54 Ind. App. 487 | Ind. | 1913
For a number of years prior to February —, 1908, appellant’s decedent, Jacob F. Marks, and appellee, Nicholas "W. Box, were residents of Lafayette, Indiana, and each was a stockholder of the Muneie Gas, Light and Fuel Company of Muneie, Indiana. Marks was an accommodation endorser on a note of said gas company for $5,000, dated September 14, 1903, payable to and held by Taylor’s Bank. On January 16,1904, Marks drew his individual check to said bank for $1,100 in part payment of said note, leaving a balance of $3,900 thereof unpaid. February 18, 1904, Marks and Box executed their ninety day note to the First National Bank of Lafayette, in the sum of $3,900, the former’s name appearing first on the note, which note was renewed by the execution of a new note in said sum May 21, 1904, and again on August 22, 1904, which last note matured November 23, 1904, and which Marks paid December 6, 1904, by his individual check in the sum of $3,968.90, on the American National Bank of Lafayette in favor of Frank W. Spencer, cashier of said First National Bank. On said December 6, 1904, Marks and Box executed their note to said American National Bank for $4,120, running six months, with interest at 8 per cent from maturity. This note was signed by Marks and Box, Marks’ name appearing first on the note. The proceeds of this note were credited to Marks’ individual account at said American National Bank. On June 6, 1905, Marks and Box renewed said note by the execution of a new note maturing December 6, 1905, at which time said last named note was renewed by the execution of the note involved in this action. Said note in suit bears date of December 6, 1905, and is in the sum of $4,120, running six months, payable to said American National Bank, with 8 per cent interest from maturity, and signed as follows: “J. F. Marks, N. "W. Box, Security.”
The controversy in this action was whether Marks and Box were comakers of said note as principals, or the latter was surety for the former. The evidence does not indicate
The causes assigned for a new trial, and not waived in this court, pertain to the admission and exclusion of evidence. The evidence,,aside from admissions, was largely circumstantial.
While Mr. Spencer, cashier of said First National Bank, was testifying as a witness in behalf of appellee, he identified a certain book as a “bills receivable record” of said bank, and testified that it was correctly kept, and in the regular course of business, and was permitted to read in evidence from said book, over appellant’s objection, the account of Jacob F. Marks, as contained therein, showing charged to him said $3,900 note, dated February 18, 1904, and each of said renewals thereof. By the eleventh assignment in the motion for a new trial, appellant challenges the court’s ruling in admitting such evidence. In determining whether or not the court erred in said ruling, it is necessary that the nature of the controversy be kept in mind. It was admitted that said series of three notes was executed to said bank by both Marks and Box, and the sole point in dispute was whether Box’s relation to said note was as coprincipal or as surety. Said evidence evidently was not admitted for the purpose of showing that Marks was indebted to said bank on said notes, since that was not controverted, but rather it was admitted, presumably as an item tending to show that said, debt was the debt of Marks to the exclusion of Box, that is, for its bearing on the controversy between Marks and Box, which was a collateral controversy, when viewed from the standpoint of the American National Bank or the First National Bank.
For errors of the court as indicated in this opinion, the judgment is reversed, with instructions to sustain the motion for a new trial.
Note.—Reported in 103 N. E. 27. See, also, under (1) 40 Cyc. 2422, 2435; (2) 2 Cyc. 722; (3) 29 Cyc. 947; (4) 16 Cyc. 1200-1206; (6) 38 Cyc. 1419; (7) 38 Cyc. 1411; (8) 17 Cyc. 365, 387; (10) 17 Cyc. 377, 391; (14) 40 Cyc. 2522; (15) 13 Cyc. 386. As to admissibility in evidence of books of account, see 138 Am. St. 441.