Ching Lum v. Lam Man Beu

19 Haw. 363 | Haw. | 1909

OPINION OF THE COURT BY

WILDER, J.

This is an action for malicious prosecution in which a verdict was rendered for defendant. Plaintiff comes to this court on exceptions.

The first exception is that defendant’s counsel was allowed to ask plaintiff on cross examination the following question-: “Is it not a matter of fact that yon are a doubly married man, that you have one wife in China and one here?” The objection was that it tended to "prejudice plaintiff in the eyes of the jury. Plaintiff, however, in answer to a question by his counsel had stated on his direct examination that he was a married man. Under such circumstances the question was proper.

The fourth exception is to the denial of plaintiff’s motion to strike out an answer by Mr. Withington, an attorney, in response to a question as to a conversation between him and defendant which preceded the arrest of plaintiff on a charge of assault and battery for the malicious prosecution of which this action was instituted. The attorney was put on the stand for the purpose of showing that in the matter complained of defendant had acted on the advice of counsel. The motion was properly denied. Sylva v. Cockett, 12 Haw. 133.

Exceptions five and six relate to the admissibility of evidence tending to impeach the defendant who was asked if he had made certain statements in the district court on the trial of the assault and battery case inconsistent with his testimony on those points in this case which he denied. The testimony of the defendant in the district court was in the Chinese language and all that the witnesses in this case could testify to was the English translation by the Chinese interpreter, the interpreter himself being absent from the jurisdiction at the time of this trial. It is not claimed that the interpreter was the agent of the defendant while testifying. It is conceded that the general rule is that such testimony is not admissible, but it is claimed that in the absence of the interpreter from the jurisdiction, thus rendering him unavailable, such evidence is allowable, citing particularly Schearer v. Harber, 36 Ind. 536, and 3 Wigmore Ev., Sec. 1810. In the Indiana case it was not shown why the interpreter was not called as a witness and consequently it was held that the evidence was erroneously admitted. The opinion went further, however, and stated obiter that, if it had been shown that the interpreter was absent from the jurisdiction, persons unacquainted with the language used could testify as to the translation. Professor Wigmore inclines to the same view oil the theory that the interpreter is in the same class as the witness, apparently overlooking the fact, however, that, as it is only at the subsequent trial that the witness testifies differently from the translation at the first trial, there has been no opportunity for the cross examination of the interpreter on that issue,’ which as he points out in Sec. 1395 of his work is essential. This testimony does not strictly come within any of the recognized exceptions to the hearsay rule (2 Wig-more Ev. Sec. 1426). It may be inferred, however, that the translation is trustworthy from the fact that it was given by a sworn officer of the court and under such conditions of publicity that an error, if it had occurred, would probably have been detected and corrected. If in addition to this it appeared that there was a necessity for the reception of this testimony, that is, that it could not otherwise be shown, (2 Wigmore, Sec. 1421,) it may be that it should be allowed. But in this case there was no attempt made to show that no one else was available who could testify as to what the witness said in Chinese. Therefore we think there was no error in refusing to admit the testimony.

Exception eight is to the following instruction to the jury which the court gave at the request of defendant: “A person commencing a prosecution for a crime committed against his person or property is not required to act with the same impartiality and freedom from prejudice in drawing his conclusions as to the guilt of the accused as a person entirely disinterested would be.” This was not. erroneous, (Cole v. Curtis, 16 Minn. 182,) particularly when taken in connection with other instructions as to probable cause, as set out in Phillip v. Waller, 5 Haw. 609, 613, which were given.

The last exception is that the verdict was contrary to the law and the evidence and the weight of evidence. A perusal of all of the evidence shows that the verdict was justified.

This disposes of all of the exceptions which were argued.

J. Lighifoot for plaintiff. J)'. L. Withington and J. W. (Jarlhcarb, (Castle (& Withington also on the brief,) for defendant.

Exceptions overruled.