Daggett v. Tallman

The same presumption of payment from lapse of time is applicable to promissory notes not negotiable, as to bonds; and the presumption is rebutted, by similar circumstances, in both cases. The absence of the debtor from the state, during the greater part of the period relied on to create the presumption, will rebut it. And it makes no difference whether the residence of such absent debtor be in an adjoining state, or in one more remote. The fact that the debtor, at a certain point of time during the period relied on to create the presumption, was a bankrupt, will not, of itself, rebut such presumption. The acts and declarations of a witness, who has given his testimony in a deposition taken ex parte, may he proved, on the principle of a cross-examination in court, for the purpose of evincing the biases under which he testified. Where notice was given of the taking of a deposition, at a certain time and place, before A., who was not authorized to take depositions, and the deposition was taken at the time and place specified, before B. a duly qualified magistrate; it was held, that such notice was insufficient. and consequently, that the deposition was not legally taken. It seems, however, that if the citation, in such case, had named A., or some oilier proper authority, the deposition might have been lawfully taken before B. Where the only evidence offered in support of a plea of full payment to an action on a promissory note, was the deposition of C.; and it appeared, that C. had given a deposition in a former cause between the same parties, which was copied from one drawn up by the defendant ; that the defendan t obtained from the files of the court a copy of that deposition, just before he applied for the one in question; and that the latter deposition was, in all material points, a copy of the former, only so varied in words as not to appear identical; it was held, that such deposition was not legally admissible, and, if admitted in fact, without objection, was not equivalent to the testimony of one credible witness; and consequently, was not sufficient to establish the defendant’s plea.

This was an action, brought by Henry Daggett, jun., surviving partner of the late firm of Atwater & Daggett, on a promissory note, for 30 dollars, 64 cents, dated New-Haven, July 30th, 1802, payable to Atwater Daggett, or order, thirty days after date, with interest. The suit was commenced on the 27th of May 1827. The defendant pleaded full payment, first, generally, and then specially, in two or three different forms. These pleas were traversed, by the plaintiff; on which issue was joined. The cause was tried, on this issue, at New-Haven, January term 1830, before Daggett, J. On the trial, the defendant, in the first place, relied on lapse of time. From the time the note fell due, to the commencement. of the action, was twenty-four years and nine months. The defendant left this state, in April, 1806, and from that time to the middie of November 1825, resided in the state of New-York. During this period, he had been in New-Haven twice, a day or two each time. He then removed into this state, and has ever since resided here. There was no evidence to shew, that he was, at any time, a man of property; but it appeared, that in 1819, he was a bankrupt. On the case thus presented, the judge informed the jury, that they were at liberty, if they believed the testimony, to consider the proof of payment as rebutted. The defendant then attempted to establish his defence, by direct proof of payment; and for this purpose, offered in evidence the deposition of Joshua L. Church; who testified, that in the summer of 1819 or 1820, he left New-York in company with the defendant, and came to New-Haven ; that Ward Atwater, (of the firm of Atwater Daggett,) said to the defendant, on the long wharf, that there was a small sum of money, about 20 dollars, due from him to Atwater Daggett, on an old note and book account; that the defendant said, he would pay it, though he had not money enough to pay it then; that Atwater said, he should be at New-York, during the next week; that the defendant said, he would then be at Burling-slip and pay it; that he accordingly met Atwater, at the time and place specified, and paid him the full amount claimed to be due ; that Atwater said, he would go on board the vessel and give him a full discharge from Atwater & Daggett’s demands; that the defendant said he need not, as the demands were long since out-lawed, but when convenient, he might destroy the note and cross the book. With these more prominent facts, the deponent interspersed a variety of minute circumstances. The plaintiff, to shew the bias on the mind of Church, and his unwillingness to testify for the plaintiff, offered the deposition of Robert D. Hepburn of New-York, taken within twenty miles of the residence of the defendant; to the admission of which he objected, on the ground, that the magistrate, before whom he was notified to attend the taking of the deposition, was not qualified to take depositions, and he had no notice to attend before the magistrate by whom it was taken. The time and place specified in the notice served on the defendant, were the true time and place; but it being discovered that the person named in the notice as the magistrate, was not qualified to take depositions, another person, who was duly qualified, attended, and took the deposition. The defendant did not attend. In this deposition. Hepburn testified, that lie went, to Hanover, in New-Jersey, to get Joshua