Hagy v. Poike

Supreme Court of Pennsylvania
Hagy v. Poike, 160 Pa. 522 (Pa. 1894)
28 A. 846; 1894 Pa. LEXIS 841
Dean, Fell, Green, Mitchell, Sterrett

Hagy v. Poike

Opinion of the Court

Per Curiam,

We have carefully considered the evidence bearing on the ■questions involved in the several specifications in this case, and are not convinced that the learned judge erred in refusing the issue prayed for by appellants. While there is some testimony tending to prove circumstances of suspicion, there is not sufficient evidence of the alleged fraudulent acts to warrant the court in sending an issue to a jury. Alleged fraud must be established either by direct proof, or by clearly proved facts sufficient to warrant a presumption of its existence. It is not enough to charge fraud and prove, in support thereof, slight •circumstances of suspicion only: Jones v. Lewis, 148 Pa. 234. To the same effect are Mead v. Conroe, 113 Pa. 220, and Morton v. Weaver, 99 Pa. 47. As a general rule an issue should never be awarded on evidence so slight and insufficient that, in case a verdict should be rendered thereon in favor of the petitioner, the trial judge would be bound to set it aside. We cannot therefore say there was error in dismissing the petition.

Decree affirmed and appeal dismissed with costs to be paid •by Slimmons & Co. et al., appellants.

Reference

Full Case Name
Hagy & Bittner v. Poike, Slimmons's Appeal
Cited By
5 cases
Status
Published
Syllabus
Execution — Issue on question of distribution — Dispute—Fraud—Evidence — Acts of June 16, 1836, and April 20, 1846. Under the acts of June 16, 1836, P. L. 777, and April 20, 1846, P. L. 411, regulating the granting of issues “ where there shall be disputes concerning the distribution of money ” arising from sales upon execution, an issue should not be granted on evidence so slight and insufficient that in ease a verdict should be rendered thereon in favor of the petitioner the trial judge would be bound to set it aside. In such a case testimony merely tending to prove circumstances of suspicion is insufficient. Alleged fraud must be established either by direct proof, or by clearly proved facts sufficient to warrant a presumption of its existence. It is not enough to charge fraud and prove, in support thereof, slight circumstances of suspicion only.