Brewster v. Crossland
Brewster v. Crossland
Opinion of the Court
delivered the opinion of the court,
Mrs. Elizabeth Crossland traded horses with one Ralph Brewster. Mrs. Crossland owned “Daisy” and Brewster owned “ Tim.” The exchange was made early in 1889 at Mrs. Crossland’s house. It proved very unsatisfactory to the Madam, who subsequently brought suit to recover her horse or its value, with damages for its detention. Within a reasonable time after the transaction, Mrs. Crossland attempted to rescind the contract, and did whatever was necessary to initiate her rights if she were entitled to rescind. The suit was founded on the deceit practiced by Brewster in making the barter, and in the complaint it was' charged that Brewster made sundry and divers false and fraudulent representations on which the plaintiff relied to her damage. The defense may be said to tender the general issue in every particular save as to its admissions. Brewster admitted that he represented his horse “ Tim.” “to be gentle, tractable and manageable and suitable for a lady to drive, and he averred
But three errors are insisted on to reverse the judgment. As is usual in most appeals it is asserted that the judgment is unsupported by the evidence. With this question we have no concern. The judgment rests on the verdict of a jury. This must be taken as conclusive on the question of fact, unless it is brought within some of the exceptions which the adjudications of the supreme court recognized as sufficient to warrant an appellate tribunal to disturb the verdict. None of the exceptions exist in this case. The finding is a decisive determination of the falsity of the representations, and the sufficiency of the proof to entitle the plaintiff to recover.
During the progress of the trial, and when tjie plaintiff was recalled for the purpose of giving rebuttal testimony she gave evidence tending to show that at the time of the trade Brewster stated that if it should turn out that what he had said concerning his animal was not true, and Tim did not prove to be the gentle, tractable beast he was represented to be, he would at any time consent to annul the trade and return the horse which he had received in exchange. No objection was interposed to the introduction of this testimony, but on cross-examination it transpired that this statement was made while he was leading Mrs. Crossland’s horse out to the wagon to hitch him, and after Tim had been put in
The principal objection urged, and on which a very learned and able argument has been made by counsel for the appellant, is laid on the instruction which the court gave to the jury concerning the representations. The court charged the jury generally in accordance with the law which governs actions for deceit. The instruction failed to contain one limitation which under some circumstances operates to bar the recovery. It is not every false statement or misrepresentation made with the intent that the other person should rely upon it, and on which that party acts to his prejudice and damage, which will warrant a recovery. It is often true that a false statement, positively made, is uttered in the be
A more conclusive answer to the contention, if the thing be possible, is found in the fact that the record fails to disclose that counsel made any objection to the instruction. Wray v. Carpenter, 16 Colo. 271; D. & R. G. R. R. Co. v. Ryan, 17 Colo. 98.
Under these circumstances no valid assignment of error can be predicated on the giving of the instruction.
These considerations dispose of all the objections urged in the argument which are needful to be considered, and since the alleged errors are without foundation, the judgment of the court below must be affirmed.
Affirmed.
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.