Powers v. . Commercial Service Co.

Stacy, C. J. Putting aside tbe doubt as to whether it “appears by the record” that the four assignments of error, sustained by the Superior Court in the exercise of its appellate jurisdiction, are based on exceptions duly taken and entered (Sanders v. Sanders, 201 N. C., 350), which otherwise might call for a dismissal of the appeal, the ruling on the first assignment of error seems to be well supported by the authorities. The trial court permitted a witness for the plaintiff, over objection of defendants, to give in evidence the substance of an alleged telephone conversation which he had with some unknown person. This was hearsay, and as it was offered for the purpose of showing the contents of said conversation, which alone gave it pertinency and rendered it hurtful in effect, the ruling of admission was erroneous. The Superior Court, therefore, properly sustained the assignment of error based on this exception. Occasion was presented in each of the following cases to deal with the competency of conversations had over the telephone: Lumber Co. v. Askew, 185 N. C., 87, 116 S. E., 93, Sanders v. Griffin, 191 N. C., 447, 132 S. E., 157, Mfg. Co. v. Bray, 193 N. C., 350, 137 S. E., 151, S. v. Burleson, 198 N. C., 61, 150 S. E., 628, Harvester Co. v. Caldwell, 198 N. C., 751, 153 S. E., 325. The remaining exceptions are not considered, as it is unnecessary to pass upon them now. Affirmed.