Foote v. . Beecher

Church, Ch. J. We concur with the General Term that the declarations of Roberts were inadmissible, and that the referee erred in receiving the evidence of such admissions. But we are unable to concur in the affirmance of the judgment, notwithstanding such error. There is no distinction between actions of a legal and those of an equitable nature, in respect to the availability of exceptions taken upon the trial, upon the admission of incompetent evidence, and no reason is perceived for such a distinction. Improper evidence may influence a court or referee, as well as a jury. The party has a right to an adjudication upon legal evidence. In the language of Comstock, J., in Williams v. Fitch (18 N. Y., 546), “ the defendant was entitled to the referee’s judgment upon the testimony which was competent.” I am not aware that a different rule has prevailed, or that this rule has been in any respect modified. It has been uniformly adhered to by this court, in all actions whether of a legal or equitable character. In the case of Forrest v. Forrest (25 N. Y., 501), there was a feigned issue, and the court held *158 that the trial was to be reviewed on the principles on which a court of equity examined the trial of a feigned issue awarded for the information of its own conscience, and not as upon a strict bill of exceptions. Clapp v. Fullerton (34 N. Y., 190), was an appeal from a surrogate’s decree upon the probate of a will. In such cases the hearing is de novo, in the appellate courts, and they may be determined upon the competent evidence appearing, disregarding such as is incompetent. Neither of these decisions is applicable to this case. It is impossible to say how influential the incompetent evidence was upon the mind of the referee. The question at issue was, whether a certain bond and mortgage had been paid in full, and this depended upon whether a note had been given for an indorsement of $1,000, and had not been paid. The declarations of Roberts, while owning the property, and who gave the note, were direct and forcible to the point, that such a note had been given, and if competent and detailed by a reliable witness, would be quite decisive. These declarations were mere hearsay, and were also I think incompetent under the Code, Roberts being dead. An error in receiving incompetent evidence if properly excepted to, can only be disregarded, when it can be seen that it did no harm. If the evidence is slight or irrelevant, or if without it the fact is conclusively established by other evidence, it may bo disregarded because it could not have injured the other party. It is not denied that this evidence was material, and it cannot be affirmed that without it the evidence was conclusive in favor of the defendant’s position. Evidence to be conclusive must be such as to be capable of but one construction, and incapable of being answered. I am inclined to concur with the General Term that without this evidence the referee would have been warranted in finding the giving of the note for the payment of $1,000, but the other evidence is not conclusive. It depends upon the credibility of witnesses and upon inferences to be drawn from the circumstances, and we cannot say that a new trial may not throw additional light upon the case. *159 Upon looking at all the circumstances the probability is in favor of the defendant’s contention, and it may be that a new trial will produce the same result with an accumulation of costs against the appellant, but the error cannot be overlooked without establishing a mischievous precedent. The judgment must be reversed, and a new trial granted, with costs to abide event. All concur. Judgment reversed.