Jewett v. Draper

88 Mass. 434 | Mass. | 1863

Chapman, J.

The question raised as to the burden of proof must be determined by adverting to the nature of the plaintiff’s claim. It appears that he had a tract of land which was subject to three mortgages, and desired to borrow money of the defendant upon a further mortgage of the land. The defendant lent him the money, and took his note for $1250, which included not only the sum lent but the amount due on all the prior mortgages. It was stipulated in the deed that the defendant should assume these mortgages. Upon the performance of this promise, the plaintiff would hold the land subject to a single mortgage to the defendant, and the debts referred to would be extinguished. By giving his note for the amount of the debts, the plaintiff had in effect furnished the defendant with the money to pay them, and the defendant undertook that duty. The case is therefore like that of McGregory v. Prescott, 5 Cush. 67, where it was held that, the contract being proved by which the defendant promised to pay money or perform a duty, the burden is on the defendant to prove performance. It is unlike a covenant against incumbrances, or a guaranty, where the plaintiff can recover only nominal damages unless he proves that he has himself removed the incumbrance or paid the debt. The ruling as to the burden of proof was therefore correct.

But the opinion of the witness offered as an expert should have been excluded. The leading case as to experts on the subject of handwriting is Moody v. Rowell, 17 Pick. 490. It was there held that though the opinion of an expert is competent on the question whether a signature is in a genuine or an imitated hand, yet such evidence is in general deserving of but little consideration, and is often wholly immaterial. This then is the extreme limit to which this species of testimony should be carried. In Commonwealth v. Webster, 5 Cush. 301, the witness was permitted to state his opinion that the writing produced was in the disguised hand of the prisoner, though it did not resemble his usual hand; but he was not permitted to state his opinion whether it was written -with a certain instrument that had been found in the defendant’s laboratory. In Bacon v. Williams, 13 Gray, 525, the witness testified to certain physical appearances of a folded paper where the writing was across the fold, he having examined it with a microscope, and gave his opinion from the spreading of the ini? whether it was written subsequent to the folding. He also testified as to the difference in the ink used in different parts of the writing, and as to the characteristics of the letters. These were particulars as to which a person of skill might enlighten a jury. But-in the present case the question was not as to the genuineness of the writing, the similarity of ink, or the action of the ink upon the paper. It was alleged that the words “ Boston mortgage $300 ” were interpolated after the signature; and the only facts spoken of as bearing upon the question are, their not being written in the usual place above the signature, but by the side of it, and the crowded and huddled appearance of the words A juror of ordinary intelligence was as competent to judge of these facts and draw proper inferences from them as the witness could be. Skill in the detection of counterfeits could give no aid in determining whether the words or the signature were written first.

But it is said that if the evidence was not competent it was at least immaterial, and therefore the exceptions should be overruled. There is no ground for this assertion. The court cannot know that the jury were not materially influenced by it. The witness was permitted to state under oath his opinion as to a fact which they must determine, and they were instructed to receive this opinion as evidence, It would be their duty to regard it accordingly. Exceptions sustained.