12 Ala. 592 | Ala. | 1847
A witness cannot be permitted to testify, when the record of the suit, in which he is offered, would be evidence either for, or against him, and in this case it is clear, that if a suit should be hereafter brought against Abernathy, or the firm of which he is a member, by Pearsall, the judgment in this case would not bo evidence. But although this question, when it can be answered in the affirmative, affords a perfect test of the incompetency of the witness, it does not follow that he is competent in all cases, where' the record would not be evidence, for or against him. He may still have a certain, direct, and immediate interest, in the event of the suit, as he must have in all cases, where he is offered for the plaintiff, and by enabling the plaintiff to recover, prevents a suit from being brought against himself.
Thus in this case, the firm of which the witness is a member, having on hand a sum of money belonging to the plaintiff, is directed to pay it over to the defendant. Now, it is manifest, that if the money was not paid over, the firm is still liable to the plaintiff, and yet this is the very fact the witness is called on to prove, and by establishing the delivery to the defendant, and enabling the plaintiff to recover of him, may thus prevent a suit against themselves. Upon general principles, therefore, it would seem clear, that the witness was incompetent from interest, to testify in behalf of the plaintiff.
Judgment affirmed.