Webster v. San Pedro Lumber Co.

McFarland, J. This is, in form, an action to recover certain moneys alleged to have been deposited by plaintiff with defendant at various times from January 1, [328] 1887, to November 1, 1889, to be held by defendant in trust for plaintiff. The answer denies that any moneys were deposited with defendant in trust, and avers substantially that during the times mentioned in the complaint defendant was engaged solely in the business of buying, selling, and dealing in lumber; that it was not engaged in banking business, and was not in any respect a trust company; that from August 31, 1887, to October 31, 1889, plaintiff was an employee of the defendant in the lumber business; that between August 31,1887, and April 29, 1889, plaintiff did make certain deposits of money with defendant, but that they were made at the request of plaintiff and for his accommodation and convenience, and not for the accommodation of defendant; that during said times plaintiff made purchases of lumber from defendant; that defendant has fully paid plaintiff for his services and for all money deposited; that defendant kept a full and accurate account of all transactions between it and plaintiff, and that upon a settlement of the accounts between them on October 31,1889, there was due and owing from plaintiff to defendant the sum of eighty-one dollars and twenty-four cents. The answer also set up the statute of limitations as to all items prior to April 29, 1889. The court found, substantially, that all the averments of the answer were true, except perhaps as to the statute of limitations, and gave judgment for defendant for the eighty-one dollars and twenty-four cents. Plaintiff appeals from the judgment and from an order denying a motion for a new trial. The main contention of appellant is that the evidence does not support the findings, but this contention cannot be maintained. Appellant does not pretend to have kept himself any general account of the various transactions between him and the respondent. He relied upon the books of account kept by respondent of its general and current business, and made no objection to the state of his accounts with respondent as reported from its books until long after he had gone out of its [329] employment. The only evidence of importance offered by him was his own testimony based mainly upon written memoranda which he said he had made from memory of a certain book in which he had made some entries, and which had been destroyed. His recollection of the things to which he testified was so uncertain, and his testimony in chief was so modified in his cross-examination, that if there had been no other evidence in the case we would not be justified in disturbing the findings of the court. Appellant contends that the court erred in admitting in evidence the account books of respondent. The objection to the introduction of the books was not upon the general ground that the books of respondent were not competent evidence, but upon the ground that the preliminary proof of their correctness, etc., was not sufficient. The general rule is that where certain preliminary proof is necessary to the introduction of any kind of documentary evidence, the sufficiency of such proof is to be determined in the first instance by the trial judge, and that his determination of the matter will not be disturbed unless there has been an abuse of discretion. (Bryce v. Joynt, 63 Cal. 378; Butler v. Beech, 55 Cal. 28; Verzan v. McGregor, 23 Cal. 342.) In the case at bar there was clearly sufficient evidence of the correctness, etc., of the books to warrant the court in admitting them in evidence. Afterwards one of the chief book-keepers of respondent absconded, and it appeared that he had made certain manipulations of some of the books—particularly the cash book—for the purpose of defrauding the respondent, and embezzling some of its funds; but there was clearly sufficient evidence as to the correctness of the books so far as the accounts and rights of those dealing with the respondent were concerned. The evidence as to the acts of the absconding book-keeper is not sufficient to upset the ruling of the court as to the sufficiency of the preliminary proof to warrant the introduction of the books. There is nothing in the objections to questions asked witnesses about [330] the correctness of the hooks; and there is no other point in the case which needs notice. Judgment and order affirmed., Fitzgerald, J., and De Haven, J., concurred.