Rosnagle v. Armstrong , 17 Idaho 246 ( 1909 )

AILSHIE, J.-

— This action was instituted for the recovery of a balance of $1,340.67 alleged to be due from the defendants on a joint and several promissory note executed by them for the sum of $3,600. The defendants answered, denying all the material allegations of the complaint and denying the execution of the note. They alleged that the note was a forgery and that they never executed the same. The ease was-tried to a jury, and a verdict was rendered in favor of the plaintiff. Defendants moved for a new trial; their motion was denied and they appealed from the judgment and order denying their motion.

It seems that this note, if ever executed at all, was executed by the defendants in payment of the purchase price for a stallion. It is admitted that the defendants purchased of one M. C. Gray, through an agent Hughes, a stallion for which they agreed to pay $3,600. They contend, however, and so testify, that they refused and declined to execute a joint note for this sum, but that on the contrary they executed their individual notes, each to the amount of $360, in payment for this purchase. It was claimed, on the other hand, by the plaintiff, who alleged that he was an innocent purchaser for value, that the agent Hughes delivered the animal to one of the defendants in accordance with written instructions and received this joint obligation for $3,600, and thereafter delivered this note to his principal, Gray, who sold and transferred the obligation to the plaintiff, Rosnagle.

It seems that at the time of the transaction Hughes was-present apparently making all kinds of representations- to-the defendants, who appear to have been as credulous in accepting them as he was reckless in making them, and during that time they organized themselves into a company for the purpose of owning and controlling this animal, and elected Randall as president and Lovell as secretary. Hughes-seems to have had some blank forms that he called ‘£ certificates of stock,” and be made out one in favor of Randall, wbicb was thereupon signed by Randall as president and Lovell as secretary. This certificate contained the statement that Randall bad given bis joint notes in payment for one share in the company, but it is shown by the evidence that Hughes crossed out the word “joint,” leaving the certificate to read as follows:

“CERTIFICATE OF STOCK.

“This is to certify that Mr. John Randall has given his ,joint notes in payment for his One share of Three Hundred Sixty Dollars per share, in the registered Perdieron Stallion named Romulus No. 45616-(56993).

“Dated at Moscow, County of Latah, State of Idaho, this 18th day of March, 1907.

“MELVIN LOVELL, Sec.

“Attest: JOHN RANDALL, Pres. ’ ’

On the trial of the case the defendants had testified that they did not sign the promissory note that was introduced in evidence by the plaintiff, and in corroboration of their testimony they offered this stock certificate. This was offered apparently upon the theory that it would corroborate the statement to the effect that they never executed any joint note or obligation. The trial court sustained an objection to the offer, and the appellants assign the action of the court as error. If this action were being prosecuted by the payee of the note, there might be some reason for the contention made, but this case is prosecuted by an innocent purchaser,, and of course any statement made in a certificate issued by the defendants would not bind the respondent, even though the agent who made the sale of the horse for which the note was given did make the alteration and representation set forth in the certificate. There was no error in the ruling of the court excluding this offer.

The fourth assignment of error was made against the action of the court in permitting the witness Gray to answer the following question: “Now, Mr. Gray, you may tell the jury whether or not you gave to Mr. Hughes or authorized him in any manner to have notes in that style, or any note other than, the note which is offered in evidence, and the yellow paper, taken in settlement of that horse.” Hughes did not appear ás a witness in the case, and the entire controversy revolved about the transaction in which it is claimed he secured this note. The defendants contended that they had never executed the note, but that, on the contrary, they executed their individual several notes for the obligation. The plaintiff was seeking to show that the defendants had executed this particular note, and that as a circumstance Hughes, the agent, had no authority to take any other kind of note than a joint note, and that he had not been supplied by Gray with any other kind of notes. "We find no error in the ruling of the court in this respect.

Finally, it is urged by the appellants that the court erred in permitting the witness Matthews to testify over appellants’ objection in response to the following question: “What was said in that conversation between you and he?” After the defendants had rested their case, the plaintiff called the witness Matthews in rebuttal for the purpose of testifying to a conversation that had taken place between the witness and defendant Sheldon. It was competent for the witness to testify to statements’ made to him by Sheldon. It is true that some parts of witness’ answer should have been stricken out and not permitted. That is especially true with reference to the statement made by the witness as to what he (the witness) told Sheldon that Gray would be willing to do, and the further statement that Gray would not want to collect the debt but once. It does not appear, however, that this is of such prejudicial character that it would authorize or justify a reversal of the judgment.

No specifications of insufficiency of evidence have been made, and in fact there is a substantial conflict of evidence on all the material- questions involved in the case. We could not disturb the verdict on the grounds of insufficiency of evidence. It is quite apparent from the record in this case that these appellants have permitted themselves to be hoodwinked and deceived by the man Hughes. If their statements are true, they certainly have a remedy by which they can bring this man to justice.

Judgment is affirmed, with the costs in favor of respondent.

Stewart, J., concurs. Sullivan, C. J., did not sit at the hearing and took no part in the decision.