Hatch v. Bayless

146 S.W. 839, 164 Mo. App. 216, 1912 Mo. App. LEXIS 329

• Court: Missouri Court of Appeals
• Decided: March 4, 1912
• Status: Published

Opinions

F. M. McDAVID, Special Judge.

In March, 1902, the plaintiff and defendant entered into two separate contracts whereby the defendant promised and agreed to pay the plaintiff the sum of five hundred dollars, upon conditions and terms in such contracts specified, each contract calling for the payment of two hundred and fifty dollars, in fruit trees, said sum of five hundred dollars being’ in payment for certain personal property sold by the plaintiff to the defendant at the time.

The suit was brought in the circuit court of Wright county, and was returnable to the September term, 1908. The petition is in two counts in the usual form, pleading the execution of the contracts, amounts due thereon, the conditions of same, a failure of the defendant to comply with their terms, and a prayer for judgment. The defendant in due course filed an amended answer duly verified, admitting that on the day alleged he executed two contracts, but averring that said contracts, after the execution and delivery thereof, had been changed, and, with a fraudulent purpose, mutilated, and that by reason thereof, the defendant was no longer liable thereon. The answer further alleged that the change and mutilation complained of is that the original contracts, as executed, had written thereon the time when the said apple trees were to be delivered, to-wit: Under the first contract (Exhibit “A”), they were to be delivered in the spring of 1903, and in the second contract (Exhibit “B”), they were to be delivered in the spring of 1904, and the defendant alleged that the parts of the contracts whereon.was written the time specified for the delivery of these trees had been torn off, thereby rendering the contracts void. Further answering, the defendant alleged that he at various times, prior to the spring of 1903, wrote to the plaintiff, at the address left by her with Mm for that purpose, asking for shipping directions, and that she made no reply thereto; and that in the spring of 1903, he prepared, packed and boxed in good condition, ready for shipment, two hundred and fifty dollars worth of apple trees and delivered same at the depot in West Plains, Missouri, ready for shipment. Failing to receive any shipping directions and failing to find any at West Plains, the defendant alleged that he took the trees hack home and that he healed them in the garden, and that “healing,” they died. As to the second contract, the answer does not aver any delivery of the trees, therein called for, at West Plains, but alleges that he reserved two hundred and fifty dollars worth of trees ready, for delivery, as provided for in said contract, at any time during the spring of 1904, awaiting shipping directions from plaintiff, and that defendant requested from plaintiff such shipping directions and that plaintiff failed and refused to answer any of his communications; that hy reason of such delay and failure of plaintiff, though the defendant carefully cared for said trees and held them ready for delivery, they died during the summer and fall of 1904, all to the‘damage of the defendant in the sum of two' hundred and fifty dollars, the amount called, for in said contract marked Exhibit “B.”

Plaintiff hy reply denies any mutilation of the contracts; denies that she tore off or detached any •part of said contracts; and denies that the defendant delivered any trees at West Plains, Missouri, as provided for in the contract; and then generally denies all new matter pleaded in defendant’s answer.

The testimony of the plaintiff and defendant tends to support their respective theories of the case and the allegations of their respective pleadings. As to the integrity of the contracts sued on and whether or not there had been any change or mutilation thereof, there was no testimony save and except that given hy the parties to the action. One witness, to-wit, L. M. Fenner, who was postmaster at that time at Buckhart, Missouri, gave testimony tending to corroborate the testimony of the defendant respecting the writing by him of letters to plaintiff requesting directions for ship.xnent of trees, and likewise corroborating him in his statement that in the spring* of 1903 he had hauled apple trees, boxed and ready for shipment, to "West plains, Missouri. Over the objections of the plaintiff, this witness, whose testimony was introduced in this case in the form of a deposition, was permitted to testify concerning the general reputation of both plaintiff and defendant for truthfulness, honesty and upright-. ness, in the vicinity of Buckhart, where they resided, and was permitted by the court over such objections to state that the reputation of the defendant was good while that of plaintiff was bad.

