Farmers & Merchants' Bank v. Young

Beck, Ch. J.

— I. A witness for plaintiff testified upon the trial that he was, at the time the note was taken by plaintiff, one of its officers, and that he saw the defendant sign the note on the day it bears date. Upon cross-examination he stated that the amount of the note was loaned to C. T. Young, who, before *46 that time, had applied for the loan and was refused. In the re-examination he was asked to state the reason for the refusal to loan to C. T. Young before the note in question was presented. The record proceeds to state that the “ plaintiff proposed at the same time to follow this question up and show by the witness that the subject of the loan had been canvassed in the bank and that it had been determined not to make the loan unless the same was secured by the defendant, and that these matter’s had impressed the subject and the signing of the note upon the recollection of the witness.” This evidence was ruled by the court to be immaterial and was not permitted to be introduced.

The evidence, we think, was competent and ought to have been received. It was, in the main, but a continuation — the completion of the matter drawn out by the cross-examination. And besides, it was entirely competent to support the statement of the witness to the effect that he saw defendant sign the note. It was a proper test of the accuracy and reliability of his memory, as it explained and established the fact that the transaction was impressed upon his mind by the circumstances proposed to be drawn out.

II. A witness for defendant testified that he saw C. T. Young sign defendant’s name to the note. He was then asked this question: “What did O. T. Young say when he signed the name ? ” Proper objection was made to the question but the court' permitted the witness to answer it. The reply was: “He stated that money he must have, and money he would have, and that it was not the first time he had signed John A Young’s name to notes.” The evidence is clearly incompetent and should not have been admitted. It is simply hearsay, second-hand declarations, as to a matter not relevant to the issues. The fact that 0. T. Young declared that he had before signed defendant’s name to notes could not serve the purpose of establishing defendant’s theory of the defense, that his signature to the note is a forgery. It was not admissible as of the res gestae.

III. The record discloses the fact that the rules governing *47 tbe introduction of evidence and tbe examination of witnesses were too strictly applied to testimony proposed to be elicited by plaintiff. Tbe following are some of tbe instances: 1. Tbe defendant testified in bis own bebalf tbat, on tbe same day tbe note in suit was taken by plaintiff, be and bis son bad borrowed of plaintiff an amount of money upon tbeir joint note and tbat be bad received tbe greater portion thereof. In tbe cross-examination be was asked if be bad not stated upon a former trial of this cause tbat bis son bad taken tbe greater part of tbe money. Tbe evidence was excluded on tbe ground of immateriality and irrelevancy. But it seems tbe fact as to tbe division of tbe money was deemed relevant and admitted in evidence. Certainly it was competent for plaintiff to test tbe accuracy of tbe witness’ statements as to this fact by calling bis attention to bis former testimony. Defendant having brought out tbe fact to support his side of tbe case ought to bave been required to submit to a cross-examination calculated to test tbe truth of bis statement. 2. Tbe defendant introduced evidence tending to show tbat bis signature to tbe note was paler than tbat of tbe other signature to tbe note, claiming tbat it was made with different ink. An expert, tbe clerk of tbe court, was introduced by defendant, who testified tbat in bis opinion tbe signatures were not made with tbe same ink. He was afterward recalled by plaintiff and testified tbat after bis examination by defendant be bad examined writing upon the record of tbe court made with tbe same ink which differed as to tbe apparent color. He accounted for tbis difference by tbe fact tbat a blotting pad bad been used. He was asked to produce tbe record referred to by him and point out tbe difference and illustrate tbe effect of the blotting pad. Tbis was not permitted. "We are unable to see any objection to tbis evidence. It was proper for plaintiff to explain tbe fact established by defendant touching tbe different appearance of tbe two signatures. Tbe experiments of tbe witness were calculated to throw light upon tbe subject and be should bave been permitted to explain and illustrate them fully. The record discloses one or two other rulings which improperly restricted *48 the plaintiff in the examination of witnesses and are very-similar to those just mentioned. It is not necessary that we more particularly refer to them.

IY. Plaintiff’s counsel insist that an instruction asked by them which in effect cast the onus probcmcli upon the defendant should have been given, and the refusal is made the ground of objection to the judgment. Their view is, that after the introduction of the note in evidence, which made for plaintiff a prima facie case, the burden then rested upon defendant, the law presuming that the signature of defendant was not forged. Doubtless the burden rested upon defendant to support his defense — to overthrow the note by showing it not to be genuine, as against ihs prima facie case made by plaintiff. Thus far the onus was upon defendant. But then in view of the whole evidence the plaintiff must establish by a preponderance of proof the genuineness of the signature of the instrument, and therefore, as to the whole case, he, in truth, bears the onus probcmcli. Ross v. Gould, 5 Greenl. 204; 1 Phillips’ Ev. (Cowen & Hill’s and Edwards’ Notes), 810. It was the duty of plaintiff to establish by a preponderance of evidence the genuinenesss of the instrument and not of defendant to show by a like preponderance that it was forged. The instruction under consideration was properly refused.

Other objections are made to the rulings of the court. They need not be considered for the reason that the judgment on account of the errors above pointed out must be

Reversed.