Matz v. Martinson

127 Minn. 262 | Minn. | 1914

Taylob., 0.

Tbis is a suit upon a promissory note. The defense interposed is that defendant was so drunk when be signed it that be was incapable of entering into a contract. At tbe close of tbe evidence all testimony tending to prove such drunkenness was stricken out on motion of plaintiff. Tbe testimony so stricken out would have supported a finding by tbe jury that defendant was intoxicated to tbe extent claimed, and consequently tbe action of tbe court in striking it out presents tbe question as to whether tbe fact of such intoxication was a defense to tbe suit.

1. Tbe note together with a chattel mortgage upon some horses was executed on January 10,1906. Defendant bad previously mortgaged tbe horses to a third party. He subsequently sold them, and apparently applied tbe proceeds upon the first mortgage. He paid none of such proceeds to plaintiff. Plaintiff made no attempt to enforce bis mortgage, and never received anything thereunder. He made several threats to prosecute defendant criminally for selling mortgaged property, but no prosecution was ever instituted. Defendant, at the trial, admitted and testified that be was informed of tbe note and mortgage and knew that be bad executed them on January 11, 1906, tbe next day after their execution; that tbe note was given for a prior debt and that be owed such debt; that after knowing that be bad executed tbe note, be repeatedly promised to pay it; that be made two payments upon it, one of $50 in September, 1908, and another of $50 in October, 1908; and that be made no claim to plaintiff that tbe note was invalid, because executed while be was intoxicated, until some time in tbe spring of 1913. His wife testified that one of plaintiff’s attorneys came to tbe bouse at a time when her husband was absent; and that, in response to an inquiry as to whether they could make a payment upon the note, she informed him that they would not pay it as her husband was intoxicated when he signed it. She was unable to fix the date of this conversation with any definiteness, but stated that it occurred some two years before the trial. As the trial took place in December, 1913, this conversation probably occurred some time in 1911. It is not claimed that there was any act repudiating the note prior to this conversation • but defendant contends that this conversation, and the statement, which he himself made in the spring of 1913, constituted a disaffirmance of the note and absolved him from any obligation to pay it.

Although a party may repudiate a contract entered into when he was in such a state of intoxication that he could not comprehend its terms, it is well settled' that such contract is not void but voidable only. If, after becoming sober and comprehending its terms, he affirms it, it becomes valid and binding. If he elects'to repudiate it, he must give notice thereof with reasonable promptness. He is allowed a reasonable time after he understands the nature and effect of the transaction in which to disaffirm it; but, if he takes no steps to disaffirm it within a reasonable time after he has such knowledge, he is deemed to have ratified it. Carpenter v. Rodgers, 61 Mich. 384, 28 N. W. 156, 1 Am. St. 595; J. I. Case Threshing Machine Co. v. Meyers, 78 Neb. 685, 111 N. W. 602, 9 L.R.A.(N.S.) 970; Kelly v. Louisville & N. R. Co. 154 Ala. 573, 45 South. 906; Strickland v. Parlin & Orendorf Co. 118 Ga. 213, 44 S. E. 997; Spoonheim v. Spoonheim, 14 N. D. 380, 104 N. W. 845; Fowler v. Meadow Brook Water Co. 208 Pa. St. 473, 57 Atl. 959; 17 Am. & Eng. Enc. (2d ed.) 401.

The note in controversy was given for a valid debt previously contracted. Defendant does not claim any defense to- the debt, nor that he was overreached in any manner. He recognized the note as a valid and binding obligation for fully five years, and during that time made numerous promises, both verbally and by letter, that he would pay it. The record shows conclusively that he ratified the execution of the note after having full knowledge of the transaction. Therefore whether he was intoxicated when he signed it became wholly immaterial, and evidence tending to show such fact was properly stricken from the record.

2. Defendant complains of tbe manner in wbicb thé case was submitted to the jury. He offered no defense except the claim that the note was invalid because signed while he was intoxicated. As already pointed out his subsequent ratification of the note precluded him from asserting this defense. When the case went to the jury plaintiff’s note stood admitted, and there was no evidence tending -to show any defense to it whatever. Plaintiff moved the court to direct a verdict in his favor. Defendant objected under chapter 245, page 336, Laws of 1913. The trial judge endeavored to follow this statute. He denied plaintiff’s motion. He called the attention of the jury to the note, and to the defense of intoxication, and gave them two forms of verdict. He told them that the testimony as to intoxication had been stricken out and was not to be considered by them. He further told them to take the note and, if plaintiff was entitled to recover, to return a verdict for the amount thereof, but that he did not direct a verdict for plaintiff.

Defendant contends that withdrawing the evidence as to intoxication from the jury infringed the rights secured to him by the statute. This somewhat unusual statute reads as follows:

“When at the close of the testimony any party to the action moves the court to direct a verdict in his favor, and the adverse party objects thereto, such motion shall be denied and the court shall submit to the jury such issue or issues, within the pleadings on which any evidence has been taken, as either or any party to the action shall request, but upon a subsequent motion, by such moving party after verdict rendered in such action, that judgment be entered notwithstanding the verdict, the court shall grant the same if, upon the evidence as it stood at the time such motion to direct a verdict was made the moving party was entitled to such directed verdict.”- Section 7998, G. S. 1913.

It may be noted in passing that defendant made no request for the submission of any issue to the jury, but merely objected to the granting of plaintiff’s motion. This statute has no reference to the reception or rejection of evidence, and in no way changes or restricts the power of the court to determine questions arising in respect thereto. The court has precisely the same power to receive, exclude and strike out evidence that it had before the passage of the statute. Evidence offered for the purpose of proving facts which, if established, would not affect the result of the action, may properly be excluded or stricken out as immaterial.

The statute contemplates the existence of questions which are for the jury to determine, and which have a bearing upon the result of the action. Such questions may arise either because the facts are in controversy, or because different conclusions may be drawn from the undisputed facts. But if there be no such questions, there are no issues for submission to the jury. The court is not debarred from stating to the jury the rules of law which govern the case, and should do so. He performs his full duty under the statute when he states the case to the jury as it actually is, explains the rules of law which apply, and directs them to return such verdict as they may deem proper under the circumstances. Whether the court no longer possesses the power to direct a verdict in any case, if objection be made thereto, is neither involved nor decided herein.

The record in the present case discloses no error affecting any substantial right of defendant and the order denying a new trial is affirmed.