The trial was to the .court, a jury being waived, and judgment being rendered for the defendant, the plaintiff appealed. This is a sufficient statement of the facts.

Numerous errors alleged to have been committed by the trial court are presented to us for determination in the brief of counsel for appellant. ' "We have considered all of the assignments of errors and have examined the authorities cited in support thereof, as well as the briefs — original, and supplemental — of counsel for respondent in reply thereto. However, in the view which we take of the case, and the conclusion we have reached, it will be necessary to discuss only one point, to-wit, the alleged error of the trial court in permitting evidence to be introduced as to the character of the plaintiff and of the defendant.

The authorities in this state on this subject are uniform and unambiguous. In civil cases, the character of neither party, until assailed, can be inquired into, unless it is put in issue in that class of cases such as libel, slander, and malicious prosecution, when its value is to be considered in assessing the amount of damages: [Vawter v. Hultz, 112 Mo. 633, 20 S. W. 689; Alkire Grocer Co. v. Tagart, 78 Mo. App. 166; Dudley v. McCluer, 65 Mo. 241.] So it unquestionably appears that in this case the trial court committed error in admitting* evidence as to the defendant’s general reputation. But the respondent strenuously insists that this was not material error prejudicial to the rights of the appellant and that the judgment ought to be affirmed notwithstanding the error.

It is to be remembered that this was an action at law and not a suit in equity, and that the appellate' court in such a case is not authorized to try the action ele novo and in such trial reject incompetent evidence.

It is to be recalled in this case that the respondent alleged that the contracts sued on had been mutilated by plaintiff tearing from them, after they had been delivered, material stipulations as to the time of the delivery of the trees, with intent to cheat the respondent, which claim the plaintiff denied. There was no substantial evidence on this point save that of plaintiff and defendant. On the proof of such issue, the burden was upon the defendant, and hence his character and standing became a material factor in determining-the value of his evidence.

It has been often declared by our Supreme Court —whose decisions are by constitutional mandate the law of this court — that errors of the trial court are presumptively prejudicial, and that it devolves upon the parties asserting their harmlessness to show such fact affirmatively or the presumption will prevail. [Barkley v. Cemetery Assn., 153 Mo. 1. c. 317, 54 S. W. 482; Dayharsh v. Railroad Co., 103 Mo. 570, 15 S. W. 554; State v. Taylor, 118 Mo. 1. c. 161, 24 S. W. 449; Bindbeutal v. Street Ry. Co., 43 Mo. App. 463; Morton v. Heidorn, 135 Mo. 608, 37 S. W. 504.] This principle was lucidly and logically stated in the Bindbeutal case, supra, by Smith, P. J., as follows (1. c. 469): ‘ ‘ Error and prejudice go hand in hand, until the latter, which is the creature of presumption, is met and neutralized by something in the record. It follows, therefore, that the interference of the appellate court with the judgment of the lower court can be successfully invoked by showing an error in the record; for when error is shown the law supplies and attaches the consequence of prejudice.” Also, by Valliant, J., in the case of Levels v. Railroad, 196 Mo. 1. c. 617, 94 S. W. 275, as follows: “But it not infrequently happens that the duty of examining the evidence when it is conflicting devolves on the appellate court for the' purpose of deciding whether an error occurring in the trial was of a character sufficiently serious to require a reversal of the judgment. Section 865, Revised Statutes 1899, forbids an appellate court to reverse a judgment unless it believes that error was committed in the trial court against appellant ‘and materially affecting the merits of the action.’ Sometimes, therefore, a judgment is affirmed although illegal testimony has been received or other error committed, if, upon the whole record, it is absolutely clear that the judgment is for the right party and that the error could not have affected the result of the trial. But when the case turns on a question of fact and the evidence is so conflicting that a verdict for either side can be said to have substantial evidence to support it, then the introduction of illegal evidence is a matter of more consequence than it would be in a case where the evidence in support of the verdict was substantially all one way.”

