Spuhr v. Kolb

86 N.W. 562, 111 Wis. 119, 1901 Wisc. LEXIS 12

• Court: Wisconsin Supreme Court
• Decided: June 20, 1901
• Status: Published

Opinion

Dodge, J.

A careful examination of the evidence shows that, if the witnesses are believed, their testimony overwhelmingly sustains the findings of the court. There are suspicious circumstances and contradictions in the evidence, which might justify a trial court in discrediting those witnesses, but the situation so arising is one upon which the trial court has peculiar advantages for reaching a correct conclusion. The manner and appearance of the witnesses in the explanation of such discrepancies is of very great value. The case, therefore, especially invites the application of the rule that, upon evidence fairly justifying either of two inferences, the decision of the trial court must control. The decision eliminates all the elements of fraud and of purpose to defraud creditors, and justifies the judgment entered.

Complaint is made that upon a motion to dismiss at the close of plaintiff’s evidence there should have been entered a judgment in the nature of a nonsuit, instead of one apparently upon the merits. There is no force to this objection. In a suit in equity the proper practice upon a motion to dismiss at the close of the plaintiff’s evidence is to make findings and render judgment on the merits; not, as in a suit at law, to enter judgment of compulsory nonsuit. Bryant, Code Pr. § 885; Dietz v. Neenah, 91 Wis. 422, 425; Yahr v. Joint School Dist. 99 Wis. 281.

An error is assigned upon the exclusion of evidence, which, however, from an examination of the record, does not seem to be well founded. The plaintiff had taken the deposition of defendant Rornung at a time when he was in default, as a witness for the plaintiff, and, although he was present and sworn at the trial, made a qualified offer of that deposition, to be used only as admissions. On objection being made because the witness was present, the court announced that plaintiff could examine the witness as to any statements made at another time, and offer statements in depositions, but could not be permitted to regularly impeach his own witness. As we understand this ruling, it was to the effect that, if the deposition was offered in evidence, it would constitute Mr. Rornung the plaintiff’s witness, subject to the ordinary rules against impeachments. Plaintiff did not follow this ruling by any further attempt to introduce the whole deposition, tjut was allowed to introduce such specific portions of it as he did offer. From this record we do not understand that the deposition was excluded, but plaintiff merely warned of the effect of introducing it. Nor does it appear that the court refused to receive, any portions which plaintiff desired to introduce. We discover no error in the-ruling.

By the Court.— Judgment affirmed.