12 N.H. 29 | Superior Court of New Hampshire | 1841
It is said that the interest which excludes a witness must be a present, certain, vested interest; and riot uncertain, or contingent. 2 Stark. Ev. 745. But the instances given of a contingent interest, within the meaning of this rule, are cases where it was uncertain whether the witness would ever have any interest, or derive any benefit. The interest is not contingent where the necessary legal consequence of a verdict will be to better the situation of a witness, by either securing an advantage, or repelling a loss. Ditto*746. So a witness is interested, and inadmissible, if the record would be the instrument of securing to him some advantage, or of repelling some charge against him, in a future proceeding. 2 Stark. Ev. 747.
Tested by these rules, the case shows that the witness was interested, and ought not to have been admitted. It appeared, from his statement, that as agent of the defendant he had made a contract with the plaintiff, (who was the agent and friend of Woodward,) and in behalf of the defendant had executed a note of $2500, to the plaintiff, to enable him to raise money which the plaintiff had agreed to advance for Woodward — that he assigned to the plaintiff certain notes of George Little, payable to the defendant, not as security to Woodward for the money to be advanced by him on the contract, but to secure the note of $2500, thus executed to the plaintiff, to enable him to raise the money; and he agreed that a mortgage from George Little, made to secure these last mentioned notes, should also be assigned. At the same time he represented that the lands included in the mortgage were
It is true that he might not be made liable in such suit, if the mortgage has been assigned; for satisfactory proof that the lands were sufficient, at the time, as represented, might entitle him to a verdict. In that sense his liability may be said to be contingent. It may never be alleged that his contract has been broken ; and if there is an attempt to charge him, the proof may fail of establishing any breach. But although the eventual liability to damages may be contingent, the interest is direct and certain. The witness is under an obligation which is collateral to the note in question, and in the hands of any third person, (to whom the plaintiff had bona fide passed this note, with the notes and mortgage of George Little, and the guaranty of the witness,) the obligation of the witness would stand as a security for the note now sued, to the extent of the promise. The defence set up in the case shows this, for it is admitted that this note was signed by the defendant. If it was an accommodation note, it would be good, and the collateral security available, in the hands of a bona fide indorsee. The security is equally good in the hands of the plaintiff, if the defence fails, and the plaintiff is entitled to maintain an action on the note.
Should the plaintiff recover, it would be evidence against the witness, to establish, prima facie at least, the indebtedness of the defendant, to which the contract of the witness is collateral.
The case is somewhat analagous to that of bail, who are liable to have the body of the principal forthcoming if the plaintiff obtains judgment, but are discharged if the suit fails ; or of that of a receipter, who has permitted the goods attached to go back into the possession of the debtor.
It has been farther contended, that the witness was admissible from necessity, because he acted as agent in making the contract for the defendant; but this position cannot be maintained.
The exception to the rule, by which agents are admitted to testify notwithstanding they may have an interest, relates to general agents acting in the ordinary course of business, (4 D. & E. 589, Green vs. The New River Co.; 19 Wend. Rep. 457, Noble vs. Paddock;) and is not applicable to a person employed as agent in a single transaction, (8 Barn. & Cres. 407, Edmonds vs. Lowe; 15 Wendell 314, United States Bank vs. Stearns; 2 Stark. Ev. 753; Roscoe’s Evid. 85,) nor to one, who, by special contract, has superadded his own personal liability, as collateral security, for the debt of his principal. New trial granted.