Dunbar v. Fifield

ELLISON, J. — This action is on a promissory note for $200. At the close of the evidence in defendant’s behalf the trial court directed a verdict for plaintiff on the note. It appears, as near as we can gather from the record, that defendant’s deceased wife was a half sister to these plaintiffs. That at her death she left this defendant and these half sisters and perhaps others as her heirs. There was a settlement between defendant and the other heirs of his wife. Defendant testified that he “did not owe .the heirs of his wife anything” and that “they claimed my wife brought into the estate” $350. We afie not certain that we understand this last statement. At any rate it is clear that defendant meant by his testimony to show that in the settlement between him and the heirs they claimed of him $350 and that he had given them $160 worth of property leaving $190 yet due as they claimed; that they had purchased a “shroud” for $10 and he gave them the note in suit for $200. They, on their part, to convey to him certain real property, or rather, to deliver a deed (then made out) to him for such property when he paid the note. He afterwards offered to pay the note on delivery of the deed which delivery was refused, or, at least, not made. Hnder this state of the evidence the case should not have been taken from the jury. Plaintiff contends that defendant’s own testimony showed he owed plaintiffs the amount of the property and of the note. But it is clear that he did not intend to be understood as owing them that independent of and apart from, the settlement. He, perhaps, may be said to have owed it by the settlement, but a fart of the terjns of the settlement was the deed to the land. The judgment is reversed and cause remanded. All concur.