Bartlett v. Jenkins
Bartlett v. Jenkins
Opinion of the Court
The parties to this action are farmers and neighbors. During the absence from home of the defendant the plaintiff went to his farm and obtained from the tenant eight bushels of wheat for seed. The plaintiff testified on the trial that he had previously spoken to the defendant about the possibility of his wanting some wheat, and that defendant consented to his having it; that he did not intend to steal it; never denied getting it; expected and promised to pay for it. The defendant denied that he had previous talk with the plaintiff about the wheat, and testified that the first he knew about the matter was when he was informed by his tenant and another person, both of whom were present and aided in getting the wheat for plaintiff after plaintiff had obtained the key to the granary from defendant’s wife, to whom he returned it afterwards. There was testimony that tended to show some ill feeling between the parties over a debt owing by plaintiff’s step-father, at the time of his death, which plaintiff, who cared for him during his illness and to whom deceased’s property was bequeathed, promised to pay, but did not pay promptly, which led defendant to institute probate proceedings. This ill feeling, if any existed, was not very clearly proved, but was an element in the cause which was for the jury to consider.
A short time after plaintiff obtained the wheat, defendant made a complaint for larceny and caused plaintiff’s arrest. The complaint was made under alleged advice of counsel and the magistrate after a statement which defendant claims included all the facts in his possession, and after counsel had talked with the prosecuting attorney. After one or more adjournments of the case the plaintiff was discharged by the justice after a jury had been summoned to try him, and before they were sworn. This appears to have been brought about by defendant’s brother-in-law, who paid the costs himself, both plaintiff and de
'There are several assignments of error which we will discuss. 1 and 3. The plaintiff called Mr. Breakey, the justice who issued the warrant, to prove the issue of the warrant upon the written complaint of the defendant, and the docket entries. He was cross-examined at length as to the conversation at the time the complaint was made and was asked whether, at that time, under the statement of Mr. Jenkins (defendant) to him, he considered that there was probable cause for making the complaint. The answer was excluded. It was immaterial.
“That Mr. Bartlett at anytime disputed that he had the wheat. I do not know what he said. He scolded about being arrested and complained about it but I cannot recollect. I think he did make a statement about settling it up. He made a proposition about paying for the wheat when he was brought into court; he offered to pay for it and I think he made the proposition first to Mr. Jenkins. I think he made a tender of the money, either he or Mr. Nichols did.
“ Q. What did Mr. Jenkins say ?
“ A. I wish to say this here, that I think this occurred on the 8th of December.
“ Q. Not on the first day ?
“ A. No, sir; or on the 11th. I think it occurred on the 8th.
“ Q. Now do you recollect anything farther that Mr. Bartlett said at that time or on the 8th ?
“ The Court: I think you may strike out what he said there on the 8th. The jury may disregard it.”
If this testimony was of importance, it was upon the theory that it tended to show an admission of guilt. Had plaintiff admitted that he was guilty of larceny the fact
“Q. I think you said that you had had some dealings with Mr. Jenkins previous to this time?
“A. Yes.
“Q. Had you any dealings with him, I mean purchase anything of him or owed him anything ?
“A. Yes I have owed him and had things from him.
“Mr. Cavanagh: I object to this and move to strike it out as immaterial.
“ The Court: It may stand.”
This testimony was properly admitted but were it otherwise it was harmless.
“ What do you mean by otherwise settled ?
“A. If he could have come to terms and made peace with me, there wouldn’t have been any complaint, but as he didn’t — that has no influence with me, that day, because we parted on good, terms that day as far as that is concerned — we had no words.
“Q. The reason that you did not make this complaint was because he didn’t come to you and make peace with you, was it ?
“A. I waited and gave him—
*688 “Q. Just wait. I asked you a question. (Question read.)
“A. Well, now, in what respect are you going into that, that is what I want to know ?
“Q. You answer the question and we will get to the rest of it later.
“Mr. Oavanagh: I object to it as immaterial, irrelevant and incompetent. It also calls for a conclusion from the witness.
“ The Court: Answer.
“Mr. Oavanagh: Exception.
“A. Well, I couldn’t give an answer to that by yes or no, because I could not tell what I would have done.”
We find no error in either of these rulings.
“Did he tell you there was any personal malice on his part toward Mr. Bartlett ?
“A. No, sir, he didn’t, and he didn’t manifest any or show any.”
The latter part of the answer was struck out, but, as the witness immediately restated it in even fuller terms on redirect, there is no occasion to consider the question.
The judgment is affirmed.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- BARTLETT v. JENKINS
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- Published