No. 2730 | Tex. | Feb 25, 1890
W. C. Denman sued J. M. Noel, W. Coy, and R. Lampley, originally in the Justice Court of Precinct No. — of Angelina County, on the following instrument:
“Lufkim, 4—23, 1888.
“Due Coy & Lampley, 889.08.
[Signed] “J. M. Noel.”
The following was endorsed on it:
“E. O. E. We transfer this to W. C. Denman.
[Signed] “ Cot & Lampley.”
The justice’s transcript shows that the suit was brought on April 25, 1888; that defendant’s plea to the jurisdiction over his person was overruled; that the cause was dismissed as to Coy & Lampley, and that judgment was rendered for the plaintiff for $59.08.
An appeal was prosecuted to the District Court of the county, where a trial by jury at the January Term, 1889, resulted in a verdict and judgment for plaintiff for $89.08, from which this appeal is taken upon the following assignments of error:
I. That the court erred in allowing plaintiff W. C. Denman the right of trial by a jury after sounding the docket for that purpose on appearance day, and both parties refused a jury. The record shows that at the July Term, 1888, when this cause was called on appearance day, both parties failed to demand a jury; and therefore it is claimed that the plaintiff was not entitled to a jury when demanded and the law complied with
We can perceive no error in the ruling of the court in the respect complained of; nor can we see how it could have operated to the defendant’s prejudice to grant plaintiff’s demand for a jury.
2. The next assignment of error is the action of the court in overruling defendant’s plea to the jurisdiction. This plea averred “that the defendant J. M. Noel is now a bona fide citizen of Precinct No. 2, Cherokee County, Texas, and was so residing in said Precinct No. 2, Cherokee County, at and long before the institution of this suit, and claims the privilege of being sued in his own county, and that he had not waived the right of being sued in the county of his residence,” etc.; and further, “that he had not authorized suit to be brought against him in said Angelina County,” etc.
This plea to the. jurisdiction of the person of defendant was verified by affidavit. But it was defective in not alleging with that certainty which would have left no room for doubt that the defendant was not a resident of Angelina County. Under the averments of this plea he might have resided in both counties. Crawford v. Carothers, 66 Tex., 199" court="Tex." date_filed="1886-05-07" href="https://app.midpage.ai/document/crawford-v-carothers-4895080?utm_source=webapp" opinion_id="4895080">66 Texas, 199, and cases cited.
3. It is complained that the court permitted the jury trying the cause to separate. The bill of exception recites, substantially, that for want of time the court failed to get through with the trial of the cause on the day it was begun, and when night came the court dismissed the jury, and allowed them to go where they pleased. The defendant at the time urged the court to keep the jury together, which the court refused to do. The judge states that “the cause had been on trial all day, and it was then after dark; a portion of the jury had been up on a case the night before, and they were allowed to separate after being appropriately instructed not to talk about the case, and not to permit any person to talk about it to them or in their presence.”
We see nothing in the record to indicate that the presiding judge abused the discretion lodged in him by articles 1304-6 of the Revised Statutes, which authorize him to allow the jury to separate after being admonished iby the court as to their duty. If they had been talked with, or any communication niade injurious to the appellant, there should have been at least some effort made on his part to show that fact.
4. There are only two other errors assigned necessary to be noticed. These relate to the admission of the evidence of the witness J. B. Herrington, to the effect that he heard William Noel say after the institution •of this suit that he had told appellee Denman that the due bill was all right, and would be paid; and the charge of the court on the question of the liability of appellant for the declarations of said William Noel. The testimony was incompetent. If its purpose was to show that William
It appears from the evidence that appellant was engaged in making' ■ties some distance in the country from Lufkin; that he was also engaged, in the mercantile business in that town. His son William Noel was his clerk in the store, and as such managed and controlled it. It was discovered, after the execution of the due bill that appellant was not indebted to-Coy & Lampley the supposed balance for which it was given. Coy &• Lampley had transferred it to appellee, who testified that before purchasing it he went to see William Noel, who told him it was all right and. would be paid; relying upon this he bought it.
The evidence on the other hand was to the effect that William Noel had. no authority to act as agent of appellant except as a clerk in his store. The most the testimony can be said to have shown was that William Noel, was the clerk or agent of appellant in his store, and as such had power to sell goods and manage the same; but we can see nothing in the facts, tending to show that he was appellant’s general agent, or that as such clerk he had authority to bind appellant by the declarations testified to. “Where one is appointed to an office or clerkship, one of whose customary duties it is to execute and negotiate bills and notes in the name of his. principal, the authority need not be expressly given; it will be implied.. But this power does not fall within the scope of authority of the ordinary clerks and salesmen.” Tiedm. on Com. Paper, sec. 78, note 1, p. 77.
For the errors mentioned we think the judgment should be reversed and the cause remanded.
Reversed and remanded.
Adopted February 25, 1890.