Gibson v. Singer Sewing MacH. Co.
Gibson v. Singer Sewing MacH. Co.
Opinion of the Court
This suit originated in the justice’s court, where appellant sued appellee for $150 damages, alleged to have arisen from the conversion of a certain sewing machine. Appellee answered that it had sold the machine to appellant on time, under a contract that it should have the authority, in case of default in a monthly payment, to take possession of the machine and sell the same; that default had been made; that appellant owed $19 on the machine, and appel-lee had taken possession of it by virtue of the contract to hold until the payment of the balance due.
In the justice’s court, the cause was tried by jury, and the following verdict was returned, “We, the jury, find for plaintiff for *286 full amount,” and on that verdict the judgment was rendered. The cause was appealed to the county court by the appellee herein, and on a trial before the court it was adjudged that appellant take nothing by his suit, and that appellee recover of him the sum of $19, and a mortgage lien was foreclosed on the sewing machine.
This suit was brought by appeal to the county court on June 1, 1911, and notice served on appellant on June Sth. On July 3, 1911, a term of the court began which ended on August 26th. A second term began on September 4 and ended on October 28, 1911; and the third term began on November 6th and ended December 30th. In an explanation appended to the bill of exceptions, the court states that the case was on the nonjury docket, and was set down for trial on November 7, 1911, the second day of the term; that appellant had not made a demand for a jury nor paid a jury fee until the morning of November 6, 1911; and that demand was not made in open court nor called to the attention of the court until the ease was called for trial. In order to have a jury trial, a transfer of the cause to the jury docket would have been necessary, and a postponement for three weeks had. Appellee was in court with its witnesses and ready for trial.
In article 3188, it is provided that no jury trial shall be had in any civil suit, unless an application therefor be made in open court and a jury fee deposited, or an affidavit be made of inability to make such deposit. No such demand was ever made by appellant, unless it was done at the time the case was called for trial. The written application for a jury filed with the clerk, but not brought to the notice of the court, did not comply with the law. Appellant had permitted the case for two terms to remain on the nonjury docket; and it appears that the desire for a jury trial was prompted by the desire for a postponement of a cause in which an application for a continuance was overruled. As said in Cabell v. Shoe Company, 81 Tex. 104, 16 S. W. 811, courts are required to fix a day for taking up jury cases; clerks are required to keep a jury docket and thereon to place cases, under the order of the court, when the jury fee is paid; and whenever the failure to make tne demand and payment is delayed, so as to materially affect the rights of the parties or interfere with the orderly dispatch of business of the court, a jury trial should be refused. To the same, effect is Petri v. National Bank, 84 Tex. 153, 19 S. W. 379, and Nalle v. City of Austin, 41 Tex. Civ. App. 423, 93 S. W. 141.
In the case of Cleveland v. Smith, 102 Tex. 490, 119 S. W. 843, cited by appellant, demand had been made for a jury and the fee tendered on the first day of. the term, and the party was clearly entitled to a jury. In this case, no demand was made in open court on the first day of the term. A demand filed, but not brought to the attention of the court, was not made in “open court.” City Loan & Trust Co. v. Sterner, 57 Tex. Civ. App. 517, 124 S. W. 207.
The judgment is affirmed.
On Motion to Certify.
The opinion of this court is no.t in conflict with any "decision of any Court of Civil Appeals on the refusal to permit appellant to have a jury. No court has ever held that a demand 'for a jury in open court is not required by the statute. Appellant failed to comply with the plain demands of the statute, and no case can be found that holds that a party is entitled to a jury under such circumstances. The case of Petri v. Bank, 84 Tex. 153, 19 S. W. 379, is directly against such a contention. The case of Scott v. Rowland, 14 Tex. Civ. App. 370, 37 S. W. 380, has a different state of facts from this ease, and has no bearing upon it. This cause was filed in the county court on June 1, 1911. A term of that court began on July 3 and ended August 26, 1911. Another term began September 4th, and ended October 28th, and the third term began on November 6, and ended December 30, 1911. No jury was ever demanded in open court until this case was called for trial on the nonjury docket. To-have changed the cause to the jury docket would have postponed the trial for three weeks .and possibly longer.
The motions to certify are overruled.
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