Walker v. Smith
Walker v. Smith
Opinion of the Court
Opinion by
In 1870 Hicks made a deed to Norment for a tract of land and'certain personal property for the recited consideration of eight
Appellant's objection to the reading of the certified copies of the judgment, execution and return, which although not filed with the original petition, were filed before the pleadings were completed, is not well taken. In such a case a denial of sufficient knowledge or information to form a belief will not present an issue. The at
We will now consider the objection to the introduction of other evidence. In the first consideration of this case an important statement made by the vendor was overlooked. That materially affects our conclusion. The objection arose upon this character of testimony: Appellees called Hicks, the vendor, as a witness and asked him if he had not stated to various persons, naming them, that the land trade between him and Norment was a sham; if he did not say that the money that was pretended to have passed in payment for the land was Confederate money. Hicks denied having made any such statements, but testified as follows:
Did Norment pay you the money in cash? Ans. Yes, sir. How much? Ans. I think it was eight thousand dollars, if I am not mistaken. I refer to my deed. I have even forgotten that. What kind of money did he pay you ? Ans. Greenbacks; I think perhaps there was a hundred or two dollars in gold. Was it all in greenbacks except the gold? Ans. I have heard a heap of talk about confederate money, but I acknowledge it all in greenbacks. Was it a bona fide sale? Ans. Yes, sir. Evidence was then introduced to the effect that Hicks had said to the several persons asked about, but not in the presence of Norment, that Norment had paid for the land in confederate money, that the sale was a sham. One of these witnesses testified: “Hicks told me it was a sham trade; that the money paid for it was confederate money; that he had given Norment a pretty considerable amount of it with a few greenback bills laid on the top of it and that was the money Norment paid him.” Another witness said: “He (Hicks) said that there had been a sham sale and transfer, and that Norment paid for it in a roll of money, all of which was Confederate money except a few bills on the top that were greenbacks, and he said he had furnished the money to Norment.” Several other witnesses were permitted to testify that Hicks had said that the sale was a sham. This contradictory or impeaching testimony is that to which exceptions were taken. Before the adoption of the code a party surprised by the testimony of his own witness was allowed to contradict him only by proving that the fact stated in evidence was different. Under the code there is this additional method of contradiction: When the witness testi
It is also contended for appellant that Hicks was not a competent witness for any purpose, for to admit him to testify would be to allow him to question and invalidate his own conveyance. This was the rule before the adoption of the law of evidence removing disqualification on account of interest. Under the old rule the vendor could be called in a proceeding to set aside a conveyance for fraud, to sustain the conveyance but not to impeach it. That was on the supposition that the evidence for the vendor was against the interest of the witness. The vendor is now competent but his interest if any may be shown to affect his credibility. What other evidence is there bearing on the question of no consideration? Hicks testifies, being called by appellees, that Norment (who was dead at the trial) paid him eight thousand dollars in greenbacks for the land and personal property as recited in the deed. Two other witnesses testify that they witnessed the execution of the deed in the county, and saw the money given by Norment to Hicks, the amount of which they did not know, as it was not counted in their presence. One of the witnesses states that on an inquiry from him Hicks stated at the time that he did not care to count the money, as he and Norment had counted it and he knew the amount. One of the witnesses states that he was called to witness the payment of the money, and the other that he was called to witness the deed, but they both signed the deed as witnesses. Another witness, the daughter of Norment, testifies that she passed through the hall at the time the deed was being executed and saw a large quantity of greenbacks on the table and that in response to an inquiry from her, Norment said he had bought Hicks’ place. Hicks also says that the reason he sold his farm and personal property was that he had lately lost his wife and had determined to go to Texas or
Judgment affirmed.
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.