Demarest v. Vandenberg, 39 N.J. Eq. 130

Demarest v. Vandenberg

39 N.J. Eq. 130 | New York Court of Chancery | 1884

The Chancellor.

The bill is filed to foreclose a mortgage. The complainant is a person of unsound mind, so declared in this court by inquisition and decree. He appears in this suit by guardians duly appointed under those proceedings. The ’ defendant, in his *131answer, sets up the defence of usury, On the taking of the testimony before the examiner, he offered himself as a witness to prove the usury. The complainant’s counsel objected to his being sworn, on the ground that he was incompetent to testify in his own behalf in the suit, because the complainant was prevented by legal disability from testifying. The examiner overruled the objection, and the complainant appealed from his decision.

Note.—That a defendant is incompetent to testify does not, of itself, render the plaintiff incompetent; as where, in a suit for specific performance of a ■contract to convey lands, the defendant died, and his heir-at-law, anúnfant too young to be competent as a witness, was made the defendant, Dahoney.v. Hall, 20 Ind. 264- The burden of showing the incompetency of a witness rests on the person ■objecting to his evidence, Alabama Ins. Co. v. Sledge, 62 Ala. 666; but if a party excluded from testifying by a general rule of law, claims a right to testify under an exception, he must make that right appear at the trial, White v. Brown, 67 Me. 196. The statutes of New Hampshire provide that a party to a suit cannot testify where the adverse party is an executor or administrator, and it was held that a party might be a witness, although the adverse party was disabled by his insanity, and the suit was defended by his guardian, Crawford v. Bobie, 42 N. H. 162. Property levied on under an execution was claimed by a third party. Held, that the plaintiff" was competent, although meanwhile the defendant had become insane, Anderson v. Wilson, 45 Oa. 25. The guardian of a lunatic is a competent witness in a suit between himself and the lunatic’s next of kin, as to his administration of the lunatic's estate, Tarpley v. McWhorter, 56 Oa. 4H- The trustee of a lunatic husband may object to the admission of his wife’s teslimony, which would otherwise have been competent, Edwards v. Pitts, S'Strobh. llfO.

*131The statute of 1859 {Rev. p. 378 § 3) did not wholly remove the disqualification of persons to be witnesses in their own behalfin suits or proceedings, by reason of interest in the event as parties. It excepted two classes of cases: one, where the opposite party was “prohibited by any legal disability from being sworn as a witness,” and the other, “ where either of the parties in the. cause was sued in a representative capacity.” The act of 1866 {Rev. p. 378 § J¡) provided that a party to a suit in a representative capacity might be admitted as a witness therein, and if called and admitted as a witness in his own behalf, the opposite *132party might, in like manner, be admitted as a witness. The act of 1880 (P. L. of 1880 p. 58) removed the restriction from the opposite party in cases where one of the parties to the suit sues, or is sued, in a representative, capacity, so far as to render such, opposite party competent to testify in his own behalf, except as to transactions with, or statements by, the testator or intestate represented in the suit. In cases where one of the parties is under legal disability, which prevents him from testifying, the other party is still incompetent as a witness in his own behalf. Insanity is a legal disability. In some of the states a party is excluded from testifying in his own behalf, where his adversary in the suit is insane, by statute particularly designating that disability by name. Our statute employs a general term embracing it.

In an action to recover fees as a witness for the plaintiff in an ejectment brought by a lunatic through his committee, the committee is not a competent witness for the plaintiff, but the executor of the lunatic is competent, Utt v. Pong, 6 Watts & Serg. 174■ Under a statute providing that in an action on a written instrument, the-signature of the defendant is taken to be admitted unless he denies its genuineness, the guardian of a lunatic has no power to make such admission, and-the lunatic himself cannot answer, Collins v. Trotter {Mo.), 18 Cent. P. J. 259. In some states, parties suing or being sued by the guardian of a lunatic, are excluded by statute, Austin v. Dunham, 65 Me. 533; Utile v. Utile, IS Cray-264; Kindall v. May, 10 Allen, 59; see Garnett v. Garnett, 114 Mass. 379;-MeNicol v. Johnson, 29 Ohio St. 85. As to the evidence requisite to prove a party of unsound mind, so as. to exclude the adverse party, see Drew v. Buck, 12 Hun 269 ; McCreight v. Aiken, Rice 56; Doud v. Hall, 8 Allen 410; People v. New York Hospital, S Abb. N. C. 230, note; Rhode Island Hospital Trust Co. v. Hazard, 6 Fed. Rep. 119. A guardian ad litem is not a “ guardian ” within the meaning of a statute providing that where a guardian is a party, the adverse party shall be incompetent to testify, McDonald v. McDonald, 24 Ind. 68; nor does the relationship of a judge of the court to the guardian ad.litem, disqualify him from hearing the cause, Bryant v. Livermore, 20 Minn. 313; so, a surrogate may appoint a guardian for an infant, although he is a relative of the guardian, Underhill v. Dennis, 9 Paige 202 ; or his son a committee for a lunatic, Hopper’s Case, 5 Paige 439.

