McGlasson v. Fiorella
McGlasson v. Fiorella
Opinion of the Court
This case originated in the justice of the peace court, was appealed to and tried in the county court, where judgment was rendered for the defendant, and the plaintiff has appealed. The plaintiff sought to recover certain personal property, consisting of one hay press, two mowers, and one sulky rake, of the alleged value of $16'0. The trial judge filed findings of fact and conclusions of law to the effect that the plaintiff was the owner of the property sued for on the 15th day of December, 1916, but that the proof sustained the defendant’s plea of the two years’ statute of limitation, and *255 for that reason judgment was rendered for the latter.
Dr. Craven owned a farm which he contracted to sell to W. W. Lastinger, and Last-inger sold it to the plaintiff, Jno. McGlasson, in 1913. In the latter part of 1914, or the first part of 1915, the plaintiff bought the property in controversy, and placed it on the farm referred to. In the latter part of 1915, or early part of 1916, he deeded the ■ farm back to Dr. Craven. In 1916 Dr. Craven sold it to the defendant, Antonio Fiorella, and told him that he could have any of the tools on the farm belonging to him (pDr. Craven), but did not undertake to sell or give to the defendant the property here in controversy, which had been left on the farm by the plaintiff. The defendant testified:
“I moved on the place in December, 1916. There was a man on the place when I bought it working the place. I do not know what his name was. I thought the tools in controversy belonged to Dr. B. IT. Craven, and that he had given them to me at the time the sale was made. I used the tools during the latter part of May or the 1st of June, 1917, for the first time.
“I used them down near the creek. I don’t know whether that is three-quarters or a mile from the road. I used them on the farm wherever I needed them. I know when a party came there and got the press. I don’t know what his name was. It was about ten days after I went to work. He brought it back the next day and said he had gotten the wrong press. I was in Waco when he came and got it. I did not know anything at all about it until I got home. I was not on the place at the time he got the press. ■ He brought it back next day. He brought it back and left it by a well which is 75 to 100 yards from the road. The press was about 75 yards from my line down in the field when I moved on the place.”
A witness by the name of Wheeler, who testified for the defendant, stated that the latter used the property in controversy for the first time in the fall of 1917, or spring of 1918, and said he thought that the latter was the correct time, as there was no hay baled during 1917.
Defendant’s witness Bennett testified that he saw the defendant use the tools in controversy; that he used them about the place generally, but that he thought the first time he used them was in the spring of 1917, and that there was not much hay to bale during that year; and, on cross-examination, he stated that he was not positive whether the defendant used the tools referred to in 1917 or 1918.
Another witness for the defendant named Columbo stated positively that the defendant did not use the tools in question during the year 1917 at all.
Dr. Craven testified that he did not sell the tools in question to the defendant; that he never owned a hay press nor a rake, and that when he told the defendant he could have the tools belonging to him, he had reference to the tools left by him on the farm when he sold it to Lastinger.
“Be it remembered that upon the trial of the above entitled and numbered cause, on the 11th day of November, A. D.' 1919, the following material facts and none other were proved, to wit.”
Then follow the names of the witnesses and the testimony of each, and immediately after the testimony of the last witness is this indorsement:
“Approved, this the 17th day of March, A. D. 1920. Jas. P. Alexander, County Judge.”
*256 The transcript shows that the case was tried before Hon. Jas. P. Alexander, county judge of McLennan county.
The main objection urged to the statement of facts is that it is not shown by the certificate of the judge, nor otherwise, that the parties had failed to agree upon a statement of facts, and therefore the judge had no authority to prepare and cause one to be filed. It is true that the statute which authorizes a judge to prepare a statement of facts (article 1380, Rev. St. 1895) says that he may do so if the parties do not agree upon a statement of facts, or if the judge does not approve the one agreed upon; but it has been repeatedly held by our Supreme Court that where a statement of facts is signed by the judge, the presumption exists that the parties failed to agree, although it is not so stated by the judge. Kelso v. Townsend, 13 Tex. 140; Darcy v. Turner, 46 Tex. 30; McManus v. Wallis, 52 Tex. 534.
We think the statement of facts in this case was prepared in substantial compliance with the statute, though it would have been better practice for 'the judge to have certified that the parties failed to agree; and therefore we overrule appellee’s contention upon this subject.
For the reason heretofore stated, the judgment of the trial court is reversed and the cause remanded.
Reversed and remanded.
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