52 So. 596 | Ala. | 1910
Each of the counts of the complaint were for a malicious prosecution and were in Code form, and which said form applies to corporations as well as persons. The counts charged the corporation with the act complained of, and the averment that the prosecution was instituted by its agents was superfluous and unnecessary, as the act charged could have only been done through its agent or representa
Whether the trial court did or did not err in sustaining the demurrer to plea 4 we need not decide, as the defendant could get the benefit of the matter there set up, under the general issue, which was pleaded and under which the defendant offered evidence of the facts set up in said plea 4. — O’Neal v. McKinna, 116 Ala. 620, 22 South. 905; McLeod v. McLeod, 73 Ala. 42; Shannon v. Simms, 146 Ala. 673, 40 South. 574; Goldstein v. Drysdale, 148 Ala. 486, 42 South. 744.
While no general rule can be laid down as to the degree of diligence to be used in maldng search for the original document, in order to lay a predicate for the introduction of secondary evidence of the contents thereof, it depending largely upon the circumstances of the case and the character of the document, yet it must be shown that every reasonable effort which would result in its production was made without avail. — Sims v. State, 155 Ala. 96, 46 South. 493; 1 Greenleaf on Evidence, 558; O’Neal v. McKinna, 116 Ala. 606, 22 South. 905; Boulden v. State, 102 Ala. 78, 15 South. 341; Ala. Construction Co. v. Meador, 143 Ala. 336, 39 South. 216. Applying the foregoing rule to the case at bar, we are of the opinion that the plaintiff did not lay a sufficient predicate of the loss of the af
The entry in the grand jury docket showing no bill was properly admitted to show the termination of the prosecution, and the numbers were sufficient as prima facie evidence to identify the charge under investigation. — Shannon v. Simms, 146 Ala. 673, 40 South. 574.
The conversation between the plaintiff and “Herring” the night of the arrest was competent to show motive or malice, as it appeared from the evidence that Herring was at the time acting as defendant’s superintendent, was, in fact, its alter ego.
There was evidence from which it could be inferred that “Maggie Clutch” and Brown, of the Fulton Bag & Cotton Mill of Atlanta, had conspired to entice away certain laborers of the defendant, that the plaintiff went to Huntsville for the purpose of co-operating
There was no error in excluding so much of the Herring showing as was excluded by the trial court. Whether or not Herring made a full and fair statement of all the facts to solicitor Pride was a question for the jury. — Goldstein’s Case, supra. In order for the jury to determine this question, the facts should have been detailed and the statement of Herring that he made full and fair statement was but a conclusion. It is insisted, however, that only a portion of the excluded evidence was a conclusion, and-that the other part of the excluded evidence was not subject to the grounds of the motion, whether good evidence or not. With the conclusion excluded, the other part that went with it was irrelevant and immaterial, and the trial court will not be put in error for excluding it all. The rule that counsel for the appellant attempts to invoke applies to the sustaining of the court when the motion to exclude is overruled, and not to reversing the court for sustaining a motion to exclude.
There was no error in permitting the plaintiff to show that Sanders was appointed a deputy sheriff a.t
The trial court did not err in refusing, the general charge requested by the defendant. Whether or not the plaintiff was guilty of the offense with which he was charged was a question for the jury and not the court. It is also true that if the prosecution was instituted on the advice of a reputable practicing attorney, given on a full and fair statement by the prosecutor of all the facts known to him, or which by proper diligence he could have ascertained, even though the advice was erroneous or was not warranted by the facts stated, there would be a complete defense to the action; but it was a question for the jury to determine whether or not Pride unequivocally advised the prosecution, and whether or not a full and fair statement was made to him. Nor do we think the defendant was entitled to the general charge under the Henry Case, 139 Ala. 161, 34 South. 389 — a case so generally misunderstood by the profession that it is often resorted to as a panacea for all corporate wrongs.
The trial court did not err in refusing charges 8 and 9, requested by the defendant. If not otherwise bad, they invaded the province of the jury.
For the errors suggested, the judgment of the. law and equity court is reversed, and the cause is remanded.
Beversed and remanded.