The learned trial judge sitting without a jury permitted the incompetent evidence to be given over the objections of the plaintiff, and it is fair to assume that he gave weight to such evidence in the formation of his judgment. [Holmes v. Farris, 97 Mo. App. 305, 310, 71 S. W. 116; Kearney Bank v. Froman, 129 Mo. 1. c. 430, 31 S. W. 769.] In the case of McDonald v. Matney, 82 Mo. 358, 366, the trial had been before the court sitting as a jury and the respondent made the contention in the Supreme Court that inasmuch as the cause was tried by the court without the intervention of a jury, the declarations of law were of no importance, except as indicating the theory on which the court proceeded, and that it was immaterial that improper evidence was admitted if there was competent evidence to sustain the finding. The court said: ‘ ‘ That is correct only where it is obvious that the incompetent evidence admitted did not induce the verdict, but how can we say that the court found its verdict on the other evidence, and that the record of the probate court, to no extent, influenced its finding? How do we know that if that incompetent evidence had been rejected, the verdict would have been for defendant? It is no answer to this, that the evidence would warrant a verdict for plaintiff, even if that read had been executed. This court is not to try the fact. That was the province of the court below, and it erred in admitting evidence without which it might have rendered a verdict for defendant, which this court could not have set aside as against the weight of evidence.” In Walther v. Null, 233 Mo. 1. c. 111, 134 S. W. 993, in equity case, Lamm, J., in discussing errors of the trial court in admitting incompetent testimony and the effect thereof, says: “But in a close case, or where a mass of irrelevant and prejudicial proof, is allowed, we may never know what insidious effect the improper testimony had upon the mind of the trial chancellor. Such evidence tends to create an atmosphere about the case inimical to judicial and intellectual robustness and serenity of judgment. It puts the discriminating powers of the chancellor to a dangerous and unnatural test. It puts an enticing and alluring color in the case that tends to seduce the mind of the chancellor aside from the main traveled road to ultimate justice. It puts a mote in his mind’s eye. It may put a question mark after his decree.” These authorities make it reasonably clear that in so far as the admission of incompetent evidence is concerned, there is no distinction to be drawn in principle in legal actions tried by a jury or tried by the judge sitting as a jury. In either case, the error stands upon the same footing, and the same rules are to be applied in determining whether the admission of the improper evidence constituted reversible error.

It is earnestly contended, however, by counsel for respondent, that even though this point raised by the appellant be well taken, yet that the objections and exceptions to this testimony are not sufficient to authorize the appellate court to find error in the ruling of the trial court.

The record shows that at the trial the defendant offered the deposition of L. M. Fenner who testified, in part, as follows:

“I know the general reputation of C. "W. Bayless in and about Buckhart, Missouri, where he resided, for truthfulness and honesty and uprightness, and know that that reputation is good.”

“I know also the general reputation of Mrs. Ellen Hatch in and about Buckhart, Missouri, for truthfulness, honesty and fair dealing, and I know her reputation is bad.”

The record shows that the following objections were made: “The plaintiff objects to the question and statement in the deposition' as to the general reputation of Bayless for truthfulness, honesty and uprightness, because no attack has been'made on the reputation of defendant, and also objects to the testimony regarding plaintiff’s general reputation for truthfulness in 1909 because that is not in issue, and asks that that part of the deposition be stricken out; which objection was overruled by the court, to which ruling' the plaintiff then and there excepted.”

