Hostetter v. Schalk

Mr. Justice Paxson delivered the opinion of the court, November 19th 1877. The first assignment alleges error in excluding David Hostetter, the defendant, as a witness. The court ruled that he was incompetent to testify as to any matters prior to the death of Arnold Hertz. If Hertz was the “ assignor of the thing or contract in action” within the meaning of the Act of 15th of April 1869, he was, of course, incompetent. Was he such assignor ? This was an action of trover and conversion brought by the plaintiffs against Dr. Hostetter, to recover the value of over three thousand barrels of oil, which it was admitted the latter had in his possession. The plaintiffs alleged and produced evidence tending to prove that this oil was purchased for them by Arnold Hertz, the latter acting as their agent, and paying for the oil by drafts drawn upon them. Hertz being in possession of the oil, transferred or endorsed over the accepted orders or certificates on the Pipe Line to Hostetter, as was alleged in payment for oil which he, Hertz, owed Hostetter. We have no doubt, upon this state of facts, had the suit been between Hostetter and the legal representatives of Arnold Hertz, deceased, in regard to this oil, the former would have been an incompetent witness. His claim of title was directly through Hertz as “ the assignor of the contract or thing in action.” Hence in a contest with the representatives of Hertz, his mouth would necessarily be closed as to matters prior to the death of Hertz. But the present contest is not between Hostetter and the legal representatives of Hertz, but between Hostetter and those who are entire strangers, and do not claim nor derive title through Hertz. They deny the title of Hertz absolutely and set up title in themselves. After having proved their title, and shown Hertz to be merely their agent, they intei'pose the objection of the competency of Hostetter as a witness. Were they entitled to do so ? In order to determine this question we must ascertain what assignor was intended by the act of 1869. We have not much in the cases decided under this act that bears upon this particular point. Yet there is something. It was said by the present chief justice in Karns v. Tanner, 16 P. F. Smith, 297, that “ the true spirit of the proviso seems to be that when a party to a thing or contract in action is dead, and his rights have passed, either by his own act or by that of the law, to another who represents his interest in the subject of controversy, the surviving party to that subject shall not testify to matters occurring in the lifetime of the adverse party, whose lips are now closed.” This language manifestly refers to a contention between the survivor and the legal representatives of the deceased party to the contract, or those claiming through or under them. It is difficult to see how a stranger to the contract [223] can object to the competency of the survivor as a witness. It does not produce the inequality referred to in Earns v. Tanner. Hertz is not an adverse party, whose death closes the month of either party to this suit. It will be recollected that Dr. Ilostetter was excluded upon the ground that lie was an incompetent witness. What he was expected to prove was not stated. Had the offer been to show by him a conversation with Hertz in the absence of the plain tiffs, it would doubtless have been excluded on the ground that it was irrelevant, and could not affect them. The fact that such evidence would be irrelevant, and could not be received to affect the plaintiffs, is a persuasive reason why Dr. Ilostetter was not an incompetent witness under the act of 1869. We do not see any other serious errors in this record. But for the one referred to this judgment must be reversed. Judgment reversed, and a venire facias de novo awarded.