which a demurrer was sustained. Defendant thereupon filed an amendment, pleading almost the exact state of facts embodied in the former amendment, and a demurrer to this was also sustained. Thereupon he filed an amendment setting forth the exhibit to which we first made reference; that he took possession of the goods in the belief that he was the owner thereof; that he sold a part of the goods, but not enough to cover the amount found due, and had expended money and labor in selling the same amounting to $450; and he asked that the amount expended, together with the amount found due on the settlement, be treated as an offset to plaintiff’s claim. As no pleading was filed to this amendment, it was treated as denied by operation of law. As defendant did not stand on the pleadings to which the demurrers were sustained, but proceeded to plead over, he waived the rulings thereon, and cannot now be heard to complain thereof in support of his motion to transfer and to refer. Frum v. Keeney, 109 Iowa, 396; Geiser Mfg. Co. v. Krogman, 111 Iowa, 506; Adams v. Holden, 111 Iowa, 57; Krause v. Lloyd, 100 Iowa, 666. The answer to which no demurrer was filed, which was allowed to stand, and on which the case went to trial, did not present such a case of mutual accounting as to justify an order of reference. Galusha v. Wendt, 114 Iowa, 597, and cases cited. Moreover, should we treat the two pleadings to which demurrers were sustained as proper to bé considered in determining the correctness of the ruling on the motion to refer and transfer, — ■ which it is manifest we cannot do, — still there was no error of which defendant may complain. The first of these claims a "settlement and account stated, and pleads such delay on the part of the administrator in instituting the suit as to lead him to believe that the administrator conceded the correctness of the settlement with Brown, and to incur large expense in the storing and selling of the property received by him. He further alleged that the settlement with Brown was tona fide, although disputed by the administrator, and then set forth a long itemized statement out of which the indebtedness arose, and asked that the settlement be approved, or, if not confirmed, then that the court determine the amount due, and make that sum, with the expense in caring for and handling the property, a lien upon the goods or the proceeds thereof. The itemized statement attached makes 116 pages of printed record, showing charges for goods and credits of cash covering nearly seven years of dealings between the parties. There were but six small credits of merchandise. All other credits were of cash, said to have been paid by Brown to defendant. Of course, the account is made up of hundreds of items. But it is not a case of mutual demands. The credits, with the exception of these six or -seven items, were merely payments by way of a set-off, and the case is not such an one as to- justify an order of reference even with this itemized bill treated as a part of the account. Moreover, defendant was not entitled to a lien: on the goods for the amount of his account and expenses unless -the bill of sale should be treated as security for the account, and this was not claimed. Equity would not create a lien in the absence of an agreement between the parties that one should be created. As the suit ivas brought by the administrator, defendant could not take the goods of the estate, and plead his claim as an offset. That the case, with this amendment, was not such as to justify a reference or an equitable accounting, see McMartin v. Bingham, 27 Iowa, 234; Grant Dist. Tp. v. Bulles, 69 Iowa, 525. In each of the cases relied on by appellant there were mutual accounts. The second amendment repleads the same facts, with some others which were not of equitable cognizance, and there ivas no error in the ruling on the motion to refer, etc. The rulings on the demurrers are not argued. True, there is a general statement that they should have been overruled, but this is not argument. We do not, therefore, consider the correctness of these rulings. It must be remembered at all times that this action is by an administrator, and that, if the bill of sale ivas intended as a mortgage defendant Avas guilty of conversion in disposing of the goods covered thereby in the manner he did.

