Davidson v. Vorse

52 Iowa 384 | Iowa | 1879

Rotiirocic, J.

— T. It appears from the evidence that N. T. Vorse was in feeble health during the winter and spring of 1877. TIis home was at Des Moines, and he was absent for medical treatment in Ottumwa, and also in Galesburg, 111. TIis son, G. S. Vorse, had charge of his business during his absence. In March, 1877, while at Galesburg, he wrote a letter to Ins son, of which the following is a copy, so far as it relates to the purchase of the stock in question:

“ Davidson was here to-day, and we traded $5,000 worth of stock with fifteen per cent, $5,700. Frank is to go down Monday night. Leave Des Moines on the O., R. I. at 11 in the evening, and will arrive at Marseilles 11 on Tuesday. lie will take Elliott’s note, due January next, for $2,700, or thereabouts, and one due a year from January next; same amount. That will leave two or three hundred dollars, for which I told him I would give some good note or my own. I endorse in either case. Have Frank take the notes and make the endorsement, and sign my name. D. says he will give him his furniture, about $50 worth, now, and will want to make him a bridal present of a china tea set, worth $50. You needn’t send deed. They will, when F. gets there, make the transfer. Frank will come this way home. * * * N. T. Vorse."”

It thus appears that the contract was consummated at Gales-burg. The defendant introduced himself as a witness, and sought thereby to prove that the plaintiff made certain representations to him, before the 14th day of March, 1877, in regard to said stock, which he communicated to his father. He also proposed to testify that Davidson made certain representations to him at the time the note was executed. The evidence was objected to and the objection was sustained.

The defendant did not propose to testify that Davidson admitted, at the time the note was executed, that he had in Illinois, when the agreement was entered into, made representations to the decedent as to the value of the stock, etc., but he did propose to detail a conversation which he had with Davidson, as to the value of the stock when Davidson came to him to get the notes. This was clearly incompetent. The agreement was consummated in Illinois; that is, the decedent there agreed to give $5,700 for the ten shares of stock. It is true the balance for which his own note was to be given was greater than he supposed it would be, but this did not alter the contract so that it could be said to be a contract made with Davidson by O. S. Vorse, for his father, N. T. Vorse.

1. fraoduseiitaüonsV !mother.lousl1 II. With respect to the representations made by the plaintiff to C. S. Yorse, which the latter communicated to his father, another and more difficult question arises. We think, under all the circumstances, the evidence should not have been excluded. It cannot be claimed' that false representations must be shown to have been made at the very time the contract in question was consummated. If made during the negotiations they are admissible, and it is for the jury to determine from all the evidence whether, when thus made, they operated upon the mind of the party at the time when the contract was closed, and induced him to enter into it. If the false representations had been made directly to N. T. Yorse, in the hearing of the -witness, it cannot be doubted that the evidence would have been competent. In such case it would not be proper for the court to determine that they did not induce the decedent to make the contract. That would have been a question for the jury under all the circumstances of the- case. We do not understand from the record that the evidence was rejected because the representations were made to a third party, and by him communicated to N. T. Yorse, but upon the ground that they were not proposed to be connected with the final consummation of the contract at Gales-burg. If the representations were-made to O. S. Yorse by the plaintiff with intent that they should be communicated to N. T. Yorse, and thns induced the latter to purchase the stock, the effect was precisely the same as though made directly. That the representations were made with intent was a question for the jury, taking into the consideration the relations of the parties, the fact that C. S. Yorse had charge and control of his father’s business, and the other facts and circumstances disclosed in evidence.

Upon the same ground we think the evidence of Frank Yorse, which was excluded by the court, should have been admitted, it being to the same effect as the evidence of 0. S. Yorse. It may be that other negotiations and representations were made after this, and that the decedent was in no manner influenced by the communications which he received from the plaintiff through these- witnesses, but that was not a question for the court.

2.ATTOBK-«iYf8 wS consté tutea. Ill, The note in- suit provides for attorney’s fees for collection, if an action be commenced thereon. This question- as to the allowance of attorney’s fees was- withdrawn from, the jury and submitted to the court. EvL¿fence was introduced' as to what was a reasonable allowance, and the court fixed! the- amount at $-150. The defendant insists that no fees should have been allowed because of the filing of a claim against an estate, and proving; the saméis not an action.

It is not at all probable that when the note was executed the parties had' in mind any nice technical distinctions- as to what is- an action. It was intended that if resort be had to legal proceedings for the collection' of the-note the- plaintiff should be at no expense, but that reasonable attorneys’ fees should be allowed him, and' this, we think, is- the proper construction of the note. It may be tme that for the mere filing of the note accompanied by an affidavit, where there Is- no' resistance, an attorney’s fee should not be allowed, because the services of an attorney are not necessarily required, but where the claim is-resisted, and the services of an attorney are- requisite to the pi’oper prosecution of the cause, it is- an action within the meaning of this note — it is- a legal proceeding for the enforcement of a right in a court of justice. Code, section 250-5,

IT. It is- contended by counsel for appellee that the assignment of errors is not sufficiently specific to entitle appel-, lant to a hearing in this court. The assignment of those above discussed, and which seem to us to be all that are necessary to-be determined, as- they involve the very merits-of the appeal, areas specific as they well could be made. They point out with more than ordinary particularity the errors complained of.

For the errors above pointed out the judgment will be reversed and the cause-remanded- for a new trial.

Reversed,