Faville v. Shehan

68 Iowa 241 | Iowa | 1885

Beck, Oír. J.

1. saleoicorstook:°iaise tSnsfjire-" innocence? I. The petition alleges that defendants, to induce jdaintiffs to purchase certain stock of a corporation ca^ei^ the “Mitchell County Creamery,” represented that the corporation was without debt, and the stock was valuable, when in truth the corporation was indebted in a large sum; that the plaintiffs, relying upon these false representations, which were made for the purpose of deceiving them, purchased and paid for the stock. It is alleged that one of the defendants is the president and the other the secretary of the corporation.

II. The district court instructed the jury that the burden rested upon the plaintiffs to prove, by a preponderance of evidence, the allegations of the petition. The defendants ask the court to direct the jury that, in determining whether the representations were intentionally made, they must consider the presumption of defendants’ innocence; and, to authorize a verdict against defendants, the evidence for the plaintiffs must not only overcome all evidence introduced against them, but also the presumption of defendants’ innocence. This instruction was refused. These rulings by the court upon the instructions are now made the subject of complaint.

III. Counsel for defendants maintain that the action is brought upon Code, § 1071, which provides that intentional frauds in deceiving the public or individuals in relation to the means or liabilities of corporations shall be punished by fine and imprisonment, and any one suffering injury from such frauds may recover damages against those guilty thereof; and that, as recovery is sought under this penal statute, the rule of presumption as to innocence prevailing in criminal and penal cases must obtain in this case. Right 'here is counsel’s mistake. The action is not brought under the statute, and does not purport to be. There is nothing in the petition showing any such purpose of the pleader drawing it. It alleges that defendants are officers of the corporation. But this allegation may be regarded as showing the intentional misrepresentations of defendants. They would be presumed, as officers, to know whether the corporation was or was not indebted. The case presented by the petition is simply one to recover for false and fraudulent representations, inducing the purchase of the stock, — a cause of action at common law. In this view of the case the court correctly instructed the jury.

IY. There may have been questions as to the misjoinder of defendants, but they are not before us upon this appeal.

2. jury: disqualification of juror: waiver by failure to examine. Y. One of the jurors trying the cause was not a resident of the state. Amotion to set aside the verdict on that ground was overruled. Neither party knew that the juror was not an elector of the state, and he was not examined upon this point as to his qualifications. We think the rule is well settled that, when a party in a civil case accepts a juror without examination as to his qualifications, he waives objections on account of want of qualifications of the juror discovered afterwards. Of course, concealment or fraud of the other party inducing tlie acceptance of tlie juror would take a case out of the rule. A different rule applicable to criminal cases was recognized in State v. Groome, 10 Iowa, 308. We are not disposed to extend the doctrine of that decision to civil cases. In support of the conclusions we have announced, see the following cases: Rockwell v. Elderkin, 19 Wis., 388; Wilcox v. Saunders, 4 Neb., 569; Wassum v. Feeney, 121 Mass., 93; Watts v. Ruth, 30 Ohio St., 23; State v. Hinkle, 27 Kan., 308; Croy v. State 32 Ind., 384; Meeks v. State, 57 Ga., 329; State v. Powers, 10 Or., 145; McDonald v. Beall, 55 Ga., 288; Jameson v. Androscoggin R'y Co., 52 Me., 412; Manion v. Flynn, 39 Conn., 330. Other cases in harmony with these could also be cited.

3. practice in supreme court: errors not assigned not consider-YI. Counsel for the defendants complain that the circuit court overruled a motion by defendants for separate trials. But this ruling is not assigned as error. It can- ° not, therefore, be considered upon this appeal, ’ ' _ x 1 foregoing discussion disposes of all cpiestions in the case. The judgment of the circuit court is

• Affirmed.