Thompson v. Shaefer

9 Ind. 500

• Court: Indiana Supreme Court
• Decided: November 28, 1857
• Status: Published

Opinion

Stuart, J.

Archibald Thompson was the defendant below. Shaefer and others sued Thompson on an account. Trial by the Court, and judgment for the plaintiffs.

Thompson moved for a new trial, but did not file any written causes in that behalf. This was fatal to his motion, and accordingly it was correctly overruled. "Written causes are required to be filed. 2 R. S. p. 119. See, also, Kirby v. Cannon, at the present term

(1). So that we cannot regard the evidence in the record for any purpose.

It is assigned for error that Shaefer, one of the plaintiffs, was sworn as a witness in the cause, over the objection of the defendant below. To prevent an application for a continuance on the part of Thompson, because of absent witnesses, the plaintiffs below made a witness of Thompson himself — requiring him “to confine his evidence to the items of account against him in the complaint, and to say nothing about any payments or credits.” But when the plaintiffs closed their examination, Thompson proceeded to testify that he had paid the plaintiffs, in addition to the credits allowed, 90 dollars. Shaefer, one of the plaintiffs, was then offered as a witness as to that item of 90 dollars, and over the objection of the defendant, Thompson, was admitted, and testified as to that item only. This is assigned for error, and is, perhaps, raised by the bill of exceptions containing the evidence.

There was no error in this; it was in strict accordance with the statutory provision. Thus:

“ Sec. 300. A party examined by an adverse party may testify in his own behalf in respect to any matter pertinent to the issue;. but if he testify to any new matter not responsive to the inquiries put to him by the adverse party, such adverse party may offer himself as a witness on his own behalf, in respect to the new matter, and shall be so received.” 2 R. S. p. 96.

Something is said about an agreement to admit Thompson as a witness. Admitted; but it was not stipulated that the plaintiff should not avail himself of the statutory privilege- of testifying, upon a proper contingency. Had Thompson confined himself to the questions asked him by the plaintiffs, the latter could not have been witnesses. But when he chose to testify to new matter not responsive to the inquiries of the plaintiffs, he created the contingency upon which they had a right to be witnesses also; and they availed themselves of that right.

It is true, that in one paragraph of his answer, Thompson sets up this item of 90 dollars paid. This must be regarded.as a part of the issue; and the section quoted would, at a hasty glance, seem to give him full latitude to testify in his own behalf in respect to any matter pertinent to the issue. But he does so at the peril of making his adversary a witness also. For, if the matter about which he testifies on his own behalf, though it be pertinent to the issue, be not responsive to the inquiries put to him, his adversary shall be received as a witness in respect to this new matter. Otherwise, if the matter about which he testifies be at once pertinent to the issue, and also responsive to the inquiries put to him.

J. L. Eetcham and I Coffin, for the appellant. D. M’Donald, for the appellees.

Per Curiam.

The judgment is affirmed, with 5 per cent, damages and costs.

Ante, 371.