Davis v. Searcy

Mississippi Supreme Court
Davis v. Searcy, 79 Miss. 292 (Miss. 1901)
Terral

Davis v. Searcy

Opinion of the Court

Terral, J.,

delivered the opinion of the court.

Davis sued Searcy on a note, to which Searcy pleaded non est factum. Two relatives of Searcy, not disclosing their relationship when asked, were impaneled, and sat upon the case. There being no evidence whatever in regard to fraud, the court instructed the jury that Searcy was not liable, even if he signed the note, if his signature was procured by fraud. The *294verdict of the jury was: “We, the jury, find for defendant, and assess the cost of court equally between plaintiff and defendant. It is our wish that, if this verdict will not stand, to enter a mistrial. ’ ’ And of these several matters operating to the prejudice of Davis, he predicates his appeal.

We think the appellant has good cause for complaint upon the several grounds made by him. The relatives of Searcy were incompetent as jurors; the instruction of defendant, relieving him of liability for fraud (there being no fraud proven) was error, and the verdict of the jury was not a completed or absolute verdict. The jury expressly declared that if the costs were not equally divided they wished to enter a mistrial. And the evident meaning of the jury was that they found for defendant upon condition that their apportionment of the costs be accepted by the court, otherwise the finding to stand for naught. The verdict of a jury should be unconditional, and the result of its deliberate judgment, and manifestly this verdict is not of that character.

Reversed a/nd remam,ded.

Reference

Full Case Name
Vernon L. Davis v. Patrick M. Searcy
Cited By
4 cases
Status
Published
Syllabus
1. Jukoks. Impartiality. Relationship to parly. If a member of a jury returning a verdict be related to the party in whose favor it is given, and the relationship be unknown to, and intentionally concealed by the juror from the other party until after verdict, a new trial should be granted. 3. Juey Tbial. Verdict. Condition. The verdict of a jury should be unconditional; and a verdict in these words: “We, the jury, find for the defendant and assess the costs of court equally between the plaintiff and defendant; it is our wish that if this verdict will not stand, to enter a mistrial,” is invalid, and will not support a judgment for defendant with all costs. 3. Pbomissoby Note. Non est factum. Fraud. Instruction. In a suit upon a promissory note to which the only plea is non est factum, in the absence of all evidence of fraud in procuring defendant’s signature, it is error to instruct the jury that the defendant is not liable although he signed the note if his signature was obtained by fraud.