Howard v. Kisling

Da visor, J. Howard sued Fishing before a justice- of' the peace, upon a promissory note, which was filed b.efore the justice as the plaintiff’s cause of action. The note, with an indorsement of credit thereon, reads thus: “ July 18, 1867. “Four months after date, I promise to pay to the order of H. B. Howard, at the warehouse of Stout, $126, value received, without any relief whatever, from the appraisementlaws.” Signed, “ John Fishing.” Indorsed, “March 4,1858, Received on the within, $100.” [84] Defendant answered, admitting the execution of the note, but alleging that it was given in part payment for a reaping machine, sold and delivered by the plaintiff’s agent to the defendant : that, at the time of the sale, he paid $29, and gave the note for the balance of the purchase money: that the agent, at the time of the sale, agreed to put the machine in good running order, and make it a good machine, and upon that consideration, the purchase was made. That the machine was not a good reaping machine: would not work'well, and he, defendant, so informed said agent, and requested him to put the same in good condition; but to do so the plaintiff and his agent refused. And further, it is averred “ that afterward, on March 4, 1858, the said agent again agreed with defendant, that if he would pay $100 on the note, that he, the agent, would fix the machine, and make it work well, otherwise he would not demand any further payment on the note. That defendant, relying on said agreement, did pay the agent $100; but said agent wholly failed and refused to fix the machine, and put the same in working order, and - the machine, in consequence of this failure, is not worth more than $50. 'Wherefore the defendant demands judgment against the plaintiff on account of his failure to comply with his contract in the sale of the machine, for $75 so overpaid to him as above stated.” The record contains a bill of exceptions, whereby it appears that the jury having been sworn in the cause, the defendant moved for leave to open and close the evidence; which motion, though resisted by the plaintiff, was sustained by the Court; and the evidence was accordingly opened and closed by the defendant. And further, the evidence having been closed, the plaintiff moved to allow him to open and close the argument, but the Court overruled his motion, and granted the opening and close of the argument to the defendant. These rulings involve the only questions to settle in the case. We are referred to Howard v. Cobb, 6 Ind. 5, as applicable to the points made in the bill of exceptions. That case, as the one at bar, originated before a justice of the peace, was founded on a promissory note, and the defense pleaded was, that the note was obtained by fraud. The Court held," “that in a suit .instituted before a justice, the defendant, under [85] the revision of 1843, was entitled to the benefit of the general issue, with or without pleading it, and that the plaintiff was, therefore, entitled to open and close the argument in the case.” R. S. 1843, § 43, p. 871. In reference to the general issue before justices of the peace, we have a statute, now in force, similar to that of 1843, which, in effect, provides “ that the defendant in a suit before a justice, shall always have the benefit of the general issue, without pleading it,” and that under the general issue, thus in, all matters of defense may be given in evidence, except the statute of limitations, set-off and matter in abatement. 2 R. S. 1852, § 34, p. 455. There was then, in the present case, in addition to the special defense, a statutory general issue, and the result is, Howard v. Cobb, supra, is precisely in point. There, as here, the plaintiff was bound to produce, on the trial, the note as described in the complaint. True, when produced, its execution would havebeen admitted, because there was no plea, verified by oath, denying that the defendant had signed it: still it was incumbent on the plaintiff to give the note in evidence, otherwise the trial must have resulted in the success of the defendant. We have a statute which says: “The party on whom rests the burthen of the issue, must first produce his evidence, and the adverse party will then produce his evidence.” And, “ In the argument, the party having the burthen of the issue shall have the opening and closing.” 2 R. S., §§ 324, 326, pp. 110, 112. The rule thus prescribed, is, in effect, the same as it stood at common law, and when applied in the case before us, it will, at once be seen, that in this instance, “ the burthen of the issue” rested on the plaintiff. 3 Phil. Ev. 4 Am. Ed. p. 809, et seq. We are of opinion that the Court erred in its refusal to allow the plaintiff to open and close, and that the judgment must therefore be reversed. J. S. Soobey, for appellant. Will Cumbaoh, for appellee. Per Curiam. The judgment is reversed, with costs. Cause remanded, &c.