L. Church's deposition, to be used in this suit; that Church promised to meet him at a time and place specified, for that purpose, and disappointed him; that the deponent found Church again, when, after making various objections, (which are detailed in Hepburn’s deposition) he agreed to meet him in New-York and give the deposition requested; that the deponent returned to New-York, and, on his way, met the defendant going to find Church; and that Church did not appear in New-York to fulfil his agreement. It was an admitted fact, that Church, on the same day on which he so refused to give his deposition to the plaintiff and agreed to give it in New-York, gave, in New-Jersey, to the defendant, on his request, and ex parte, the deposition first above-mentioned. The plaintiff also offered to read the deposition of Joshua L. Church, lodged, by order of court, on file, taken in this cause, and used at the preceding term of the court in another cause then tried between the same parties, accompanied with proof that such deposition was drawn up by the defendant, and copied by his attorney, and was imposed on the court as proper evidence ; and that the deposition of Church now read would appear, by inspection, to be substantially a copy of the other so illegally taken. It appeared, that the defendant, after the deposition was lodged on file, obtained from the clerk a copy of it. This deposition was objected to, by the defendant ; but the judge admitted it, for the purpose of shewing, that the imposition practised in the former cause, was now attempted to be practised in this. The plaintiff contended, that the deposition of Church introduced by the defendant, which was all the proof offered by him, except that arising from lapse of time, carried on its face evidence of its falsity, in its extreme particularity and detail of unusual circumstances attending the alleged payment. On this part of the case, the judge charged the jury, that the deposition of Hepburn might conduce to prove a reluctance on the part of Church to testify for the plaintiff, and a bias against him and in favour of the defendant; and thus it was proper to be considered in weighing Church’s testimony : that the law requires the testimony of one credible witness to establish any fact in a court of justice: that if they were satisfied from the internal evidence which the deposition of Church afforded, compared with the other deposition so illegally taken, that this was substantially copied from that, and did not contain a true statement of facts, they ought not to found their verdict upon it; but if they believed that this deposition contained the truth, they ought to find for the defendant. The jury returned a verdict for the plaintiff, with which the judge expressed himself to be well satisfied, without regard to the deposition of Hepburn. The defendant moved for a new trial, on the ground of error in the interlocutory decisions and in the direction to the jury. contended, 1. That the charge in relation to the presumption from lapse of time, in this case, was incorrect. That the lapse of timé sufficient to bar an action on the note under the statute of limitations, will, in the absence of special circumstances accounting for the delay, raise a presumption of payment, is unquestionable. 2 Stark. Ev. 310. Giles v. Baremore, 5 Johns. Chan. Rep. 551. In the first place, the defendant’s residence in New-York, did not repel the presumption. During this portion of time, the plaintiff was under no disability to sue. The courts of New-York were as accessable to him as those of his own state. Here was, at most, only an inconvenience in suing. But as a mere matter of convenience or inconvenience, is it true, that a citizen of New-Haven will not probably enjoy what belongs to him,—provided he has to look for it in New-York? Secondly, as the neglect of the plaintiff to assert his right begun and continued three or four years, before the defendant went away, and a year or two after his return, the intervening absence of the defendant, in analogy to the decisions under the statute of limitations, cannot have any effect. Thirdly, the insolvency of the defendant was not such as to repel the presumption. There is nothing in the case, in relation to this matter, except the single fact, that in 1819, the defendant was a bankrupt. For aught that appears to the contrary, (and insolvency is not to be presumed without proof) he was a man of property during the whole period before and after this point of time. If the presumption was not repelled on these grounds, the charge was wrong; for no other fact was submitted to the jury as a ground of repelling it. The judge indeed, submitted nothing to them but the credibility of the witness, directing them, if they believed the testimony, to consider the proof of payment as rebutted. 2. That the testimony of Hepburn was inadmissible. In the first place, it did not conduce to prove a bias or prejudice on the mind of Church against the plaintiff, and in favour of the defendant. The facts stated are collateral and irrelevant, and prove nothing material. 1 Stark. Ev. 134. 145. 1 Phill. Ev. 38. n. If such facts were admissible, under this issue, the enquiry would be interminable. Secondly, the credit of a witness cannot be impeached, by proof of any thing that he has said or done in relation to the cause, until he has been cross-examined, and upon such cross-examination, has been asked, whether he has so said or done. 3 Stark. Ev. 1753. Thirdly, if such facts may be proved, without a previous cross-examination of the witness in relation to them, they must be proved as other facts are proved, by witnesses under oath ; not by conversations between third persons. Church’s declarations out of court were not offered to contradict what he had testified to in his deposition, but to prove certain facts, from which the jury were to infer, that he had a prejudice against the plaintiff and a partiality for the defendant. This was mere hearsay. 