Cartier v. Trot Lumber Co.

Mr. Justice Wilkin delivered the opinion of the Court : Among the instructions given to the jury by the trial court was the following: “If you believe, from the evidence, that the defendant, Cartier, has in his possession or under his control, so that he might have produced them, books or papers which contain evidencé material to this ease, which he has not produced in evidence, you have a right to presume that such books and papers, if produced in evidence, would be injurious to his case, unless you find that such presumption has been refuted by the other credible evidence in the case.” It is now insisted by appellant that the giving of this instruction was manifest error calculated to mislead the jury" and prejudice his case. It was condemned by the Appellate Court, a majority of its members, however, holding, that the giving of it was not, under the facts of the case, reversible error. We fully concur in the view that the instruction does not correctly state the law of evidence as applicable to the facts in proof. It clearly authorized the jury to indulge a presumption not legally arising from the facts on which it is based. It will be observed that according to its terms, however innocent may have been the omission on the part of defendant to produce each and every book and paper in his possession or under his control, containing evidence material to the case on either side, the damaging presumption might be indulged. It left the jury free to determine for itself what would be material evidence in the case. That which it might presume was not merely facts which the absent evidence would tend to prove, but that all such books and papers, if produced,, would be injurious to the defendant’s case, generally. It is said, however, the instruction must be construed in the light of the evidence on which it is based. That is doubtdess true, if it can be definitely determined what that evidence is. On the trial the plaintiff called upon defendant to produce one of his books, which it was claimed showed certain estimates of the timber on the lands sold, and particularly the entry, “To bills payable N., $2000.” One Bearman, a witness for plaintiff, and former book-keeper for defendant, testified that he made the entries, and he swore to the estimates as shown by the book; also, that the entry to bills payable, etc., meant $2000 paid to the estimator Neilan by the defendant. The defendant admitted that the entry appeared on the book, ■and said that he could give no explanation of it. Construing the instruction under consideration as being based on the failure to produce this book, (and it must have been so based at least in part,) the jury were told, that notwithstanding the secondary proof of the entries sought to be introduced by plaintiff, still they might presume the book, if it had been produced, would have been injurious to defendant’s case. Such is clearly not the law. Greenleaf says, in his work on Evidence, (vol. 1, sec. 37): “Neither has the mere non-production of books, upon notice, any other legal effect than to admit the other party to prove their contents by parol, unless under special circumstances.” Sutherland, J., said in Life and Fire Ins. Co. v. Meclianics’ Fire Ins. Co. 7 Wend. 31: “I do not understand ihe rule to be, that a party has a right to infer, from the refusal of his adversary to produce books or papers which may have been called for, that if produced they would establish the fact which he alleges they would prove. The rule is this: the party in such a case may give secondary or parol proof of the contents of such books or papers, if they are shown or admitted to be in the possession of the opposite party; and if such secondary evidence is imperfect, vague and uncertain as to dates, sums, boundaries, etc., every intendment and presumption shall be against the party who might remove all doubt by producing the higher evidence.” The rule thus stated is quoted with approval by this court in Rector v. Rector, 3 Gilm. 120. Here appellee got the full benefit of all that it-claimed the book would prove, nothing being left vague on uncertain, and still had the benefit of an instruction from the ■court that the jury might presume further injury to the defendant’s case because the book itself was not produced. It is said, however, that other books, maps, contracts, etc., were withheld. Some of these were pointed out in the argument, but it is not shown that they were called for by the plaintiff, nor that they would have been competent evidence •on behalf of defendant if they had been offered. We are unable to see how they could have been introduced on his hehalf as primary proof without the consent of plaintiff. No presumption against him could therefore arise from his failure to produce them. Whatever inferences may be drawn against the party by reason of his failure to produce evidence in his possession or under his control are allowed on the theory that he willfully withholds such evidence. His conduct, says Green-leaf, is attributed to his supposed knowledge that the truth would have operated against him. (Sec. 37, supra.) He is treated in law as a “spoliator of evidence.” (Lawson on Presumptive Evidence, 120, et seq.) He must therefore suffer, under the maxim “omniapresumuntur contra spoliatorem.” It will not be seriously contended that a party is to be treated as a “spoliator of evidence,” merely because he does not produce books and papers which he could only offer in evidence by consent of his adversary, or because some fact might be developed on the trial which would render them competent. It was said in Merwin v. Ward, 15 Conn. 377: “Where a party has in his possession a 'deed or other ínstrument necessary to support his title, and he refuses to produce it, and attempts to make out his title by other evidence, such refusal raises a strong presumption that the legitimate evidence would operate against him. But this rule does not apply to such documents as a party has no right to give in evidence without the consent of his adversary.” The instruction is also subject to the criticism that it clearly indicates to the jury the views of the court as to the presumption arising from the facts stated, and in that regard violates the rule announced in Elston and Wheeling Gravel Road Co. v. The People ex rel. 96 Ill. 584. See, also, Graves v. Colwell,. 90 id. 620. We can not agree with the Appellate Court in its conclusion,, that notwithstanding the error of this instruction the judgment of the circuit court should be affirmed. Justice Gary, speaking for a majority of that court, says: “It is undoubtedly true, as appellant’s counsel allege, that much of the testimony on the part of appellee came from very suspicious sources but the credibility of witnesses is for the jury.” Justice Moran,. dissenting, says : “The evidence is conflicting, and upon the-points essential to appellees’ case it does not seem to me to at all preponderate in their favor.” These remarks, coming from the court, whose special province it was to review the evidence and determine the facts in the case, are significant. The case is certainly one falling within the rule, that where the evidence is conflicting and irreconcilable the instructions to the jury must be accurate. Here, on the evidence actually before the jury a verdict might well have been rendered either way. The jury are told, however, that from the mere absence of evidence they may presume against the defendant, to the injury of his case. To what extent that injury may have been carried in the minds of the jury no one can tell. It furnished a broad ground on which to condemn the entire defense. No one can say with confidence that it may not have seriously prejudiced the defendant’s rights. The giving of it was manifest and prejudicial error, for which the judgment, of the circuit and Appellate Courts are reversed, and the cause remanded to the circuit court for another trial. In this view of the record it will be unnecessary to notice other errors assigned. They do not go to the merits of the action, and will not probably again arise. Judgment reversed.