United States National Bank v. Miller

250 P. 1098, 119 Or. 682, 1926 Ore. LEXIS 285
Oregon Supreme Court·Decided October 27, 1926·Published·Cited by 1 cases

Opinion

COSHOW, J.

The ruling of the court refusing to admit the deposition must be sustained. The or *686 der shortening the time was made on the sixth day without any notice to the defendants and was rescinded on the same day. There was, therefore, no authority for talcing the deposition at the time it was taken.

“It is within the inherent power of Circuit Courts of this state, in any proper case, at any time during the term to modify or amend, set aside or vacate any order, judgment or decree made by said court during said term. ’ ’ Hudelson v. Sanders-Swafford Co., 1 11 Or. 600, 606 (227 Pac. 310).

Estate of Gerhardus, 116 Or. 113, 116 (239 Pac. 829).

The authorities cited by plaintiff to the effect that objection to the deposition should have been taken by motion to suppress are not applicable: Sections 407 and 851, Or. L.; Foster v. Henderson, 29 Or. 210, 215 (45 Pac. 899); Tanous v. Johnston et al., 113 Or. 343, 349 (232 Pac. 793). Said Section 407, Or. L., is in part as follows:

“All other objections to depositions shall be taken by written exceptions filed with the clerk within ten days from the closing of the testimony, and before the first day of the term next following thereto, * * .”

In the instant case.there was no opportunity for the defendants to have filed written exceptions within 10 days of the closing of the testimony or before the first day of the next term of court. The depositions were taken in Portland, 300 miles from the place where the trial was held the next day. The defendants availed themselves of the first opportunity to except to the use of the deposition as evidence in the case. The objection was equivalent to a motion to suppress.

The plaintiff complains of the ruling of the court admitting the testimony of Guy Miller, one of the *687 defendants, regarding a conversation lie had with Mr. Scroggin, cashier of the plaintiff, some time before the sheep were taken over by the plaintiff. This testimony was immaterial and should have been rejected. Similar testimony, however, was given by the defendant D. W. Miller without objection. In our opinion the testimony was harmless and could not have prejudiced the plaintiff. The testimony was, in effect, that Guy Miller had an offer at a certain price for the sheep and asked the cashier for the plaintiff’s permission to sell at .that price. That permission was refused. The defendants’ plea is that the sheep, other live stock and the permit to graze in "Whitman National Forest were delivered to and accepted by the plaintiff in full payment and satisfaction of the note with the promise that when the sheep were delivered at the National Forest their note and mortgage would be canceled and delivered to them. The conversation objected to was not connected with the transaction depended upon by defendants to defeat plaintiff’s cause of action. That conversation was not connected in any way with the transfer of the live stock. It was immaterial but not prejudicial. We hold that admission of the evidence was not reversible error.

The defendants were permitted to testify as to the reasonable value of the grazing permit in the National Forest. It is argued that the permit was not assigned. The evidence shows, however, beyond dispute that the sheep were taken to the National Forest by the cashier of the plaintiff and that the defendant Guy Miller assisted in taking the sheep there at the request of said Scroggin. They were kept in the National Forest until sold by the plaintiff. It was not necessary for the defendants to prove the value of the permit since the livestock *688 and their grazing permit were, according to defendants’ answer and testimony, accepted in lump in full satisfaction of the note sued upon. The testimony, however, was pertinent in this that it tended to show the reasonableness of defendants’ plea of payment. It tended to show the value of the property delivered to and accepted by plaintiff in full payment according to the answer. It is alleged in the affirmative answer that the live stock and allotment for grazing were delivered in full payment of said note and mortgage. The defendants were permitted without objection to testify regarding the market value of the sheep at the time they were delivered to plaintiff. The value of the allotment is the same kind of testimony and was admissible.

The plaintiff also complains because another note for $100 was admitted in evidence over its objection. The note was introduced in evidence for the purpose of showing that the plaintiff had taken over the sheep and was caring for them by paying all the expenses after they were delivered to the plaintiff. It was competent for that purpose and tended to support the defense of the defendants.

Plaintiff also complains because defendant I). W. Miller was permitted to answer the following question on redirect examination:

“State how many times he talked to you trying to induce you to take over those sheep, the Wade sheep, if any at all?”

This question was propounded to further explain certain other transactions occurring on the part of the plaintiff on the one part and the defendants on the other part brought out on cross-examination. It would not have been competent on direct examination. It was collateral to the main issue. The plain *689 tiff having, however, gone into the matter on cross-examination cannot be heard to complain because defendants on redirect examination requested further explanation of the same matter.

The next assignment is in regard to the instruction designated as assignment No. 7 and is not well taken. It was not pressed in either the brief or oral argument and is deemed abandoned.

The court also instructed the jury as follows:

“I instruct you, gentlemen of the jury, that if you fiad from the preponderance of the evidence, that the defendants, on or about the 25th day of June, 1925, agreed with the plaintiff to turn over the property secured by the chattel mortgage, consisting of sheep, cattle and horses, and the reserve allotment, for their note so secured, and in compliance with such agreement and the defendants complied with such agreement, and turned over the live stock so mortgaged, then their obligation to plaintiff is cancelled, and it was the duty of plaintiff to deliver up the defendants ’ note to them, and it is your duty to find for the defendants.”

The plaintiff insists that the words “the defendants complied with such agreement” in the above instruction in effect told the jury the defendants had complied with their agreement which was the matter in dispute. We do not think the instruction is open to that construction. We think that that language is covered by the phrase “that if you find from the preponderance of the evidence that the defendants complied with such an agreement.”

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United States National Bank v. Miller, 250 P. 1098, 119 Or. 682, 1926 Ore. LEXIS 285 (Or. 1926).

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