Beverly v. Burke, No. 11

No. 11 | Ga. | Aug 15, 1853

By the Court.

Starned J.

delim-ing the opinion.

[1.] It is the opinion of this Court, that there was no error* in the admission of the deed from the Sheriff of Campbell county, to the tract of land lying in Payette county. An instrument such as this is alleged to be, is admitted, though defective, in aid of possession, because it is looked to as a sort of definition of the limits and extent of the claim by possession. Such purpose it servos, though not perfect title ; but only a sign, semblance, or color of title. In this point of view, it was proper testimony in this case.

This very question, however, raised upon the admission as evidence of this same instrument, was settled when this case was previously before the Court. (See Beverly & McBride vs. Burke, 9 Geo. R. 443) and we are somewhat surprised that it should bo again presented.

[2.] The second and fifth assignments of error may be considered together. They are substantially, that the Court committed error in ruling out the testimony (taken by commission) of Thomas Steel, going to show that the purchase money for the land in question, which was held under a bond for titles, was not paid ; and in refusing to charge that a possession by a vendee under such a bond, when the purchase money was not paid, did not constitute adverse possession.

John Burke, in this action, was seeking a recovery by virtue of his statutory title (as we denominate it in Georgia) and in proof of it, he offered in evidence a bond for titles from Henry Reeves to Thomas Steel, dated on the 3d of November, 1830. That bond, according to the record, was assigned by Stool to Burke on the 24th of September, 1833. Adverse possession in Steel, from the time of the execution of the bond in his favor, was relied upon by Burke; to which possession he sought to tack his own. Now, if it be true, that a bond for titles where the purchase money has not been paid, does not operate as color of title, then it is obvious that if Thomas Steel could have proved that the purchase money was not paid by him, his testimony was proper.

In the case of Fain vs. Gathright 5 Geo. 6, R. this Coiirt held, that a bond for titles would operate as color of title in aid of possession, although the purchase money was not paid; but in that case, the question was not between vendor and vendee ; and to this circumstance the Court called attention in its opinion. In the later case of Stamper et al. vs. Griffin, 12 Geo. R., 450, it is expressly held (whilst the Court affirms the case of Fain Gathright as between the vendee and a stranger) that as between vendor and vendee such a bond would not operate as color of title, where the purchase money was not paid. This decision we affirm for the reason there given, viz: that under such an instrument, the quasi relation of landlord and tenant continued to exist until the purchase money is paid. (Adams on Fjee. 57.)

In this point of view, the testimony of Thomas Steel would have been proper, to show that the purchase money in the case at bar had not been paid; and it was error in the Court to exclude it.

When we first took this point into consideration, it escaped our attention that the bond for titles from Reeves to Steel was relied upon as color of .title in aid of the possession of Burke or of Steel, under whom he claimed, from November, 1830, until June, 1838, that it was a material feature of testimony, and as such, may have been considered by the jury.

We were then inclined to consider the case as between the vendee, Burke, and third persons; that is to say, Baughn’s feofees: but on being reminded of the above fact, we are constrained to hold, that during the time Reeves retained the title in himself, up to the period when he conveyed to Baughn, viz : in June, 1833, (the purchase money not being paid) the possession of Steel was not adverse to Reeves, and could not properly have been regarded by the jury as such; if Steel’s testimony had been admitted, and had shown that such purchase money had not been paid.

It follows from what I have just said, that if there had been any testimony to show that the purchase money had not been paid by Steel, the refusal of the Court to charge that in such event the bond for titles to him did nót óp’eráte áS c'ólór óf title, would have been wrong. If such testimony had been before the jury, the charge should have been thus given.

[3.] The objection to Gilbert’s testimony was in our opinion well taken and properly sustained. It appears by the record, that Joshua W. Wood was acting for the defendant “as agent generally to take interrogatories in this case”, and that he was present at the taking of Gilbert’s testimony by commission.— This was improper. In the argument, it was admitted as well as settled, that an attorney for a party in a cause, or any one connected m interest with him, should not act as commissioner in the taking of depositions. But it was insisted that the decision went no farther, and that there was no rule which prohibited an agent like Wood from being present; and no decision of this Court to this effect. We were then asked not to stretch our decision to suit the circumstances of the particular case, and thus create a rule.

