Malone Coal, Grain & Motor Co. v. Hale

92 So. 553 | Ala. | 1922

This is an appeal from the action of the trial court in granting a new trial for the defendant upon the sole ground of newly discovered evidence. Among other prerequisites to a motion for a new trial for newly discovered evidence it should set forth the names of the witnesses who would testify to the facts alleged, and be accompanied by the affidavits of said witnesses. The record discloses no affidavit from Crowden as to the substance or truth of the evidence as alleged in the motion and affidavit of counsel to have been divulged to him by said Crowden. McLeod v. Shelly Co., 108 Ala. 81, 19 So. 326. Crowden may have told counsel all that he sets forth in the motion and affidavit, yet there should have been an affidavit from Crowden that said facts were true. For instance, we have no proof from Crowden that the notation on the back of the note was made contemporaneous with the trade with Newton, and, if it was made some time subsequent thereto, it would not show that Turner witnessed the trade, and would not contradict him to the effect that he did not know of the trade until told by Crowden some time afterward.

Again, a new trial should not be granted on newly discovered evidence unless such evidence would probably change the verdict. Schlaff v. Railroad Co., 100 Ala. 377, 14 So. 105. As we understand the evidence in this case, there was no conflict between the witnesses Turner and Crowden as to the former's consent to a sale of the automobile to Newton. Crowden testified that Turner consented, and Turner did not deny this; in fact, he said he could give it away or do whatever he pleased with it; but they would not waive their rights under their mortgage or conditional sale. While Crowden testified to a consent, he did not testify as to an express waiver of the mortgage, and there was only an inferential conflict between them as to a waiver. The result is that this notation on the note, as witnessed by Turner, could not and should not change the verdict of the jury, as it rather corroborates instead of contradicting Turner as to the waiver of the mortgagee's rights, as it discloses a recognition of same and negatives a release of the car, whether said notation was made at the time of the trade and the Newton note was given or afterward when Turner says Crowden told him the trade had been made. It might be that, if the defendant had shown that the notation was made when the note was given, and that Turner was present when the trade was made, this would contradict Turner that he did not know of the trade until afterwards informed by Crowden, but this fact is not set forth by an affidavit from Crowden. On the other hand, if it was, the contradiction would be immaterial, for, if the notation was made at the time of the trade, instead of afterward, it not only tends to negative a waiver of the mortgagee's claim to the automobile, but would indicate that Newton, as well as Crowden, understood that the new trade was not to operate as a release of plaintiff's claim to the automobile in the event the note was not paid.

We think the trial court erred in granting the new trial, and its action in so doing is reversed and set aside, and the original judgment is reinstated.

Reversed and rendered.

SAYRE, GARDNER, and MILLER, JJ., concur.