133 Ill. 79 | Ill. | 1890
This was an action of assumpsit, brought by the National Bank of Illinois, at Chicago, against William H. Grubey, on a promissory note, as follows:
“Chicago, III., May 9,1887.
“Sixty days after date I promise to pay, to the order of myself, $1000, payable at 113 S. Clark. Value received, with six per cent per annum until paid.
(Signed.) Wm. H. Grubey.”
Indorsed: “Pay to the order of the National Bank of Illinois, at Chicago.—Wm. H. Grubey.”
The declaration contained one special count on the note, and •also the common counts. The defendant pleaded the general issue, and when the cause was called for trial, plaintiff entered ¡a nolle prosequi as to the common counts. A trial was had before a jury, resulting in a judgment in favor of plaintiff for the amount of the note, and interest, which, on appeal, was •affirmed in the Appellate Court.
On the trial in the Superior Court, the plaintiff read in evidence the note described in the declaration, and the defendant claimed, as a defense, that the note was given for gambling transactions on the Board of Trade, and was therefore void. No question is raised in the argument in regard to the ruling •of the court on instructions, but it is claimed that the court •erred in refusing certain evidence offered by the defendant, and this is the only ground relied upon to reverse the judgment.
The defendant was a witness in his own behalf, and he was asked whether or not any grain bought by him, as shown by certain statements, was received by or delivered to him. The ■court refused to allow the witness to answer the question, and this is the first error complained of. It will not be necessary to stop to inquire whether the court erred in this regard or not, ¡as the next question propounded to the witness, which was answered, substantially embraced all contained in the other one, ¡and if the court erred, the error did no harm. It was as follows : “I will ask you whether or not, during the time covered by these statements that you have seen, you were called on by Mr. Henrotin, as your broker, to receive or deliver or pay for ¡any grain?” Answer, “No, sir.”
It is next claimed that the court erred in refusing to allow the witness to answer the following question: “Now, were the several transactions shown in these statements in fact settled between you and your broker ?” The defense relied upon was that the transactions were gambling contracts. The statements alluded to in the question show, as well as does defendant’s testimony, that the transactions were between the defendant, ■ . through his broker, and third parties; and the Appellate Court; ' held, and we think properly, that “ what settlements were made- ' between defendant and Henrotin were immaterial, and had no-tendency to prove that Henrotin had, as agent for the defendant, engaged in gambling transactions with those parties.”
It is also argued that the trial court erred in sustainingappellee’s objection to the question, “Now, I will' ask you,. Mr. Grubey, whether or not the parties to whom these privileges were sold, exercised the option given them, and ‘put’ and. ) ‘called’ the wheat ?” The witness stated, in answer to a question put by the court, that he did not do any of the business on the Board of Trade himself, and, of course, could not, of his-own knowledge, answer the question. What may have been reported to him by his broker was not competent evidence. The broker himself was a competent witness, and should have-been called if the defendant desired his evidence.
Whether the note in question was given for gambling transactions on the Board of Trade was purely a question of fact,, and, so far as appears, the question was fairly submitted to-the jury, or, at all events, no such errors intervened on the-trial, in the ruling on questions of evidence, as would authorize a reversal of the judgment.
The judgment will be affirmed. ' Judgment affirmed.