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19 II. We come now to the real merits of the controversy, and first to the rulings oh evidence. The issues have been sufficiently stated to enable ns to pass upon the errors assigned •without again setting them out. One Robinson, the stenographer, who took the evidence in the probate court on proceedings to discover property in the possession of defendant, was called as a witness to testify as to certain statements made by defendant on that occasion. The defendant objected to this evidence because not admissible under chapter nine, Acts Twenty-seventh General Assembly, and also complains of the court’s 'ruling denying him the right to call out on cross-examination all that was said by defendant on that occasion. There is no merit in either contention. The transcript of the evidence was not introduced. The reporter was called, and testified to certain admissions said to have been made by defendant. This was admissible as primary evidence, and’ not for impeaching purposes, and the acts of the general assembly referred to have no application. The cross-examination called for other and independent statements made by the witness, and the court correctly denied it. But no prejudice resulted in any event, for all these matters were offered and introduced by defendant as a part of his defense. Nate Brown, a brother of the deceased, was called as a witness for plaintiff, and objection was made to his competency under section 4604 of the Code. As deceased ivas a single man, and his parents were alive at the time of the trial, and took whatever property the deceased may have had, the objection is without merit. In any event, he was examined by the administrator, and the section does not apply. Leasman v. Nicholson, 59 Iowa, 259. This witness after' stating that he knew the stock of goods, the cost price, and the value of the goods, said that it was worth $6,000 at the time defendant took possession thereof. Objection was made be cause the witness was incompetent to give an opinion as to value. Manifestly, the objection was properly overruled. After some cross-examination of the witness, the defendant moved to strike his evidence as a,whole, and also his answers as to the cost price of goods. Having shown some qualifications to answer as to value, his evidence was properly received. Clark v. Ellsworth, 104 Iowa, 449. His evidence as to cost price was derived from invoices which he says he saw when the goods were delivered, and was proper. Whitney v. Thatcher, 117 Mass. 523; Hudson v. Railroad Co., 92 Iowa, 231. Before this witness was asked to give an opinion as to value, defendant attempted to cross-examine him with reference to the amount of goods in stock, and objection thereto was sustained. The ruling was correct. After he had given evidence as to value, he was thoroughly cross-examined, and no prejudice resulted. Moreover, if the question was asked to test the witness’s recollection, the ruling was discretionary, and we should not interfere. Other matters asked Brown with reference to the conduct of his sister were not cross-examination. A postal card written in ‘ a foreign language and signed by . Brown, was shown this witness, and he was asked ta identify the signature. The court said that it was in a foreign language, and, as he could not determine what it contained, he would sustain the objection. No effort was made to enlighten the court, and there is no means of telling whether or not the ruling was correct, and if incorrect, whether or not prejudice resulted. Surely, if counsel claimed there was anything material in the letter, he should have informed the court as to its contents. We are not favored with either the original or a translation, and, if the ruling was incorrect, no prejudice appears. The notary public who took acknowledgment of the bill of sale was asked as to whether deceased was clear in mind when he acknowledged the instrument. No facts had been detailed by the witness' — who was a non-expert — on which to found an opinion, and objection to the question was sustained. Even if it be conceded that the ruling sustaining the objection was erroneous, yet, as tire witness several times answered that he (Brown) was competent to transact business, and understood all he was doing, no prejudice resulted. Defendant was asked regarding the delivery of goods and invoices to the deceased, and plaintiff’s objection of incompetency under section 4604 of the Code was sustained. These rulings were clearly correct. McElhiney v. Hendricks, 82 Iowa, 657, does not support appellant’s contention: The questions approved in that case were put to and answered by defendant without objection. Other complaints with reference to this matter are ruled adversely to defendant in Re Browns Estate, 92 Iowa, 379. Evidence as to' contents of letters written to deceased was secondary, and rightly excluded. Defendant was asked as to the state of feeling between Julius Brown, deceased, and his sisters. This was properly excluded as a personal communication. Books of Kabaker & Nathan were offered in evidence,- and objection thereto was sustained. As the books- were not shown by the oath of the party, who kept them to be of original entry, they were properly excluded. There was’ no reason