Bell v. Hungate

Hanna, J. Hungate, as assignee of Kenly, brought suit on a note executed by Bell and Dougherty to Kenly. The answer, on its face, appears to be by but one of the defendants, but does not show which one it is. It is— 1. That the plaintiff is indebted to the defendant 150 dollars, for money had and received. 2. That plaintiff has obtained from him, by gaming with cards, 200 dollars unlawfully, and the defendant offers to set off, &c. 3. That plaintiff, before the commencement of the suit, received, for the use of this defendant, 200 dollars, money lost and paid to said Hungate. 4. That said Bell is the principal, and said Dougherty surety only, in said note. D. M’ Donald and A. G. Porter, for the appellants. J. Baker, for the appellee. There was a demurrer filed to the answer, which does not, by the record, appear to have been disposed of. The plaintiff, for reply, filed a general denial. Trial by a jury; verdict and judgment for the plaintiff. The plaintiff, by replying, waived his demurrer to the answer. Ind. Dig. 649. The evidence is not all in the record. The Court instructed the jury in such language as assumed the existence of certain facts, and that they had been proved, to-wit: That Bell was principal and Dougherty surety; that three years before the trial, the plaintiff won at cards of said Bell 100 dollars; that it was not necessary to inform the jury whether the money so won could be pleaded as a set-off or not, because six months had elapsed from the winning of the money before the note was assigned to the plaintiff; therefore, the defense was not available, and it was the duty of the jury to find for the plaintiff. The Court, by assuming that the facts thus mentioned were proved, usurped the prerogative of the jury, namely, to determine whether the evidence sustained the issues made. The instructions were, therefore, wrong in form. But it is said that, the evidence not being in the record, we must presume in favor of the action of the Court. We do not think so, under the circumstances of this case. Per Curiam. The judgment is reversed with costs. Cause remanded, &c.