Thompson v. Martin

Simmons, Justice. Martin sued Thompson in a justice’s court on a promissory note dated April 23d, 1885, and due on 1st Nov. 1885, for $65 and interest from maturity. The case was appealed by consent to the superior court. Thompson sued Martin in the superior court for damages on a breach of warranty of a certain mule which Martin had sold him, Thompson having given for the mule a yoke of oxen and the note above mentioned. Both cases arising out of the same transaction, the court, by consent of the parties, ordered them consolidated. On the trial, the jury found for the plaintiff the amount of the note and interest. Thompson moved for a new trial on the ground that the verdict was contrary to law and the evidence, and contrary to the charge of the court, and because the court refused to allow him to open and conclude the argument. The motion was overruled, and he excepted. The only ground relied on before us for reversal of the judgment refusing a new trial was, that the verdict was contrary to the evidence. There was no error in [12] the refusal of the court below to grant a new trial on this ground, nor upon the other grounds of the motion. We have read the evidence carefully, and while we think that a preponderance of the evidence shows that the mule did not come up to the warranty made by Martin to Thompson as to its age and soundness, the evidence fails entirely to show any damage sustained by Thompson in consequence thereof. None of the witnesses testify as to the value of the mule when Thompson got it, or its value at the time of its death. Nor is there any evidence in the record showing the difference in the value of the mule at the time of the exchange and after-wards. There being no evidence upon this point, the jury were not authorized to find any damages for Thompson, or to make any reduction in the note. Under the evidence the verdict was right, and the court did not err in not granting a new trial. Judgment affirmed.