Deming v. Carrington

12 Conn. 1 | Conn. | 1837

Huntington, J.

The objection to proof of the acts and declarations of Seth Cowles, is founded on the general rule of law, which excludes hearsay evidence. This salutary rule, we are not disposed to invade, nor are we inclined to extend the exceptions to it. It must, however, be admitted, that there are several classes of cases in which the spirit of this rule is not violated, by the admission of evidence, which, in a limited sense, may be denominated hearsay ; and we think the present case falls within one of these classes.

The declarations of a person deceased, while in possession of real estate, adverse to his title, are admissible against all who c¡ajm un¿¡er him. This principle is so well settled, as not now ⅛0 |je 0pen to discussion. Beers & al. v. Hawley & al. 2 Conn. Rep. 467. Norton v. Pettibone, 7 Conn. Rep. 319. Rogers v. Moore, 10 Conn. Rep. 13. Carne v. Nicoll, 1 Bing. N. C. 430. In the case before us, the plaintiff claimed tobe the owner of the premises upon which the alleged trespass was committed. The defendants insisted, that the title was in Cowles, under whom they entered; and it was admitted, that the plaintiff and Cowles were adjoining proprietors; and the only question in dispute regarded the locality of the division line between them. The acts and declarations of Cowles, which were admitted in evidence, had a direct reference to the extent of his possession ; were intimately connected with his title as owner, and his possession as occupant: were adverse to his title ; and affected the defendants, who claimed through or justified under him. They were admissions relating to the division line between him and the plaintiff; were of the most unequivocal character; were repeatedly made; and were accompanied with acts showing the extent of his possession and his right to occupy ; and were directly at variance with the claim made by the defendants, who entered under him. A more appropriate case for the application of the principles to which we have referred, cannot be stated, unless it is limited tocases where the party, whose declarations are offered, is dead, or if alive, is incompetent, or cannot be compelled to testify : and such is the claim of the plaintiff, supported, (as he insists,) by the decision of this court, in the recent case of Fitch v. Chapman, 10 Conn. Rep. 8. It is, undoubtedly, a general rule of law, well calculated to promote the correct administration of justice, that where a person is living and can be called as a witness, his declarations made at another time, cannot be received in evidence. Barough v. White, 4 B. & C. 325. Spargo v. Brown, 9 B. & C. 935. This rule, however, is not universal. It has exceptions, which harmonize with its spirit, and which rest on as broad a foundation as the rule itself. In the case before us, it may, perhaps, be well doubted, whether any necessity exists to refer it to the exceptions. There is certainly much force in the arguments addressed to us, and which presented the case as not embraced by the terms of the rule. The defendants do not claim title in themselves. They do not state, that they are purchasers of the property, or in any manner interested in it. On the contrary, they claim the title to be in Cowits, “ under whom they entered and did the acts complained of.” If they were merely agents of Cowles, having no interest in the premises, acting by his direction and at his request, they are nominal parties only to the suit, while Cowles is tile real defendant : and under such ciicumstances, it would be difficult to find any principle of justice or rule of law, which would exclude the admissions and acts of Cowles, the real party, adverse to his interest. Bell & al. v. Ansley, 16 East, 141. The King v. Hardwick, 11 East, 578. Harrison v. Vallance, 1 Bing. 48. Besides, if Cowles was the principal, and the defendants his servants, it was urged that he was an incompetent witness, or could not be compelled to testify. His situation, it was said, did not vary from that of the persons whose declarations were admitted in Beers v. Hawley & al. 2 Conn. Rep. 467., and Norton v. Pettibone & al. 7 Conn. Rep. 319. In the former case, Miner, who made the admissions, was alive, but he had mortgaged the premises to the plaintiffs, with covenants of seisin and warranty. In the latter case, Marks, although not a party to the suit, had been cited in to defend the title to the land, which he had conveyed to Pettibone. Fitch v. Chapman, 10 Conn. Rep. 12. In the present case, Cowles is alive, and his name is not on the record as defendant; but it appears from the motion, that those who are named as defendants, instead of claiming to be the owners of the premises, insisted, that “ the title was in Cowles, under whom they entered” and committed the alleged trespass. We do not, however, intend to express an opinion upon these points, to which we have thus incidentally referred. We wish to place our decision of the question arising upon this motion, upon principles much broader, and which have received the sanction of our courts, and the courts in Great-Britain, and in several of our sister states.

