178 Ind. 164 | Ind. | 1912
This appeal is from a recovery for an alleged reward offered by appellant for the recovery of certain books.
The error relied on is in overruling the motion for a new trial, on the ground of the evidence not being sufficient to support the judgment.
Appellant had for a number of years been connected with a corporation as president, which was in the hands of a receiver, and a creditor had instituted an investigation into its affairs in court, during which certain bdok^of the company, material to the inquiry then in hand, disappeared, under circumstances which led appellant to feel that he was under suspicion of having something to do with such disappearance. He employed one person to attempt to find them, and offered his attorney $100 if he should find them, and urged the latter to add to the offer, to any one who should find them. Appellant was placed on the witness-stand, and interrogated as to the disappearance of the books. He was much exercised, and deeply interested in clearing himself of any imputation in regard to their disappearance, and while on the witness-stand, detailed what he had done to find them. He was asked this question: “You never publicly gave notice of a reward for the discovery of' the books?” He answered: “No, I will offer it now, if tha/t is public enough.” Some days later the books were found by appellee, who delivered them to appellant, and at his request appeared in court, and explained the circumstance of their finding. She did not at the time know of appellant’s statement in court. Shortly before or after the boobs were delivered to appellant he sent appellee $5, and at the time she received it she did not know of the alleged offer of a reward. On learning of it, she requested payment of the balance, and on its refusal, brought this suit.
Any secret intention he may have had will not be let in to show an intent different from that expressed. Salbadore v. Crescent Mut. Ins. Co. (1870), 22 La. Ann. 338; 24 Am. and Eng. Ency. Law (2d ed.) 946. See, also, Board, etc., v. Wood (1872), 39 Ind. 345, 351.
The doetrihe of these cases is approved, at least when the reward is offered in a public statute, in Board, etc., v. Davis (1904), 162 Ind. 60, 62, 69 N. E. 680, 64 L. R. A. 780, 1 Ann. Cas. 282.
There is some analogy between a public statute, or an order spread upon the records of a court, and a public decía
The evidence supports the finding and judgment, and the latter is affirmed.
Note.—Reported in 98 N. E. 868. See, also, under (1) 34 Cyc. 1737, 1738; (2) 34 Cyc. 1738; (3) 34 Cyc. 1751; 1 Ann. Cas. 285; 9 L. R. A. (N. S.) 1057. As to lost property and the right of the finder to reward, see 129 Am. St. 408.