Sands v. Hammell

HARALSON, J. It is well settled, that if appellant’s intestate, Geo. W. Agnew, — sustaining no relationship of blood or marriage to the appellee, Hammel, — was under no pecuniary obligation to him, then the assignment of the insurance policy by him to Hammel, was repugnant to public policy, illegal and void, and conferred no benefit on the latter. — Ala. Gold L. Ins. Co. v. Mobile M. I. Co., 81 Ala. 332 ; Stoelker v. Thornton, 88 Ala. 246 ; Helmetag v. Miller, 76 Ala. 186. It is shown, without any question, that Hammel paid the first, and all the other premiums on said policy, amounting, without interest, to $970., and the funeral expenses of -deceased, — $254.50,—making a total of $1,224.50, which amount, with proper interest on the premiums paid, he would be entitled to retain, on an accounting in this case, out of the four thousand dollars collected by him. On July 20th, 1882, Geo. W. Agnew & Co., — which, under the proofs, was Agnew himself, — drew a draft on appellee in favor of and indorsed by himself to Marcus Lyons, for $2,606.95, due five months after date, which draft was accepted by appellee. If this was Agnew’s debt, and Hammel has the right to retain for it and the interest accrued on it, the $4,000. collected by him on the policy, it will not be sufficient to pay what is due him, and complainant has no case. [627] As between the several parties to tlie bill, the acceptor, Hammel, was prima facie the party primarily liable, and the presumption was, that he liad funds in his hands to meet the draft.: — 3 Brick. Dig., p. 85, §§ 47-51 ; Bolling v. McKenzie, 89 Ala. 470. But, did this draft represent a debt owing by Agnew to Hammel, or, was it drawn by him, to pay a debt to Lyons, out of funds of his in the hands of Hammel? Solomon Heidelberger is the only witness examined, to whose evidence reference will be made. He testified, that the books of Marcus Lyons, — a merchant doing business at the time in Mobile, who died in 1886 or 1887, — showed an indebtedness of Agnew to Lyons originating in 1878, including interest, amounting to $2,625., with Hammel as his surety or indorser; that this debt, the principal of which was $2,500., was renewed annually by Agnew, with Hammel as indorser, until July 10th, 1881, and that the interest was paid to each renewal, and it was shown from said books that on .July 4th, 1881, and January 17th, 1882, there was paid $125. interest on tli3 debt, and on the 3d day of July, 1385, the entry shows a payment of $212.65, “interest on account of note of Geo. W. Agnew, paid by Hammel.” The witness testified that all these entries were on the book of bills receivable, of said Lyon and in his hand-writing, except the payment of the last item of interest, and this was entered on the cash book by himself, — the bookkeeper of Lyon. On July 20, 1882, the draft or bill above referred to, drawn and accepted by Hammel and indorsed by Agnew to Lyons for $2,606.95, was given.The witness, states, that he made out this paper and Agnew was present and signed it. He also testified, that he was present when this draft of Agnew’s, thus carried on the books óf Lyons so long, and for which Hammel was liable, was settled between Hammel and Lyón ; that it was settled by Hammel giving Lyon his due bill, which he afterwards paid, for $2,000., and $867. paid in cash. This witness further testified that the draft was paid by Hammel to Lyons, and that Agnew never paid Ham-mel. He was asked, if Agnew ever secured this draft in any way, and he replied, that he did so by a policy of life insurance ; that he saw Mr. Agnew, a few days after he took out the insurance and he said he had taken out a [628] life insurance policy to secure Mr. Hammel, and that he would send the papers around to witness; that witness knew of the indebtedness of Agnew to Hammel at the time, and Agnew knew witness knew of it. There is no evidence at all, that Hammel ever owed Agnew a dollar; and, from the entries on the books of Lyon, made by himself in his life time, and of which he would be competent to testify, if alive, and from the evidence of this witness, one has all reasonable satisfaction, that the in-, debtedness as claimed by defendant, on the part of Agnew to him, as represented by said draft, and paid by Hammel to Lyon, was Agnew’s real bona fide debt, which he desired to secure, and did secure to Hammel by the taking out and assignment to him of said insurance policy. Objection is raised by appellant, that the entries made in the books of Mr. Lyon are not evidence in favor of appellee, but this position is untenable. In the Bank v. Plannett, 37 Ala. 226, it was said “that books of accounts, kept by a deceased clerk, and all other entries or memoranda made in the course of business or duty, by any one who would at the time have been a competent witness to the fact which he registers, are admissible evidence.” And in Elliott v. Dykes, 78 Ala. 157, it was again said : “When a witness is shown to be dead, or beyond the jurisdiction of the court, written entries and memorials of a transaction entered in the usual course of business, and which are shown to be in the handwriting of the absent or deceased witness, and purport or are shown to have' been made at or about the time of such alleged transaction, are admissible in evidence.” See also Hancock v. Kelly, 81 Ala. 368 ; Terry v. Birmingham National Bank, 93 Ala. 599. Of the statute of limitations, insisted on by appellant, as to the secured debt of appellee, it is sufficient to say, if it could be pleaded at all, it is nowhere put in issue in the pleadings, and we will not consider it. — Parker v. Jones, 67 Ala. 234 ; Thompson v. Parker, 68 Ala. 387 ; Espy v. Comer, 76 Ala. 506. ' We find do error in the decree of the court below, and it is affirmed.