Eyre v. Cook, 9 Iowa 185

Eyre v. Cook

9 Iowa 185 | Iowa | 1859

StocktoN, J.

The argument made for the defendant against the plaintiff’s books of account, might more properly have been made on the trial of the cause in the District Court, by way of objection to their credibility, than to their admissibility in evidence to prove the plaintiff’s claim. The preliminary proof required by the statute was made; and where this is made, the book of accounts is receivable in evidence, subject to all just exceptions to its credibility. The admissibility of the books is a question for the court; the degree of credit to be given to them is a question for the jury, under the direction of the court. As the cause in this instance was tried by the court, both their admissibility and *187■ credibility were to be determined by the court. If the day-book and journal did not agree with each other, nor with the bill of particulars filed in the action; if they differed in items, amounts and dates, such discrepancies would undoubtedly affect the credit of the book of accounts relied on to sustain the plaintiff’s cause of action, but in our opinion, under the statute, would not amount to sufficient cause for its rejection altogether. The opinion of the court should have been taken in writing, on some legal proposition submitted to it, as to the degree of credibility to be attached to the books. As this -was not done, there is no method in which this court can revise the decision of the District Court upon the facts. The error in its decision either upon the law or the facts, is not made apparent, and we cannot reverse the same.

The action was against several defendants, on an account for work and labor done; the judgment was against the defendant, Nathan Cook, alone, who appeals; and it is urged that as the action was joint against all the defendants, no judgment could be rendered against the defendant Cook alone, and in favor of the other defendants against the plaintiff. This was undoubtedly the rule of law previous to the adoption of the Code ; but by sec. 1815, it is provided, that “judgment may be rendered for or against one or more of several plaintiffs or defendants, or the court may determine the ultimate rights of the parties on each side as between themselves, and give judgment accordingly.” We think it results conclusively from this provision of the statute, that if the plaintiff joins several persons as defendants in an action on account, but maintains his cause of action against one of the defendants alone, he may have judgment against that one, and judgment may be given for the other defendants against the plaintiffs, for their costs expended. It does not appear from the record whether or not the District Court allowed the set-off pleaded by the defendants. As the notes pleaded in set-off by defendants were admitted by plaintiff to be “just and correct,” on the trial before the justice, it is claimed by the appellant that there should *188have been judgment in favor of tbe original defendants against tbe plaintiff, for tbe amount of tbo notes. Tbe obvious answer to this is tbe fact above stated, that it does not appear but what tbe notes were allowed by tbe court as set-off to tbe claim of tbe plaintiff against tbe defendant Cook. And as he is the only party appealing he cannot complain of any injury resulting to bis co-defendants from the refusal of the court to render a judgment in their favor. We may suggest further that although the notes were admitted by the plaintiff to be “just and correct,” he did not admit that they might be pleaded by the defendants as a just set-off to his claims against them. The notes do not appear to have been assigned or transferred in any manner to the defendants; and as they wore not payable to bearer, the court might well have concluded that no title to them was shown by defendants, or either of them; and for this reason might have disallowed them altogether as a set-off to the claim of the plaintiff. »

The defect in tbe case made by the defendant, is that it does not appear whether the District Court allowed tbe set-off, or any part, of it, or not.

Judgment affirmed.