104 Wis. 596 | Wis. | 1899
This is one of that unfortunate class of cases in which a farmer has allowed himself to be overreached and imposed upon. It involves the consideration of two questions: Does the evidence support the finding that, without negligence on his part, he was induced to sign the note in suit, by fraud? Does the evidence warrant the finding that the note was obtained by duress?
“ And then he said if I wouldn’t settle with them I would never see them again, but others ivould come and I would have to pay $500 or $600 in that case. They went out, and attempted to go away; and then; before they left, Davis said if I wouldn’t settle with them others would come and it would cost me probably half my farm, or they would take away my stock; that their company was worth millions of dollars.” Defendant persisted in his refusal to settle, and the men started from the house to 'go away. The defendant’s version of what followed is here given: “I called them back, and said I would settle with them. That is what I said. . . . When I saw I had dealing with swindlers, I made the offer of $190 just before Eleming and Davis started to leave. ... I was satisfied to settle with them for $190 to get rid of them. ... I settled with them to prevent trouble. The trouble I wanted to prevent was the lawsuit. I was afraid. I didn’t know what I was doing. The reason I was afraid was because I was dealing with
In detailing the circumstances under which the note was-signed, the witness stated: “ After I had signed the paper, Eleming said I should pay only to him and no one else; that he was to take the money. . . Eleming said I shall pay to no one else but him. They said nothing as to who the-, paper was payable to. After I signed it, Eleming said, ‘ Don’t pay to any one but him.’ They said that the paper was made payable'-to Fleming; so Eleming told me. When Eleming said that, the paper was on the table. At that time the boy or the girl were signing it as witnesses. That was said the first time when I was to sign the paper. I don’t think I have signed it or not. . . . When the-paper was on the table, before I had signed it, Eleming; came to the table and said, ‘You must not pay to any one but to me; I am to get the money for the paper.’ I then-signed the paper, after that.” He further said: “I don’t know what was in that paper. Eleming and Davis didn’t-read the paper to me. No one read it to me. No one told, me what was in it.” On cross-examination, he testified that he knew what it was for; that it was to satisfy the lightning-rod matter, so that he would not have any more trouble or a lawsuit about it. In his examination before trial, he testified that he knew that the paper signed by him was. to secure the payment of $190 in six months; that it was to-be paid to Eleming at the express office in Richfield; that it was not to bear interest until due; and that it would bear-interest after due at six per cent.
We have no hesitancy in saying that, under the circum
On the question of duress there is an entire absence of evidence to support the jury’s conclusion. The only fact upon which duress can be predicated is the threat that if he did not pay or settle it might cost him half his farm. It seems quite unnecessary to discuss this question, as this court has recently determined, in a case where legal duress was shown, that such a defense was not available against the bona fide holder of a note before due, for value. Mack v. Prang, ante, p. 1. It being affirmatively established that the plaintiff is such holder, the finding of duress is no obstacle to a judgment in his favor.
After verdict, the plaintiff moved the court for judgment notwithstanding the answers to the questions upon the subject of fraud and duress. No motion was made to set aside the answers to these questions and for judgment upon the remainder of the verdict, but upon the denial of the first motion the plaintiff moved the court to set aside the entire verdict and for a new trial. It is urged that, in view of the conclusion we have arrived at, we should reverse the judgment and remand with directions to enter judgment for plaintiff. The proper practice in the court below would have been to have moved the court to set aside the parts of the special verdict to which we have referred, and for judgment on the remainder, as pointed out in Conroy v. C., St. P., M. & O. R. Co. 96 Wis. 243, and cases therein cited.' No such motion having been made, and the possibility that new evidence may be produced by the defendant, renders it necessary to send the case back for a new trial.
, By the Oourt.— The judgment of the circuit court is reversed, and the cause is remanded for a new trial.