In deciding as we do, we establish no new rule. We hold, that the case presented to us, falls within a rule already well settled; and that rule simply is, that there must be no circumstances of unfair advantage obtained by one party over the other, in having testimony taken by depositions. This is the general rule.

It appears, so long ago as Peacock’s case, (Coke’s R. 271, 9 Jac.) that it was considered a great misdemeanor, for the commissioner, during the examination of the witness, Peacock, to hold consultation with the plaintiff, who was in another room.

Many modern cases may be found, in which it has been held, that such depositions should always be taken in good faith. I content myself with referring to but one. In Bean vs. Quimby 5 N. Hamp. R. 98, the Court says, “ the invariable rule by which this Court is governed, in the admission of depositions, is not to receive any which have not been taken fairly, and with the utmost good faith”, &c.

In the case of Glanton vs. Griggs, 5 Geo. R. 429, referring to the taking of testimony by deposition, and to the fact that it “is at host but a very imperfect way of arriving at the truth”, this Court says, that “ every precaution should therefore be taken to guard against abuses.”

If an agent, interested for a party to a suit, and engaged in the very act of getting up testimony for him, is allowed to be present at the execution of a commission, when no one representing the other side is present, it is very plain that an unfair advantage is obtained by the one party over the other. Even though the agent make no suggestion to the commissioners, nor assists in the examination, still he hears the testimony ; can carry with him to his principal, a statement of what is sworn, and thus give the advantage of knowing what is thus sworn immediately to his principal, while the other party cannot procure the information until Court is in session. This would, without doubt, be an unfair advantage, and should not be permitted.

Taking a similar view, we find the Court in the early case to which reference is above made, holding “ that a commissioner, before publication of the depositions, ought not to discover to any of the parties, the matter thereof.” In the reign of the first George, an act of Parliament was passed, making it penal for a commissioner who took depositions in Chancery, thus to divulge the testimony.

In addition, it may be mentioned, as a circumstance of probable unfair advantage, that the presence of a party to a suit, or his agent, the opposite party not being present or represented, at the taking of a witnesse’s testimony, might operate upon and influence the witness, so as to cause an inclination of his testimony favorable to the party thus present, by himself or agent.

The Court was therefore right in excluding these depositions.

[4.] Neither do we find error in the remark of the Court, when admitting the sayings of the tenant Diskin Holcom, to the effect that he did not hold under Burke, that this was “ the weakest sort of testimony.”

Standing as an isolated remark, as it is presented by the plaintiff in error, it would seem objectionable; but modified by what was said in connection with it, as shown by the record, the difficulty is removed. According to this record, aé amended by the Court, His Honor Judge Hill, after considering the propriety of admitting this testimony, remarked that he would let it go ; but that when there were agreements as to the tenancy positively proven, this was the weakest sort of testimony.— Afterwards, when charging the jury, according to the record, he explained his meaning, and told them that “ sayings of a tenant against his landlord, and in his absence, when compared with their contract” (doubtless meaning if there was positive proof of a contract between them) “ were entitled to very little weight.”

The Judge might very well, without error, have gone so far as to decide that such sayings, under such circumstances, were entitled to no weight whatever, and need not be regarded as testimony; and therefore, taking his remarks and charge in this connection, as the whole record presents them, we cannot hold that they were erroneous.

The Court was also requested' to charge “ that when possession was held by a tenant, that when he spoke of his tenancy, he must tell under whom he held; and that if holding under one, he declared he was holding under another, this could not constitute an adverse possession.”

In our opinion, the Court properly declined to give this very vague and inaccurate request in charge to the jury, and committed no error in so doing; especially, as by taking the whole charge together, we find the Court charging the Law in this connection with sufficient correctness.

Let the judgment be reversed on the second assignment of error.