Hyde v. Buckner

108 Cal. 522 | Cal. | 1895

Temple, J.

This action was brought to restrain the sale, under execution against the property of Peter Van Valer, of certain lands conveyed by Van Valer to plaintiff in October, 1884. The question is whether that deed was intended to secure an indebtedness, and was, therefore, a mortgage. That it was given as security is affirmed by the judgment creditor and denied by the plaintiff.

Defendant recovered judgment, and this appeal was taken by plaintiff from the judgment and from a refusa] of a new trial.

The main contention here is that the evidence does not sustain the finding of the court upon the issue above stated. After a careful consideration of the evidence, as shown in the record, I do not think the conclusion reached upon that issue can be disturbed here. The evidence is voluminous, and discussion of it would not be useful.

I think, however, the court erred in permitting defendants to prove by the witness Mannheim statements made by Van Valer nine years after the execution of the deed, impeaching the title conveyed thereby to plaintiff, by showing that it was given as security for a loan.' Van Valer had been called by defendants, and as their witness had testified, in substance, that the transaction was a sale, and that the relation of debtor and creditor did not continue between himself and Hyde after the execution of the deed. And further, that there was no understanding, express or otherwise, that Van Valer could repurchase for at least three months after the execution of the deed. Defendants then called Mannheim, and asked him to tell what Van Valer had said to him about the transaction in August, 1893. This was objected to as incompetent.

The objection was overruled, the court saying: "I think the evidence is competent for the purpose of ascertaining what the intention of the parties was.”

The witness then proceeded to testify that Van Valer stated that he had conveyed the land to Hyde simply as security for a loan.

This evidence was clearly incompetent to disprove or impeach the-title which Hyde claimed to have acquired from Van Valer. It was admissible only to show why the defendants had called a witness who was adverse to them, and not then, unless they were surprised by his testimony. Beyond this it was entitled to no weight whatever. It could have no force in making an affirmative case for the defendants. (Hall v. Bark Emily Banning, 33 Cal. 522; Estate of Kennedy, 104 Cal. 429.)

In view of the reason given by the judge for the ruling, we cannot presume that the evidence had no weight in the determination of the principal issue.

The judgment and order are therefore reversed and a new trial ordered.

McFarland, J., Henshaw, J., Harrison, J., and Van Fleet, J.. concurred.