It is apparent that the testimony as to the good character of the defendant Bayless was incompetent and that the testimony as to the bad character of the plaintiff Hatch was incompetent at the time it was offered. Now it is said that only one objection was made and that it was rightfully overruled because it was a general, objection and part of the testimony was clearly admissible. The record shows that the plaintiff (1) objected to the question and statement in the deposition as to the general reputation of C. W. Bayless, assigning a specific reason, namely, because no attack had been made on the reputation of the defendant; and also (2) objected to the testimony as to the plaintiff’s general reputation for truthfulness, etc., in 1909, assigning a specific reason, namely, because it was not in issue. It will be seen from this record that there were two objections, the first levied specifically at the testimony as to the reputation of the defendant, and the second leveled specifically at the testimony as to. the reputation of the plaintiff, and specific objections assigned. Neither one of the objections was general;, they were each specific; there is not merely one general objection; there are two objections, and each is specific — each directed at what the plaintiff supposed was improper testimony, and the testimony objected to is pointed out and each objection applied to the part complained of. It is true that after the objections, this language appears: “Which objection was overruled by the court.” However, the record on its very face shows that there were two objections and not one; and the fact that in making up the bill of exceptions the one doing so omitted the “s” on the word “objection” is wholly immaterial. The facts.of this case, therefore, do not raise the same questions of law as were presented in Ray County Sav. Bank v. Hutton, 224 Mo. 1. c. 50, 123 S. W. 47, and other cases cited. In that case, an objection was made to the entire deposition, and the court says that if there was any proper testimony in the deposition, the general objection to the whole is bad.. That certainly is not a case like the present. Here, there is no general objection, but there are two specific objections, and counsel in this case properly segregated the good parts from the bad parts and leveled' their objections specifically at what they supposed was improper testimony and ear-. marked it in a distinguishable way. In this they discharged their whole duty to the court.

It is further said that if we treat the objections as two separate objections, then but one exception was saved, and that is insufficient. Our statutes providing for exceptions (sections 2028 and 2029, Revised Statutes 1909) say that the exception must be made at the time the court makes the ruling and that there must be a separate exception to each ruling the court makes, but that these several exceptions may be embodied in one bill of exceptions. The common law practice is stated in Thompson on Trials, sec. 2806, to the effect that a single exception reserved to one or more rulings of the trial court in gross presents no question which can be considered on appeal. This rule would not seem to apply to the present case because there was one ruling only and consequently there could be but one exception. The court evidently considered that the testimony both as to the defendant’s good reputation and as to the plaintiff’s bad reputation was competent and by one ruling overruled the objections. So that this case does not present a condition in which there are two or more rulings of the trial court in gross and only one exception, but there is one ruling and one exception. It seems to me that the law was complied with.

In a supplemental brief the respondent makes the further point that the objection of plaintiff to this evidence which we are now considering was not made until after the testimony was in, and the question had been answered, and therefore came too late. The record in this respect is somewhat awkward in its form, and, as printed, tends in some degree to justify this contention. There can be no question but that under the decisions of the appellate courts of this state a party will not be permitted to speculate on his chances and wait until the witness has answered the question before making his objection; it then comes too late and should be overruled. [Stewart v. Watson, 133 Mo. , 112 S. W. 762; Utz v. Insurance Co., 139 Mo. App. 1. c. 556, 123 S. W. 538; Lutz v. Railway Co., 123 Mo. App. 499, 100 S. W. 46; Mann v. Balfour, 187 Mo. 1. c. 304, 86 S. W. 103; State v. Pyles, 206 Mo. 1. c. 632, 105 S. W. 613.]

It will be remembered, however, that in the case in hand, the evidence complained of was in the form of a deposition, and it is fair to assume that the objections thereto were made in the usual manner by noting same on the margin thereof. They are definite in form and point out the evidence complained of. In the above cases, the reason upon which the rule is based is that a party is not permitted to speculate on his chances or the result of an answer; but that reason fails and the rule cannot be applied with the same effect where both the questions and answers are patent to counsel and to the court, as in this case, where evidence is given in the form of a deposition. In such case, there can he no speculating by counsel on what the answer to a question may be, for the answer is before him. So we conclude that the rule invoked, and announced in the above cited cases, should not be applied here.

We hold, therefore, that the objection to this testimony was properly and timely made, and, being unable to declare as a matter of law that the error of the trial court did not materially affect the merits of the action, it follows that the judgment should be reversed and the cause remanded, and it is so ordered.

Nixon, P. J., concurs. Cox, J., disqualified. Gray, J., dissents and files separate opinion,