Johnston County Savings Bank v. Chase

Walker, J. Tliis action was brought for the recovery of $T25, alleged to be due on two drafts which were drawn by the Puritan Manufacturing Company upon C. C. Chase,' trading as the “Chase Drug Store,” accepted by the latter and endorsed to the plaintiff. The court, without objection by the parties, submitted issues to the jury, which, with the answers thereto, are as follows: I. “Did the Puritan Manufacturing Company represent and guarantee to defendant that the goods were of such quality and kind as described in the pleadings?” Answer: “Yes.” 2. “Were the representations and warranties false and fraudulent, as set forth in the pleadings?” Answer: “Yes.” 3. “Did the plaintiff purchase the said paper writing before maturity, in good faith, for value and without notice of said alleged fraud?” Answer: “No.” The defendant, as will appear from the pleadings and issues, averred that the drafts were given by him in the purchase of *110 certain articles of jewelry from the Puritan Manufacturing Company, which he bought to resell, and that the said manufacturing company, by its agent who sold the jewelry, made false and fraudulent representations as to the quality and value of the same, and also stated that the defendant could safely sell the jewelry with a guaranty as to its good quality. The defendant further alleged that the jewelry “began to tarnish” and “the plating dropped off,” so that he was unable to sell the same. Several contracts of sales were made, but the goods were returned as being valueless. It was still further alleged that the jewelry became useless to him. The defendant proved by one Leslie Fowden the conversation between C. C. Chase and the salesman of the defendant at the time the jewelry was bought. This evidence was objected to by the plaintiff, but admitted by the court. The objection was addressed to the entire testimony of the witness Fowden, some of which was clearly competent and relevant to the issues, and for.this reason was properly overruled, even if the other portion of the testimony was incompetent. State v. Ledford, 133 N. C., 714, and cases cited. But we think all of the material testimony of the witness was competent. How could the false and fraudulent representations of the Puritan Manufacturing Company be otherwise established than by the statements of its agent to the defendant at the time he was negotiating with him for a sale of the goods? It was the primary and best evidence that could be offered for that purpose, and certainly was competent, even against the plaintiff, to prove what was the contract of sale. If the plaintiff purchased the drafts in due course without notice of the fraud, it acquired a good title to it, notwithstanding the fraud, and the testimony of Fowden would in that event be harmless. If it received the drafts as endorsee, with notice of the fraud, the result would be otherwise. The defendant introduced in evidence the deposition of W. H. Fry to prove that the plaintiff did not pay value for the drafts and took with them notice of the fraud, but we do not think any one of the objections are tenable, and, besides, the testimony of the witness would seem to be practically harmless. It is not necessary to consider the objections seriatim. It may be said, generally, that it was competent to- prove by W. H! Fry the nature of the transactions between the plaintiff bank, he being its president, and the Puritan Manufacturing Company, relaling to the purchase of the drafts. Fry had knowledge of their dealings and, indeed, represented the bank actively in the same. Whether, upon the whole evidence, the bank paid value for the *111 drafts or bad notice of tbe fraud was an open question for tbe jury to decide, under proper instructions of tbe court. Tbe plaintiff, in apt time, requested tbe court to charge tbe jury that, if tby believed all tbe evidénce in tbe case, they should answer tbe'first issue “No,” tbe second issue “No,” and tbe third issue “Yes.” Tbe court refused to give tbe charge, and tbe plaintiff excepted. Tbe instruction was properly refused. It was asked to be given in its entirety, and every substantial and integral part of it must be correct in law. Bost v. Bost, 87 N. C., 477; Ins. Co. v. Sea, 21 Wallace, 158; State v. Ledford, supra. There was evidence for tbe jury to consider as to tbe false and fraudulent representations, and, therefore, it would have been error to instruct tbe jury to answer tbe first and second issues “No.” Tbe court could not direct such a finding in tbe very teeth of evidence strongly tending to establish tbe fraud. The instruction not being- correct as a whole, tbe judge committed no error in declining to submit it to tbe jury, even if it was correct as to tbe third issue. We have examined tbe record carefully and have been unable to discover any reason for setting aside tbe judgment of tbe court and ordering a new trial. No error.