Carpenter v. Duke Bros. Furniture Co.

SAYRE, J. We are clear to the conclusion that the evidence was in conflict as to whether appellee let Joe Lindsey have the coffin on the sole credit of Joe, in which case, of course, there could be no recovery against appellant; on the credit of appellant as surety only, in which case the statute of frauds would prevent a recovery; or on the-original promise of appellant to pay, that is, to become originally and jointly liable with Joe on consideration that appellee then would let Joe have the coffin, in which event appellant was liable; and that, for this reason, the trial court committed error in giving the general affirmative charge requested by plaintiff, appellee. L. & N. R. R. Co. v. Lancaster, 121 Ala. 471, 25 South. 733. Nor do we think the indicated result can be avoided on the ground that the bill of exceptions fails to recite the fact that it contains all the evidence. There was an obvious conflict in the testimony of the parties interested and of the witnesses who may reasonably be assumed to have knowledge of the transaction in question, and no introduction into the record of presumed evidence, relevant to the issues joined, can eliminate the fact of such conflict. Baker v. Patterson, 171 Ala. 88, 55 South. 135. Appellee suggests that the general charge was not given at its request; but the record shows that it was, and no presumption of mistake in its contents can be indulged to save a reversal. True, the record shows also the refusal of another charge, requested by appellee, to precisely the same legal effect, but that, we must assume, the court refused, because it had already given the charge, and, of course, we need not recur to the fact that charges refused have no possible effect with the jury. On the record before us, we see no recourse but to reverse the judgment. Reversed and remanded. ANDERSON, C. J., and GARDNER and MILLER, JJ., concur.