for allowing one who had gone over defendant’s books to state aggregate sales to Brown during the years 1894, 1895, 1896, 1897, 1898. The books were in evidence, and clearly showed these matters. Other evidence of personal transactions between defendant and^ Brown was properly excluded. Defendant offered to prove that a small claim was filed against Brown’s estate, but was not permitted to do so. There was no error in this. Even if erroneous, there was no prejudice. Defendant was denied the right of showing the expense of closing out a stock of merchandise. In this there Was no error. The witness was not asked to value the stock, nor did he undertake to make the value depend on this item of expense. Moreover, the stock of merchandise in this case was not closed out, but taken by defendant, and used in the ordinary manner. A witness ivas asked to make comparison of items on two separate books. The jury could do this as well as the witness, and no prejudice resulted from denying an 'answer. An expert who examined the books of Brown & Kabaker was asked for a summary of the footings. This might well have been received, but, as the witness stated the results of his examination, no prejudice resulted from the ruling excluding it. Contents of letters said to have been received by one Tetta Brown were given in evidence. As the letters were shown to have been destroyed, the evidence was competent. Defendant offered certain parts of the translation of the shorthand reporter’s notes taken on the hearing in the probate court. These related wholly to personal transactions between him and Brown, and were properly excluded. They were also incompetent because defendant ivas present in court at this trial, and ivas on the witness stand in his own behalf. Appellant’s counsel are wrong in their assumption that this transcript ivas offered' in evidence by plaintiff, and that they were, therefore, entitled to the whole thereof. Moreover,, the matter was not cross-examination of the stenographer who took the evidence. This disposes of all the ruling on evidence that are of sufficient importance to justify special mention, and we now turn our attention to the complaints of the instructions.

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27 III. When plaintiff’s counsel ivas making his opening statement, defendant made an objection thereto, and the court, in ruling thereon, stated in a general Avay the purpose of opening statements, and, referring more specifically to the matter in hand, said that, if it became necessary during the progress of the case to instruct Avith reference therto, he would do so in Avriting. This is said to be erroneous because it Avas an instruction, and was not put’in writing, as the statutes require. There is no merit in the claim. What was said was nothing more than a ruling on an objection, which need not be reduced in writing. Instructions 1, 2, 3, 10, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, and 23 are complained of. Most of the criticisms are hypercritical, and we will notice only those which seem to present debatable questions. It will be remembered that there are two written statements in the case, purporting to have been signed by the deceased, one the account .stated, which is set out at length in our statement of the case in the earlier, part of this opinion, and the other the bill of sale therein referred; to. This bill of sale also contains an acknowledgment by Brown of the amount of his indebtedness to the defendant, a statement that the bill of sale was made in consideration of said indebtedness and a release of all indebtedness from Brown to defendant. In the second instruction the court said that, if plaintiff established either that the bill of sale was not voluntarily executed as a bill of sale or that it was intended by both parties as security, or that it was without any consideration, and fraudulent, he would be entitled to recover, and that the burden would then be on defendant to establish the amount of his (Brown’s) indebtedness to him (defendant). This is not strictly accurate for two reasons; First, because the bill of sale found to be a mortgage would nevertheless establish the amount of defendant’s indebtedness unless obtained by fraud or misrepresentation; and, second, though not voluntarily executed as a bill of sale, the recitations of indebtedness therein would be in no manner destroyed, and, if it was obtained without fraud, or if the first exhibit above referred to was genuine, and not fraudulently obtained, the statement of indebtedness contained in either would be conclusive of Brown’s indebtedness to defendant. On account of other instructions, which seem, in a measure, at least to cover the ground, we should not reverse on this ground alone, but call attention to it that the error may not be repeated on a retrial. In the third instruction the court, after referring to the bill of sale, said, among other things: “Ton are instructed that the legal effect of such instrument was to convey to the defendant the absolute title to arid right of possession of the property therein described, provided the same was voluntarily executed by Julius Brown for a consideration, and was not induced by fraudulent acts or misrepresentations or undue influence of the