Ulmer v. Seelman
Ulmer v. Seelman
Opinion of the Court
Plaintiff brought suit against defendant for damages for personal injuries inflicted upon him by defendant, who, he charges, seriously assaulted him with stones, breaking a rib, and otherwise injuring him permanently. Defendant pleaded the general issue, and gave notice of self-defense in justification. That an altercation occurred between these parties, and that plaintiff’s rib was broken and his face bruised by stones thrown at him by defendant, does not appear to be disputed.
These men. were farmers in Ottawa, county, living on farms a few miles apart. There had been some bad feeling between them. Plaintiff was driving along the highway in front of defendant’s premises on May 8,1907, when he met defendant, who was also in the highway with his team and wagon at work picking up stones. The highway at this place was not fenced, and defendant cultivated it up to the traveled track. Words were had between them, and plaintiff claims that defendant attempted to pull him from his buggy by the legs, and, becoming very angry, threw two large stones at him, hitting him on the side of his face, severely bruising it, and also striking him in the side and breaking a rib, and then assaulted him with a shovel. That he threw the stones by which plaintiff was injured is not denied, nor that plaintiff remained in his buggy during the difficulty. Plaintiff had worked on this day, May 8, 1907. He had drilled in 13 acres of oats on a farm some distance from his home. He took his
The result of the trial was a verdict of no cause of action, upon which a judgment was entered. Plaintiff moved for a new trial because of claimed improper conduct of defendant towards the jurors during the trial, because of the erroneous admission and rejection of testimony, and on account of errors in the charge of the court. This motion was denied, and the case is before us for review upon writ of error.
Errors are assigned upon the refusal to grant a new trial, and upon the rulings of the court during the trial of the case, and in charging the jury as above indicated. A large part of defendant’s argument is taken up with a discussion of the question of the rights of an abutting owner in the highway passing along or through his prem
“I says, ‘You may drive where you are a mind to.’ He says, ‘ I don’t care anything about that, all I am mad about is because you wanted a contract.’”
(This refers to a lease of some pasture, out of which bad feeling between them arose.) Defendant further says that he did not know what he meant or was going to talk about, for he had not spoken to him for three or four weeks. He testifies:
“I was scared half to death when he first got on there, because he didn’t speak to me.”
In order to get a clear understanding of his testimony it must all be read with care. From it we find that he claims plaintiff next rose up as if to jump out of the buggy and kicked at him, striking his hands and arms; that in dodging he fell backwards, and then took up the
Most of the errors assigned relate to the evidence excluded or admitted. We will consider such as appear of importance. During the trial defendant put in evidence tending to show the quarrelsome disposition and fighting propensities of plaintiff. Defendant had testified to plaintiff’s disposition in that regard, and that he was afraid of him and “most scared to death” when he came there; that his heart thumped, and he did only what he thought necessary to protect himself. On cross-examination plaintiff’s counsel sought to show defendant’s disposition and reputation as to the same matters. This was not permitted by the court. We think this was proper cross-examination, as bearing upon the question whether or not defendant was in fact afraid of his life, and thrown into the condition he claimed on account of the presence of plaintiff, and as to his credibility. The questions called defendant’s attention to specific instances. It was error not to allow the examination. It was material for the purpose offered.
Evidence offered tending to show malice and ill will on the part of defendant towards the Ulmers (being plaintiff and his brother) was objected to and excluded on the ground of incompetency and immateriality, and preliminary questions were stricken out, because two were included in the statements of defendant sought to be shown, and plaintiff was not personally named. This was error. If this testimony would show that plaintiff was one of the Ulmers towards whom he held malice or ill will, it would be material to the issue.
A doctor was being examined who had known defend
“Q. Whát can you say as to his condition and appearance, doctor, since that tragedy ?
“A. It is the condition he has been in ever since I have known him.”
This question, subject to objection, was again asked in the same words, and was answered in the same words. Plaintiff’s objections and exceptions to these questions and answers were timely, and the last objection was clearly well taken. ' The testimony was immaterial and improper.
Plaintiff excepted to two requests of defendant given to the jury. These requests are based upon the case of People v. Foss, 80 Mich. 559 (45 N. W. 480, 8 L. R. A. 472, 20 Am. St. Rep. 532), where grass along a highway within its limits and outside the beaten track was wantonly destroyed. It will not be necessary to quote them, for the reason that the assault and battery relied upon in this case was not committed in ejecting a trespasser or in defending premises against a trespass. The requests were improperly given.
Certain portions of the general charge are excepted to, but as no requests appear to have been presented by plaintiff in the case, and the attention of the court was not called to the part complained of, we do not consider the question.
The questions raised upon- the motion for a new trial relative to the improper conduct' of defendant towards members of the jury were based upon knowledge which plaintiff had during the course of the trial, and no objection was made, nor were the facts called to the attention of the trial judge. The plaintiff cannot complain under
For the reasons herein stated, the judgment is reversed, and a new trial is granted.
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- ULMER v. SEELMAN
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