Rindskopf v. Myers
Rindskopf v. Myers
Opinion of the Court
We think there must be a new trial in this case because of the admission of incompetent testimony. A number of exceptions were taken to the rulings of the trial court in admitting or excluding testimony. We shall not notice all of these exceptions, but confine our attention to those taken to the admission of the statements or repre
The main issue in the case was as to the validity of the sale made by Hyman Nathan to the plaintiff. The sheriff, representing the creditors of Ilyman Nathan and E. M. Nathan, claimed that this transfer was fraudulent and void. The sheriff justified seizing the goods in controversy (1) under an attachment in favor of Dewhurst against E. M. Nathan; (2) under an attachment in favor of theNeillsville Bank against Hyman Nathan; and (3) by virtue of an execution on a judgment against Hyman Nathan, which judgment was rendered more than twenty days after the taking of the goods, and some time after this action was commenced. There was evidence which tended to prove that E. M. Nathan, who originally owned the goods, or in whose name the business was transacted, had sold them to the vendor of the plaintiff in June, 1883, and that Hyman sold them to the plaintiff on the 1st of August, 1884. An effort was made to impeach the tona fides of these transfers.
It appears that E. M. Nathan resided in Milwaukee, and the business at Neillsville was under the management of one Stumes, as his agent or in some other capacity. Some time in May or June, 1883, Stumes applied to Dewhurst for a loan of $300. The loan was effected in the name of E. M. Nathan; and Dewhurst was permitted to testify, against the plaintiff’s objection, that, at the time, Stumes represented his father-in-law, E. M. Nathan, was worth from $12,000 to $20,000, and gave as a reason for wanting the $300 that there were some store debts for merchandise coming due, and that he did not then wish to call upon his father-in-law for money, for reasons which he gave. It seems to us too plain, for argument that this evidence as to the representations of Stumes had nothing to do with the case
Again, the plaintiff offered evidence tending to prove the consideration he paid for the goods. He was examined at considerable length on that point, and testified .that he paid $2,500 in cash, and gave his note for $1,500. He was asked where and how he obtained the money to make the cash payment, and he said he borrowed $2,000 of his brother
The learned counsel for, the defendants insists that all the 'facts and circumstances attending the transaction so clearly proved fraud in the transfer that the judgment, should be affirmed upon the record, without regard to any technical errors which may have intervened on the trial. We do not feel justified in adopting that view. True, there are some suspicious or unusual circumstances attending the sale made to the plaintiff; but whether they are sufficient to show that the transfer was fraudulent was a question for the jury upon the’evidence. The plaintiff was entitled to a fair trial of the question as to the validity of the sale, without any improper testimony being admitted to influence the minds of the jury against his claim. We think he has not had such a trial because of the errors in the proceedings which we have noticed; and therefore, without passing upon the other questions involved, we reverse the judgment and send the cause back for a new trial.
By the Court.— Ordered accordingly.
Reference
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