3. That Hepburn’s deposition itself, without regard to its contents, was inadmissible, not having been legally taken. The defendant had no notice whatever to appear before the magistrate who took the deposition ; and his having been notified to appear before another person who was not qualified to take depositions, did not constitute reasonable notice, or supply the want of it. The latter notice the defendant might well regard as a nullity. Why should he go before the person named in it, when he knew, that that person could not take the deposition? It was, in effect, notice to stay away. contended, 1. That the presumption of payment from lapse of time was rebutted, both by the defendant’s residence abroad and by his bankruptcy. “The insolvency of a debtor constitutes an impediment to the collection of a debt, and repels any presumption of payment from the omission of a demand, which must be nugatory.” Boardman v. De Forest, 5 Conn. Rep. 8. Residence abroad is also considered, in the same case, as amounting to a disability. So in Lynde v. Denison, 3 Conn. Rep. 396. it was said by Chapman, J. that "it requires twenty years at the least, and during the whole of that time, I conceive, the plaintiff must have had the power of prosecuting his claim,” &c. The distinction between the statute of limitations creating a bar and the presumption of payment from lapse of time, is pointed out, by Ch. J. Hosmer, in the case last cited ; (p. 392,3.) and it is there stated, that the time during which there was a disability to sue, or no remedy could be had, must be expunged from the computation. These cases settle the law in Connecticut In Newman v. Newman, 1 Stark. Ca. 101. Lord Ellenborough held, that the defendant’s absence abroad rebutted the presumption of payment from lapse of time. See also Jackson v. Pierce, 10 Johns. Rep. 417. Baily v. Jackson, 16 Johns. Rep. 214. Hillary v. Waller, 12 Ves. 266. Phill. Ev. 114. n. b. 2. That the deposition of Hepburn was properly taken, reasonable notice having been given to the defendant to be present at the time of taking such deposition. Stat. 47. tit. 2. sect. 44. It is not necessary that the magistrate should be named in the citation. If a person be named who is not qualified to take the deposition, the only effect is, tiiat that name is to be considered as a blank ; but the notice is not annulled as to time and place. 3. That the testimony of Hepburn, in connexion with the facts admitted on the trial, was relevant and proper. It was in the nature of a cross-examination of Church, tending to shew the prejudice under the influence of which he testified. The most liberal range of enquiry is allowed, for the purpose of ascertaining the biases of a witness. 1 Stark. Ev. 96. 129. 131. The deposition of Church was taken ex parte. The facts, as minutely detailed by him, regarding a transaction which took place eight years before, are incredible, upon general principles. 1 Gilb. Ev. 287. 300. Swift’s Ev. 149. The evidence of Hepburn evinces a combination between Church and the defendant. Church, at first, very readily offers to give his deposition to Hepburn, on the spot. As soon as he learns who the parties are, he shuffles and equivocates. When all his objections are obviated, and his expenses are offered to be paid, and he perceives that he can no longer evade the matter, he then agrees positively to go to New-York, on a certain day, and give his deposition. Hepburn having just started to return home, met the defendant in pursuit of Church, who, on the same day, and at the same place, gave his deposition ex parte to the defendant. In pursuance of the same object, to aid the defendant and avoid a cross-examination, he then violated the agreement to meet the plaintiff’s agent in New-York and give his deposition there. All these facts go strongly to shew a reluctance to testify at the plaintiff’s request, and a bias in favour of the defendant. They are, therefore, very proper to be considered by a jury in weighing Church’s testimony. But it is unnecessary to press this point; for no exception was taken, at the trial, to the admissibility of Hepburn’s deposition, on the ground that the facts sworn to did not tend to shew a bias on the mind of Church. The exception which was taken being overruled, the only question then was, whether any and what consideration was to be given to it, in weighing Church’s testimony. In that view, it was commented on, by counsel; and the judge, after remarking to the jury, that the facts detailed by Hepburn might tend to shew a reluctance in Church to testify for the plaintiff, and a bias against him, left all the circumstances to the jury to be weighed by them. 4. That whether Hepburn’s deposition was admissible or not, still a new trial will not be granted, because Church’s second deposition was merely a transcript of the first, which was fabricated by the defendant himself; and had the plaintiff objected to its admissibility, instead of allowing the jury to pass upon it, the court would have rejected it. No credit ought to be given to it, aside from Hepburn’s testimony. Justice has been done.