The declarations and acts of Cowles, which were received in evidence, related, (as we have before remarked) to the extent of his occupancy. They were made while he was in possession, claiming to be owner ; they were adverse to the title now set up by the defendants ; and were offered against those who claim through him, or justify under him. Cowles is, therefore, identified in interest with the persons against whom they were offered ; and where such identity exists, they are admissible, although the person making them is alive and competent to testify. Barnugh v. White, 4 B. & C. 325. Jackson ex dem. Griswold v. Bard, 4 Johns. Rep. 230. Jackson ex dem. McDonald v. McCall, 10 Johns. Rep. 376. Norton v. Pettibone, 7 Conn. Rep. 319. Austin v. Sawyer, 8 Cow. 39. Hale v. Smith, 6 Greenl. 416. Inhabitants of Claremont v. Carlton, 2 N. H. Rep. 369. Sylvester v. Capro, 15 Pick. 92. In the argument of the case of Woolway v. Rowe, 1 Adol. & Ell. 114. Pattcson, J., addressed the following enqui-ry to counsel : !! Have you looked into the cases on this subject, and found that the statement of a person identified in interest with a party to the cause, has never been held admissible, but where the person making such statement was dead'? I have never heard the point so presented before. I always thought the party’s interest at the time of the declaration, was the ground on which the evidence was admitted.” And, Denman, Ch. J., in delivering the judgment of the court, says : “ The first question raised in this case, was, whether the declarations of a person formerly interested in the estate now the plaintiff’s, were admissible in evidence, where the party himself might have been called. We think they were receivable on the ground of identity of interest. The fact of his being alive at the time of the trial, when perhaps his memory of facts was impaired, and when his interest was not the same, does not, in our opinion, affect the admissibility of those declarations, which he formerly made on the subject of his own rights.”

The case of Fitch v. Chapman, 10 Conn. Rep. 8., is not opposed to the views we have expressed. In that case, the declarations of John Chapman, (who was alive) were offered to prove what title he intended to acquire, when he took a deed of the premises to himself. His admissions were, that he made the purchase for the defendant, and not for himself, although the deed was executed to him as sole grantee. It was an attempt, therefore, by the most dangerous of all evidence, — by his own declarations out of court — to give a construction to the deed, different from that which the law gave to it; and we said, “ the deed shows what title he did actually obtain ; and as the question here is merely as to the legal title, that is settled by the deed itself.” Besides, it does not appear, that these declarations were made while John Chapman was in possession; nor were they adverse to any title which he claimed to have in the property ; nor had they the slightest reference to the nature or extent of his occupancy. It is not easy to perceive any analogy between that case and the one now before us.

There is another view in which the question submitted to us may be considered, and from which it will be apparent, that the evidence was properly received Cowles was in possession as adjoining proprietor, and directed where the ditch was to be dug, which was to be in the dividing line between himself and the plaintiff. He pointed out the place of that line ; made himself a party to the act of digging the ditch there ; and may and ought to be treated as having participated in that act. Being-then in possession of the adjoining land, and occupying up to a certain place, his declarations accompanying his acts, were admissible as part of the res gesta, showing the extent of his right to occupy and his occupancy in fact. Williams v. Ensign, 4 Conn. Rep. 456. Davis v. Pierce & al. 2 Term Rep. 53. Pool v. Bridges, 4 Pick. 378. Wooden v. Executors of Cowles, 11 Conn. Rep. 292.

The ruling of the superior court was correct; and a new trial ought not to be granted.

In this opinion the other Judges concurred.

New trial not to be granted.