Jensen v. McCornick

72 P. 630, 26 Utah 142, 1903 Utah LEXIS 16

• Court: Utah Supreme Court
• Decided: May 12, 1903
• Docket: No. 1413
• Status: Published

Opinion

BOOTH, District Judge.

The plaintiffs (respondents) bring this suit against the defendant (appellant) W. S. McCornick to recover from the latter the sum of $700. Johnson and Hedelius are made defendants because they refused to- join as plaintiffs.

The complaint alleges, in substance, that some negotiations were entered into between the plaintiffs, Johnson, and Hedelius, on the one side, and McCornick and Katz, on the other, relating to the purchase by Jensen et al. from the said McCornick and Katz of the Domestic Laundry, at a price agreed on. The interests of McCornick and Katz were separate, and the purchasers were to receive the property of the defendant McCornick free from all incumbrances. Tbe agreed price of tbe latter’s interest was $1,007, of wbicb $700 was paid by an $800 certificate of deposit delivered by plaintiffs to McCornick; tbe latter giving tbem a check for $100, and tbe purchasers executing a note for $507 in favor of tbe vendor, on wbicb note there was immediately indorsed as paid tbe sum of $200.' McCornick executed a bill of sale of bis interest. This was on Saturday night, June 25, 1898. Tbe papers were all kept with McCornick at bis bank, and the parties were to meet tbe next day, or at some future time, when Katz’ interest could be secured, and then complete tbe bargain. In the meantime tbe plaintiffs learned that there were incumbrances on tbe property, and that a complete title could not be obtained; and on Monday, June 27th, tbe plaintiffs declared tbe negotiations off. Tbe certificate of deposit for $800 and tbe check for $100 bad been cashed. Tbe plaintiffs tendered McCornick $100 gold coin, and demanded back tbe certificate and note, and McCornick refused to do either or return tbe $700. Tbe answer of McCornick denied tbe allegations of tbe complaint, and held that tbe negotiations bad been fully completed by a transfer of bis interest in tbe property, and that bis part did not depend on that of Katz. This action seeks to recover tbe money received on tbe deposit certificate, and the cancellation of the note, or recover tbe value thereof. Tbe case was tried in tbe district court, and judgment obtained for tbe plaintiffs. Tbe case was appealed to this court, and tbe judgment reversed, and sent back for a new trial. Jensen v. Mc-Cornick, 20 Utah 355, 58 Pac. 834. On tbe second trial, judgment was again rendered for tbe plaintiffs, and tbe defendant McCornick appeals. Johnson and Hedelius do not appear to have any interest in tbe matter.

A large part of the record in this case deals with the evidence, and the conflict therein. This court has held uniformly, and in so many instances, that a 1 verdict of a. jury will not be questioned where tbe evidence is conflicting, that it is not necessary to cite cases on that question.

The alleged errors relied on by the appellant are, first, that the court admitted in evidence plaintiffs ’ Exhibit E, which was a note given by the Domestic 2 Laundry and Chapman-Katz Company for two wagons used in the business and included in the sale, on which wagons there was a subsisting vendor’s lien, and which note provided that the title should not pass till the wagons were paid for. It is admitted that the said wagons were not paid for. The questions of fact being in issue by the pleadings as to whether the wagons were paid for, whether the plaintiffs agreed to accept the wagons if they were not paid for, and whether a lien attached to the wagons, it was proper to admit the exhibit, that the jury could more intelligently determine those questions, and the court committed no error in its reception as evidence.

Charles Johnson, the defendant, was produced as 3 a witness for plaintiffs, and testified concerning the transaction. On cross-examination he was asked the question: “Why did you refuse to join with the plaintiffs in suing Mr. McCornick?” It was objected to as immaterial: The objection was sustained, and an exception taken by the defense. It appears in the pleadings that, although the negotiations were carried on and the alleged purchase was made by and for the plaintiffs and Charles Johnson and Carl W. Hedelius, nevertheless Johnson and Hedelius refused to join with plaintiffs in the suit. This question was improper. It 4 asked for a conclusion. It was immaterial, as asked. The plaintiffs could not be bound by some private reason of Johnson why he would not join as plaintiff.

Mrs Edith Lomax Evans, a witness produced for the defendant, testified that she was working for the Domestic Laundry on Monday, the 27th day of 5 June, 1898; that she saw defendant Charles Johnson there, and had a conversation with him — and was asked to give the conversation, whereupon the following proceedings were Lad: “Objected to as irrelevant, incompetent, and hearsay. It does not appear to have been in tbe presence of Mr. Jensen, and be is not bonnd by it.” Tbe proof in tbis case does not sbow a partnership or joint tenancy or other interest between tbe plaintiffs and Johnson, so as to make tbe statements-of any one of them, made in tbe absence of tbe other, binding on tbe absent one. It is admitted that tbe statement of Johnson to tbe witness Evans, whatever it might be, was not made in presence of either of tbe plaintiffs, and tbe court properly sustained tbe objection.

We find no reversible error in tbis ease, and tbe judgment of tbe district court is affirmed, with costs to the respondents.

BASKIN, 0. J., and BARTCH, J., concur in result.