3 N.M. 33 | N.M. | 1883
Although not set out with entire clearness in the record before us, it is to be deduced with sufficient certainty from the record as it stands, and from the representations and admissions of counsel, that this action was commenced by a declaration containing one count only, namely, in special assumpsit on the note in suit; that the defendant pleaded non est factum and non assumpsit; that thereafter the plaintiffs, by permission of the court, on motion, filed an amended 'declaration, containing the common count for goods sold and delivered, ;and a count on account stated, in addition to the original count on the mote; that the defendant’s pleas were not changed, and they pleaded non assumpsit to the additional counts, and that the case proceeded to the trial, which resulted in the judgment now appealed from upon this state of pleadings; that, after closing their testimony in chief, the plaintiffs withdrew the common counts of their declaration, leaving only the original one on the note.
The plaintiffs insist that by waiving the counts added to the declaration by amendment, namely, the common counts so added, they con¡¡fined the defendant to his single plea- of non est factum. But it is, to -•say the least, doubtful if, after issue joined and the conclusion of the ■plaintiff’s case before the jury, the plaintiffs could of their own motion, and without asking or obtaining leave of the court or consent of the defendant,—neither of which is disclosed by the record before us,—so change the pleadings as to deprive the defendant of any portion of his defense to any portion of the plaintiff’s original case. The ■pleas of non est factum and non assumpsit are, moreover, not repugmant or so inconsistent as to -make them inadmissible, and so we rithink they were both properly left on the record. 1 Burr. Pr. 174; 1 Chit. Pl. 563.
We therefore think the defendant had a right, in the state of the •pleadings at the time, to give evidence under his plea of non assumpsit, • and that there is no error, as is urged, in admitting the following ■•question: “Were you indebted to plaintiffs, at the date of the note or -at the commencement of this suit? Answer. No.” Such a question admitted evidence of payment, which, under the plea of non as- - sumpsit, was proper.
The next assignment of error is, however, a serious one. It is urged ■ that the court erred in admitting in evidence the note of $951.31. We are of the opinion that its admission was clearly improper. ' That note was dated 10 months prior to the date of the note in suit, ■ was for a different amount, and, being payable four months from its ■ date, was presumptively paid, and indeed the defendant was permitted to prove its payment long before the time Gf the alleged trans-id actions out of which it is claimed that the note in suit in this action -arose. It was not proof of payment either of the note in suit or of rthe debt for which the note in suit was given; not being a paper '¡otherwise properly in the case, it could not be introduced for a comparison of handwriting, and having been once admitted for any purpose, it was easily liable to abuse as a specimen of defendant’s handwriting and signature. Its admission was calculated to seriously ■deceive and mislead the jury in many ways, and we certainly cannot,. ith-erefore, say that its admission was immaterial error which had no ■effect upon the result of the case. Indeed, it is fairly to be inferred that the jury was improperly influenced by its admission. This, together with the objection urged to the admission of evidence of payment above adverted to, are the only allegations of error presented' ,by the record on which we think it material to pass specifically.
• But for the error above set forth we are of opinion that the judgment herein should be reversed and a new trial granted.