*132It is urged, however, that in this case the complainants are-the guardians, who sue in a representative capacity. The suit is brought by the lunatic; but being under disability, he must sue by guardian. 1 Dan. Ch. Pr. 82; Norcom v. Rogers, 1 C. E. Gr. 484; Dorsheimer v. Roorback, 3 C. E. Gr. 438. The *133lunatic is, in this case, the nominal as well as the real complainant. The suit is, in terms, his. But if it had been brought by his guardians alone, it would have been, in fact, his, and he would have been the party complainant within the meaning of the act of 1859.

A guardian ad litem is a competent witness for his ward, Walker v. Thomas, 3 Dick. 781; Lwpton v. Lupton, 2 Johns. Oh. 614-; and so is a plaintiff against a guardian in socage, McOray v. McOray, 12 Abb. Pr. 1; [but see Lee v. Dill, 39 Barb. 521) ; the wife of such guardian is also competent, Bonett v. Stowed, 37 Vt. 258. The declarations of a guardian in socage against the infant are not edmissible for a defendant in a suit by the infant, Mertz v. Det/weiler, 8 Watts & Serg. ■376; Balt. B. B. v. McDonnell, 43 Md. 534. A guardian ad litem is not a “ party ” who may be compelled to answer interrogatories, Ingram v. Little, L. B. (11 Q. B. D.) 251. A next friend is not a party to a suit, and hence may be a surety in replevin for an infant plaintiff, Anonymous, 2 Hill (N. T.) 4H. A statute requiring the next’friend of an infant to give security for costs, does not apply to a gurdian ad litem, Orantman v. Theall, 19 Abb. Pr. 308. A next friend is a “party,” within a statute requiring the party to an action ■•to make an affidavit to obtain a change of venue, Deferd v. State, SO Md. 179; or to make an affidavit as to what documents referred to in the bill were in plaintiff’s possession, Oreme v. Bank of Ireland, L. B. (5 Irish Eq.) 578 ; but no order can be made against liim as a “party” for the production of documents, Lawton v. Elwes, 1/8 L. T. (N. S.) 425 ; Hardwick v. Wright, 11 Jur. (N. S.) 297; see Higginson v. Hall, L. R. (10 Ch. Div.) 285.

*133It is also urged by the defendant’s counsel, that a person of unsound mind may be a witness, if found by the court before which he is to testify, to have sufficient capacity; and that hence it may be that the complainant is not disqualified by any legal disability from testifying. That is true; but the question under consideration is whether the case,.as it stands, is within the exception made by the statute. If it is, the common law rule governs the matter, and the defendant is incompetent to testify in his own behalf. It has not been made to appear that the complainant has been restored to reason, nor that, although his mental condition is not sound, he nevertheless is competent to testify in his own behalf. He appears, on the record, to be of unsound mind, and therefore under legal disability, and it is to be presumed, prima faeie, until the con*134trary is made to appear, that he still continues under that disability. The object of the statute, is to guard against the-injustice which would arise from a want of mutuality, if one party were permitted to testify in his own behalf, while the-other is un-able, from legal disability, to exercise the same privilege. It was competent for the defendant to show, if he could,, that the complainant was not incapacitated by disability of mental unsoundness from testifying; and if he had done so, he would thus have established his own right to be sworn in his own behalf. He did not do it. He* ought, therefore, as tire case stood, to have been held to be incompetent. The inquisition is not conclusive as to the existence of the legal disability to-testify, but prima fade the state of incapacity continues until the contrary appears. It is not necessary for the complainant to show that it, in fact, continues, in order to preclude tire defendant. The latter is precluded by the presumed continuance-of the state of incapacity until the contrary appears. If it appears, he will be qualified to testify. If it does not .appear otherwise, he may show it, if he can.

