Lacoma v. Canto
Lacoma v. Canto
Opinion of the Court
Sotiro Canto brought this suit' against Silva Lacoma for $1,500, the alleged value of certain moving picture films delivered to defendant in a locked box with *1014 the agreement that defendant would keep same until called for; that defendant appropriated them to his own use.
Defendant answered by general denial, especially denied any agreement to keep and return the films; that he granted plaintiff permission to leave the box in his office, which was done; that he did not know its contents; that it remained there several months and plaintiff came and took it away; that he did not take anything from the box, nor any one else with his knowledge or consent.
Trial was before the court without jury, and judgment rendered for plaintiff for the sum of $200. From which this appeal.
“When an instrument written in any other language than our own is sought to be introduced in evidence, it must be translated into English by a competent person, having knowledge of both languages. It is the duty of the party offering the paper in evidence to have the interpretation made, and not of the judge before whom the case is on trial to supply him with an English version of it, in order to enable him to get in .his evidence.”
So clearly this document was not admissible in evidence, but where the cause is tried before the court the admission of incompetent evidence will not require a reversal unless injury is shown. That is, that the court must have considered the incompetent evidence in arriving at his judgment. And when the court hears such incompetent testimony, the cause will not be reversed where there is competent testimony sufficient to authorize the rendition of the judgment entered. Melton v. Cobb, 21 Tex. 539; Orient band Co. v. Reeder, 173 S. W. 939.
It appears from the bill of exceptions that the document was in Spanish; that the court understood Spanish, and that it was introduced in evidence for the purpose of showing what was in the picture alleged to have been left by the plaintiff with the defendant, for the conversion of which plaintiff ought to recover damages.
There is no merit in the other assignments and propositions: (a) That the allegata and probata do not correspond, (b) That there is no evidence of conversion, (c) And no evidence that the two films missing from the box were of the value of $100 each found by the court.
Finding no reversible error, the assignments are overruled and cause affirmed.
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Reference
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- Lacoma v. Canto.
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