Cahalan v. Cahalan

82 Iowa 416 | Iowa | 1891

ítoBiírsoN, j.

The notes upon which the action of the plaintiff is founded are for the sum of live hundred dollars each, dated January 29, 1883, made by the defendant, and payable to the plaintiff one year after date. The amount alleged to be due thereon is the sum of one thousand and twenty' dollars and twenty cents. There is no controversy in regard to them. The counterclaim of the defendant is founded upon a promissory note made by the plaintiff to the defendant for the sum of six hundred dollars, dated September 2, 1882, and payable three years after date. The plaintiff admits the making of the note, but alleges that the total consideration therefor did not exceed the sum of fifty dollars ; that at the time it was given the plaintiff was engaged in the business of selling intoxicating liquors in Fayette county in violation of law ; that the n'ote and a mortgage which purported to secure the note were given to the defendant for the purpose of aiding the plaintiff to carry on said business in discouraging, retarding and preventing suits and prosecutions on account of the illegal nature of the business. The defendant denies these claims of the plaintiff, and contends that the note was given by the plaintiff in pursuance of an agreement to pay the defendant for a certain interest in his fatter’s estate, which he had relinquished. The court found in favor of the defendant for the full amount of his note against the plaintiff.

1. The parties to the action are brothers. It appears that their father died intestate about the year 1875, leaving debts to a considerable amount, and property which, included two hundred and eighty acres of land and some personal property. His wife and transaotfons withdeoed-eight children survived him. Soon after the father died the widow and heirs agreed that the plaintiff should have one hundred and twenty acres of the land and the larger part of the personal property, and that he should pay one-half of the incumbrances on the land and the unsecured debts against the estate; that another brother should have an equal amount of personal property. The heirs conveyed their interest in the land to their mother, and she conveyed to the plaintiff one hundred and twenty acres of the land, and to the other son who was to receive it an equal amount. Although there is some confusion in the evidence, we think the facts stated have been fairly established. The defendant claims that he joined in the conveyance of the land to his mother only on condition that the plaintiff should pay him the value of his interest in the estate, and that the note set out in his answer was given in payment of that' interest. That claim is denied by the plaintiff, who contends that he was not required to pay the defendant anything for his interest in the estate; that the interest was of no value ; and that the note in controversy was not given for it.

The defendant was permitted, against the objections of the plaintiff, to testify to an agreement had between himself and his mother, who was dead at the time the testimony ■ was given, by virtue of which he claims he relinquished his interest in his father’s estate. The substance of the testimony so given is ■ that the plaintiff and another brother named should have the real estate left by the father, excepting a portion to be reserved as a homestead for the mother; that the defendant should quitclaim his interest to her, and that he should receive what was right in the end. The ground of objection to this testimony was that it was incompetent, under section 3639 of the Code. That provides that “no party to any action or proceeding * * * shall be examined as a witness in regard to -any personal transaction or communication between snob witness and a person at the commencement of such examination, deceased * * * against the * * * heir-at-law, next of kin, assignee, * * * or survivor of such person.” The defendant does not seek to hold the plaintiff as heir-at-law, next of kin, assignee or survivor of his mother, but on a note which was given, as the defendant alleges, not by virtue of the agreement between himself and his mother, but in fulfillment of one made between himself and the plaintiff. It is true, •the obligation of the latter to compensate the defendant for his interest in the estate was completed by the conveyance made to him by his mother, but that obligation was founded upon his own agreement to carry into effect the settlement of the estate made by the widow and heirs. The prohibition of the section specified does not, therefore, apply.

II. P. H. Cabalan was administrator of the estate •of the father. He was produced as a witness for the '2 _* error ‘ withoutpreju-loe" plaintiff, and was asked the following-y o question: “State whether at the settle-ment of the estate and distribution of the property there was anything to be paid to plaintiff by the defendant.” It was objected to as incompetent, ■irrelevant, immaterial, and as asking for a conclusion, and the objection was sustained. Of that ruling the appellant complains. What fact the question was designed to disclose does not appear ; but if there was •error in the ruling it was without prejudice, for the reason that the witness was afterwards examined at length in regard to the settlement of the estate and the agreements of the parties in interest by which it was -accomplished.

III. The appellant complains of the refusal of the district court to grant him a new trial on the ground of -3. New trial: newly discovered evidence. newly discovered evidence. The affidavits filed in support of that ground of the motion for a new trial show the following facts: The plaintiff has resided in Dakota for nearly five years. He made four visits to Payette county, and to the township of that county, in which the transactions in controversy occurred, before the trial in the district court, and made inquiry in regard to evidence which he would need in the case. He failed to discover any of the evidence set out in the application for a new trial. After the conclusion of the trial he ascertained that Edward and William Lovell and Matthew Powers had heard the defendant say in substance and effect that the note in controversy, and the mortgage given to secure it, were given solely to cover up the property of the plaintiff to the end that he could carry on the business of keeping a saloon in violation of law. The affidavits of Edward Lovell and Powers, corroborating the claim of the plaintiff as to the statements made to them, are attached to the motion for a new trial. It may be conceded that the newly discovered evidence of' the persons named is material and not cumulative ; that the plaintiff believes it to be true, and that the two persons last named at least would give it on another trial; but we are of the opinion that due diligence to obtain it is not shown. It is true that the plaintiff claims he did not know what the testimony of the defendant in regard to the consideration of the note in controversy would be until it was given on the trial. Also that he made “diligent inquiry” in tlie county and township where the note was given, and where the defendant resided, and “ used his best endeavors by himself and his friends to ascertain the evidence proper in the case,” and “ was unable to learn of, and did not know anything about,” the witnesses named, or the evidence they would give. The statements in regard to diligence are in the nature of conclusions, and do not recite facts from which a court may determine whether or not due diligence was used. The affidavits of Powers and Edward Lovell show that they reside in Clermont township, where the defendant resides, and that they have known him twenty years. The appellant does not claim to have spoken' with them in regard to their knowledge before the trial, and no reason is given for Ms failure to do so. He does not ■show with whom-he talked, nor what he did in his efforts to prepare for trial. He knew that the consideration of the note in controversy was a material issue, and that he should be prepared to establish his theory in regard to it. If he was surprised by the testimony for the defendant he had the right to apply for a continuance. The showing of diligence as to the other witnesses named in the application for a new trial is .not so strong as that we have considered.

We conclude that the showing is not sufficient to authorize us to interfere with the ruling of the district court. Its judgment is, therefore, affirmed.