As to the status of a next friend, generally, see Balt. & Ohio R. R. Coi v. Fitzpatrick, 86 Md. 619 ; Leopold v. Myers, 2 Hilt. 580 ; Turner v. Patridge, 8 P. & W. (Pa.) 172; Allen v. Roundtree, 1 Spears 80. The next friend of an infant or married woman was formerly incompetent, because liable for costs, Hopkins v. Neal, 2 Sira. 1026; Head v. Head, 8 Atk 511; Davenport v. Davenport, 1 S. & S. 101; Witts v. Campbell, 12 Ves. 493 ; Humes v. Shillington, 22 Md. 346 ;■ Helms y. Franciseus, 2 Bland 544; Pryor vRyburn, 16 Ark. 671; Hahn v. Van Doren, 1 E. D. Smith 411; Colden v. Moore, 8 Edw. Ch. Sil; but is now admissible, Bwwell v. Corbin, 1 Rand. 18-1 Quinn v. Moss, 12 Sm. & Marsh. 865 ; Kilpatrick y. Slozier, 67 Qa. 247 ; or may act as an interpreter for the infant, Swift v. Applebone, 28 Mich. 252 ; the next friend’s wife is competent, Dennison v. Spurting, 1 Stra. 506; even after his-death, and the revivor of the suit by his administrator, Taylor v. Grand! Trunk R. R. Co., 48 N. H. S04. Where a next friend was also surety for the prosecution of the suit, and consequently liable for the costs, it was held that he was a party having “a> legal interest which might be affected by the event of the action,” and hence incompetent to testify as to any transaction or communication with a deceased party, Mason v. McCormick, 75 N. C. 268, 80 N. 0244. A prochein amy is not “ a party individually named in -the record,” so as to be excluded as a witness for his ward, Sinclair v. Sinclair, IS M. & W. S40 ; Mellnish v. Collier, 14 Jur. 681. A guardian is not a competent witness for his ward in an action against a third party, - Clutlerbuek v. Muntingtower, 1 Stra-. 506; Stein v. Boberlson, 30 Ala 886 ; but see McCullough v. McCullough, SI Mo. 886 ; nor, in proceedings between -himself and his wards, Garwood ¡r. Cooper, 18 Meisk. 101; Wilson v. TJnselt, 18 Bush 815. • ■ In a suit against a guardian, the administrator of a former guardian is competent for the plaintiff, Young v. Warne, 8 Bob. (Va.) 480. The declarations or admissions of a guardian are not admissible against his ward, Ewell’s Lead. Cas. 835 ; 1 Taylor’s Evict. $ 748 ; also Wroitesley v. Bendish, 3 B. Wms. 837; Walton v. Coulson, 1 McLean 180 ; Bank of United States v. JRitchie, 8 Pet. 188; Evans v. Davies, 39 Ark. 835; McGlay v. Dorris, 9 Lll. 370; Bhoads v. Bhoads, 43 Bl. 839 ; Turner v. Jenkins, 79 111. 888; Cavender v. Smith, 5 Iowa 157; Prutzman v. Pitesell, 3 Mar. & Johns. 77; Tucker v. Bean, 65 Me. 358; Cooper v. Mayhew, 40 Mich. 588; Massie v. Donaldson, 8 Ohio 377 ; Bank of Alexandria v. Patton, 1 Bob. (Va.) 499, 535 ; Gibbons v. McDermott, 19 Fla. 858; see, however, James v. Matfield, 1 Stra,'. 548'; Tenney v. Evans, 14 D. M. 343; McCarthy v. McCarthy, 66 lnd. 188; Bandall v. Turner, 17 Ohio St. 868; Walsh v. Walsh, 116 Mass. 377.—Bep.

It is suggested that the examiner ought, in such cases as this, notwithstanding the objection, to swear the defendant, and then, on objection, deal with the' question of the competency of his testimony as and when offered. But, as matters stood in this case, the defendant was not competent to be a witness in the cause. He was offered as a witness to prove usury—the subject of controversy—to testify upon the merits. The statute provides that a party shall not “ be sworn,” where the opposite party is prohibited by any legal disability from being sworn as a witness. By this is meant that he shall not be permitted to testify as to any matter in which he would not be a competent witness at the common law. Had there been an offer to prove by the defendant any matter as to which he would have been competent to testify at the common law, he should have been sworn and permitted to give evidence as to that. But there was no such offer.

It is also said that the two hundred and eighteenth rule of this court gives the examiner no authority to refuse to swear a witness, but only authorizes him to adjudicate upon the competency *136of his testimony. The rule clearly extends to cases where the witness is incompetent to testify at all. It in terms empowers the. examiner to decide upon all objections to evidence. This gives him authority to reject an incompetent witness. To swear a witness who is incompetent to testify, would be a mere idle ceremony. The rule sufficiently provides for the protection of parties in any case by giving an almost immediate appeal to the court itself. The decision of the examiner will be reversed.