Bohart v. Parker

Mr. Justice Eakin delivered the opinion of the court. At the time of the levy the goods were in possession of A. M. Brewer. Plaintiff claims that he bought the property of Thienes on the 3d day of June, 1913. 1. The first assignment of error relates to the refusal of the court to admit in evidence exhibit “B, ” being the lease of the farm by Thienes to Brewer, which we deem immaterial. The only purpose of the offer was to show by what arrangement Thienes left the property in question with Brewer. Plaintiff claims to have acquired the property from Thienes, and Thienes’ title is not questioned. 2. The second assignment is directed against the reception in evidence of exhibit 1, but it was not prejudicial to the case. Brewer’s title to the property is [374] not in question, and the exhibit relates to the release by him of part of the stock to Thienes, and evinces that Thienes and Brewer were expecting trouble or litigation with Francis. It was competent tending to show an effort to forestall Francis as to the title to the stock, which had been retained by him until full payment should be made. 3. As to the exclusion of exhibits “C” and “D,” the court held that the fact evidenced by the notes was •admitted, that there was no dispute about it, and that they were received by Thienes as part of the consideration for the property. The objection was properly sustained on the ground that the exhibits were imma-. terial. The court excluded exhibit “ F ” as immaterial, saying: “The witness has stated previously what the business relations between him and Mr. Bohart were. I will let the matter rest there. If the defense justifies it you will be afforded the opportunity on rebuttal to go into the matter. ” It does not appear that plaintiff was prejudiced by their exclusion. 4. The refusal of the court to receive in evidence exhibit “G,” which was a list of all the personal property Bohart purchased from Thienes, is assigned as error. The court ruled that it was included in the complaint, had already been testified to, and was immaterial. Said assignment is not well taken. 5. As to assignment No. 8, the reputation of a witness was being discussed, and the court said he would leave that matter to the jury. Counsel was proceeding to argue with the court as to such ruling when the remark was made in answer to argument of counsel, and. was not prejudicial. In Banc. Statement by Mr. Justice Burnett. This is an action in regular form for the recovery of the possession of personal property. Except as otherwise admitted, the answer denies the whole complaint, and alleges, in substance, that the defendant, as sheriff, received an execution regularly issued on a valid judgment of the Circuit Court against W. C. Thienes, who at the time was the owner of a leviable interest in the property in question which was then in the actual possession of one Brewer. Armed with this writ, the defendant says he levied upon the chattels in Brewer’s custody by serving upon him the statutory notice, in response to which the latter answered that he had possession of the goods; that the execution debtor claimed some interest in them, but that the garnishee, Brewer, claimed a lien upon them for the payment of an amount of money named. The answer then avers that the defendant advertised for sale the interest of Thienes in the property, at which juncture this action was commenced, and that the events narrated in the answer constitute the grievance of the plaintiff mentioned in the complaint. A further answer charges that Thienes had transferred the chattels to plaintiff with intent to hinder, delay and defraud the creditors of the seller, of which fraudulent purpose the plaintiff had full knowledge and in which he participated. After certain admissions and denials, the reply alleges that the plaintiff bought the property from Thienes and that at the time it was in possession of Brewer; but does not state anything challenging the rightfulness of Brewer’s custody, nor give any reason why it should be disregarded. At the close of the plaintiff’s case, on motion of the defendant, the court directed a verdict for him awarding him a return of the property. The bill of exceptions shows the court gave as its reason in effect that there was no testimony to show that the defendant had possession of the property at the commencement of the action. From the consequent judgment, the plaintiff appeals. [375] The motion of defendant for a directed verdict was properly refused. The questions presented by the evidence were for the jury to decide. We find no error in the record, and the judgment is affirmed. Affirmed. Mr. Chief Justice Moore, Mr. Justice McBride and Mr. Justice Bean concur.