Pratt v. Flower's
Pratt v. Flower's
Opinion of the Court
delivered the opinion of the court. in this action thee plaintiff claims $3095, the balance due for goods, sold and delivered, and money, advanced to the defendants. There was judgment against the latter on a verdict for $1483 22 cents, and they appealed.
The first question to be decided, is presented by a bill of exceptions taken to the opinion of the district judge, rejecting the testimony of Henry M. Shreve. This witness was offered
The general rule on this subject is well known; persons who are to gain or lose directly by the event of a cause, cannot testify in it, because in such cases they are considered as giving evidence for themselves. To this general rule there are exceptions, introduced by necessity, or regard to public convenience; as where testimony is received from those who are entitled to rewards on convictions, or from agents, or servants. Phillips on Evidence, Ed. 1821, 42, 96, 100. Butler vs. De Hart, vol. 1, n. s. 1814.
The witness in this case appears to us to fall within the exceptions just stated. He was instructed to hand over to the plaintiff an obligation proceeding from the freight of a steam-boat, which the defendants claimed, as theirs; in carrying these instructions into effect he certainly acted as an agent, and as such, should have been admitted to testify.
According to the bill of exceptions which is found in the record, it appears that the objection on the trial was confined to interest alone. We cannot therefore, in this court, go into any other; for had that relied on here, been made in the tribunal of the first instance, We do not know but the defendants might have introduced proof to remove the objection, and shew that the evidence offered was the best of which the case is susceptible, Vignaud vs. Bernard, 10 Martin, 637
As the cause was submitted to a jury, and depends upon facts to be deduced from testimony which is in some measure contradictory, we think it necessary to remand the cause for a new trial.
It is therefore ordered, adjudged and decreed, that the judgment of the district court be annulled, avoided and reversed, and it is further ordered, adjudged and decreed, that this case be remanded for new trial, with directions to the district judge not to reject the witness Shreve, on the ground that he is interested; and that the appellee pay the costs of this appeal.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- PRATT v. FLOWER'S
- Status
- Published