Schultz v. Culbertson

103 N.W. 234, 125 Wis. 169, 1905 Wisc. LEXIS 133

• Court: Wisconsin Supreme Court
• Decided: May 2, 1905
• Status: Published

Opinion

Dodge, J.

' The first error is assigned upon the exclusion of certain evidence. The plaintiff having introduced the original answer as an admission by James Culbertson contradicting certain facts claimed by appellant, the latter offered testimony of the attorney that he filed such answer, neithersigned nor verified by James Culbertson, without consultation with or information from him, but upon information derived from others. The testimony was excluded upon objection. Such ruling might be either correct or erroneous,, according to the purpose of its offer. If, as respondent contends, it was tendered merely to show that such former answer was not receivable in evidence as an admission, the ruling would he correct. Such answer filed by his authorized: attorney, and adopted by the client by proceeding to and through trial thereon, was an admission, conclusive only so-long as the pleading remained unamended, but still eviden-tiary even after substitution of another answer. Wazner v. Howland, 10 Wis. 8; Norris v. Cargill, 57 Wis. 251, 256, 15 N. W. 148; Lindner v. St. Paul F. & M. Ins. Co. 93 Wis. 526, 530, 67 N. W. 1125; Lee v. C., St. P., M. & O. R. Co. 101 Wis. 352, 77 N. W. 714. Some intimations in other' jurisdictions that such a pleading is not admissible at all,without affirmative proof of authority from the party to the' attorney to malee it, cannot control us in presence of the well-established rule in this state. When, however, a writing ceases to be a pleading, by reason of presence of a substitute, it is of force only as is any other declaration of facts — as an evidentiary admission of such facts, — and its cogency to establish them varies according to many collateral circumstances, such as deliberation and care with which made, the clearness of comprehension of either the maker or; the reporter of the statement, or, especially when emanating from an agent, the fulness of consultation with and disclosure from the principal. Eor these reasons it is, of course, proper to offer evidence of any stieh circumstances to guide the jury in deciding upon the weight to be given to the-admission in comparison with any evidence conflicting therewith. Eor such, purpose the testimony of the attorney offered was clearly admissible and should have been received. Husbrook v. Strawser, 14 Wis. 403; Lindner v. St. Paul F. & M. Ins. Co., supra.

Error is also assigned opon refusal to permit defendant, widow of James Culbertson, to testify as to his mental “capacity. The offer was to prove by her that for ten years he 'had done no business because of his failing powers, mental and physical, and that for the last three years his memory had failed so as to render him incompetent to make any contract or do any business, which, counsel said, “we propose to show by his conduct and conversation.” The ruling excluding all such evidence went entirely too far. When the marital status has terminated, the former wife is under no dis- • qualification merely because her former husband or his estate is party to the suit. Bigelow v. Sickles, 75 Wis. 427, 44 N. W. 761; Brown v. Johnson, 101 Wis. 661, 77 N. W. 900. Her competency is only limited by secs. 4069, 4072, Stats., 1898; the former excluding testimony of a party as to transactions with the deceased in certain cases, and the latter prohibiting disclosure of confidential communications- — ■ probably, also, an opinion based wholly on such excluded transactions or communications. In re Hunt's Will, 122 Wis. 460, 100 N. W. 874. But defendant could have testified to acts, conduct, or transactions had by the deceased within her observation, if wholly unparticipated in and uninfluenced by her. Burnham v. Mitchell, 34 Wis. 117, 133; Wollman v. Ruehle, 104 Wis. 603, 80 N. W. 919; Brader v. Brader, 110 Wis. 423, 85 N. W. 681; Morgan v. Henry, 115 Wis. 27, 90 N. W. 1012; Anderson v. Laugen, 122 Wis. 57, 99 N. W. 437. After narrating such acts, conduct, or ■conversation, she could have testified to her mental impression as to decedent’s competency derived therefrom. Yanke v. State, 51 Wis. 464, 469, 8 N. W. 276; Crawford v. Christian, 102 Wis. 51, 78 N. W. 406; In re Guardianship of Welch, 108 Wis. 387, 394, 84 N. W. 550. The offer of testimony clearly might have included such admissible evidence,, and the total exclusion of it'was prejudicial error.

Other assignments of error present events not likely.to occur upon another trial and may be passed without discussion.

By the Gourt. — Judgment reversed and cause remanded, for a new trial.