Freehart v. Stanford's Est.

Promissory Notes — Items of Book Account — Course of Business — Evidence—Decedent’s Books. In assumpsit against a decedent’s estate, whether the hooks of the decedent, which show promissory notes charged therein by him against the claimant, are admissible in favor of the estate, in respect of those charges, depends upon the character of the page where the items are charged, and the course of business between the parties. In assumpsit against a decedent’s estate, and trial by court, no error appears in the ruling of the court excluding a page of decedent’s hook, in respect of two items of promissory notes by him charged thereon against the claimant, when there is nothing on the face of the page offered showing that its exclusion was error, and all that the combined exceptions and finding of facts state, about the matter is: “There was no evidence tending to show that said two items, should be allowed.” In assumpsit against a decedent’s estate, it is not error to exclude certain pages of the decedent’s book offered by the estate for the-purpose of showing that it had been the agreed course of business between the claimant and the decedent for the latter to. charge promissory notes on book against the former, the entries which relate to notes being few and remote in date from the items in dispute, and there being no extrinsic evidence in explanation.

Appeal from, the decision of commissioners -on the claim presented by Marshall Freehart against the estate of Samuel Stanford, and the claim, of D. A. Stanford, the administrator, in offset thereto. Declaration in general assumpsit. Plea, the general issue, and declaration in offset. Trial by Court at the September Term, 1903, Orleans County, Stafford, J., presiding. Judgment for the claimant. The estate excepted. On page 180 of decedent’s book there are, besides the disputed items, eight charges against the claimant for a cow, hay, goods and labor. The first charge is dated August 1894, and the last, May 1900. The disputed items are charged in this account as follows: Sept. 19, 1894, note given up.....$ 9.60 Oct. 15, 1895, Watson note........ 68.53 On page 28 of said book is an account headed “Marshall Freehart.” The debit side begins with a, charge of $30.77, under date of July 8, 1901, “from page 29.” Then follow eleven charges for goods, ending with a charge dated July .30, 1893. The credit side begins, without date “From page 29, $32.00,” then follow five items of credit for labor, and the account is balanced with the entry, without date, “By note to balance $10.78.” And below is written “Settled this book March 7, ’93. Samufr Stanford, Marsharr Frffhart.” On the same page, and immediately below the above, is the following: “Aug. ’93, to leather yoke .............$ x.oo Jan. 19, ’94, to straps. . 1.25 Dec. 3, ’93, to one whip .50 m • $ 275 To. paid on note to balance this book . ....,.. 9.27 $12.02 Settled Jan. 6, ’94, by balance on Watson note as per agreement ..........$ 6.48 Mar. 12, ’94, by bill lumber ............ . 5.54 $12.02 Settled Mar. 29, ’94.” On page 29 is an account also headed “Marshall Free-hart.” It begins with a charge under date of July 8, 1895, then follow twelve charges for goods, and the last charge is, “April 19, ’87, to balance on claims given up .....,. .1. .1. .,. .1. .$23.85.” The credit side has three items, one for a horse, one for interest, and the last is, “Nov. 17, ’86, by note of F. G. Clough $100,” which balances the account. Below all is ' written, “Settled April 19, ’87. M. Frffhart, v Samufd Stanford.” Below the above, on the same page, the account continues, with fifteen debit items for goods and cash, the last dated Sept. 13, 1887; and seven credit items, all dated and all for labor or goods, except the item, “By note and claim $28.26,” which has no> date, and is the second credit item, the first being dated April 28, 1887, the third Sept. 21, 1887, and the last Aug. 13, 1888. Pages 28 and 29 of decedent’s book should have been admitted as tending to show the course of dealing between the parties. Scott v. Lance, 21 Vt. 507; Cense v. Berry, 3 Vt. 332; Hall v. Baton, 12 Vt. 510; Gleason v. Briggs, 28 Vt. 136; Mattocks v. Lyman, 18 Vt. 98. The items in dispute are not proper matter for charge on book account, except by agreement. Stevens v. Damon, 29 Vt. 521; Gleason v. Briggs, 28 Vt. 135; Hall v. Baton,, 12 Vt. 510; Fassett v. Vincent, 8 Vt. 73; Farrmd v. Gage, 3 Vt. 326; Scott v. Bailey, 73 Vt. 49.