defendant.” The italicized part is complained of because there is no issue of undue influence made by the pleadings. This complaint is well founded. There is no pleading tendering any such issue, and the matter was nowhere else explained in the instruction. Appellee contends that fraud and undue influence are one and the same thing in law. This is not true as a matter of laAV, and the court,at no place in its instructions so stated to the jury. That prejudice resulted from this instruction is beyond controversy. Much of the eyidence, if believed, tended to shoiv undue influence, rather than fraud; and the jury may have based.its finding on the theory that the various instruments received by defendant from BroAvn acknowledging an indebtedness to defendant and fixing the amount thereof were obtained by undue influence on account of the intimate relations.then and theretofore existing betAveen the parties. When undue influence is relied upon, it must be clearly set up in the pleadings, by stating in substance the facts Avhich sIioav the domination of the will of the influencing party. Jackson v. Rowell, 87 Ala. 685 (6 South. Rep. 95, 4 L. R. A. 637). While undue influence is,a species of fraud, it must, nevertheless, be pleaded as such, in order to be availing. In the instruction complained of, the court made a distinction, between fraud and undue influence, and at no time told the jury that they were to be treated as one and the same thing. This in itself shows that appellee’s contention is without merit. Instruction 14. in effect told the jury that if they found either the bill of sale or the acknowledgment of indebtedness fraudulent and of no effect, then the burden was on 'defendants to show that Brown was indebted to him, and,the amount thereof. This also was erroneous. Even if the account stated or acknowledgment of indebtedness was obtained by fraud, this would not destroy the bill of sale, if it was .executed in good faith. In instruction 15 the court said, among other things, that, if the acknowledgment of indebtedness was without consideration, and that no debt was due, defendant, then plaintiff would be entitled to receive the value of the property. There was no claim in the pleadings that this account stated was without consideration; and the instruction, without explanation, was well calculated to mislead the jury. The consideration for an account .stated or an acknowledgment of indebtedness is known only to lawyers, and it is likely that some of them would have difficulty in explaining it. The ordinary juror would likely say it had no consideration, for nothing was paid therefor. The issue with reference to this document was that it was obtained through fraud, and the court should not have obscured this issue by introducing the .question of want of consideration. In the same instruction the jury was directed, if it found for plaintiff, to allow him interest from May 12, 1898. The petition claims interest only from August 31, 1899. This is manifestly erroneous. Winney v. Manufacturing Co., 86 Iowa, 608. The same error-is also found in instruction No. 23. Instruction No. 16, relating to defendant’s books of account, was proper. The court admitted them in evidence, but left the weight thereof to the jury. This is in accord with established rules. Churchill v. Fulliam, 8 Iowa, 45 ; Cummins v. Hull’s Adm’r, 35 Iowa, 253. Instruction No. 17 told the jury that, if the bill of sale was intended as security only, then plaintiff was entitled to recover. This was correct, as also was No. 23 in so far as complaint was made of it on this score. Colby v. W. W. Kimball Co., 99 Iowa, 321; Howery v. Hoover, 97 . Instruction No. 23 was further erroneous in that the jury was told among other things that the verdict should be for defendant, unless it,found that the bill of sale was without consideration. Had the jury followed this instruction exactly as written, its verdict should have been for defendant, for it found that Brown was indebted to defendant in the sum of $1,200. Instruction 7 asked by defendant was-properly refused for the reason that it called for a greater-quantity of proof, to wit, “satisfactory affirmative proof,” that the certificate of the notary to the bill of sale was false. Complaint is made of remarks of plaintiff’s counsel in his opening argument to the jury. As-the alleged remarks are not made a part of the record by bill of exceptions, we may not consider this assignment.

IY. Lastly, it is argued that the verdict is not supported by,the evidence, and is contrary thereto. In view of a retrial, it is better that we express no opinion on this matter. It may be proper to state, however, that we think the verdict on the evidence in the record now before us is excessive. The stock of goods was not worth, in our judgment, on the record before us, more than $3,500. The jury, without any competent or reliable evidence, found it worth $1,200. But we need not elaborate on this point, nor comment on the. amount of Brown’s indebtedness to defendant as disclosed by the record. We have carefully gone over a voluminous record consisting-of more than 500 pages,; and are satisfied that on account of the errors pointed out defendant did not have a fair trial.

The judgment of the district court is therefore reversed. . '