Hudspeth v. Herston

Howk, C. J. This was a suit by the appellee, against the appellants, on certain notes executed by the latter to the former, and alleged to be due and unpaid. Answers and replies were filed, putting the cause at issue. "We need not notice these pleadings further, as no question concerning them is presented for our decision. The issues joined were tried by a jury, and a verdict was returned for the appellee, and judgment was rendered thereon. Thereupon the appellants moved the court to set aside the verdict and grant them a new trial, which motion was overruled, and to this ruling they excepted, and appealed to this court. The appellants have here assigned as error the decision of the circuit court, in overruling their motion for a new trial. The causes assigned for such new trial, and the affidavits filed in support of and against the motion, fairly present the grounds upon which the appellants ask for a reversal of the judgment. It appears from the record, that, when this cause was called for trial in the court below, a trial by jury was demanded, and the sheriff then called the regular panel to try the case, -among whom was Lewis A. Baker, who subsequently, became the foreman of said jury; that, before the jury were sworn to try the case, they were first sworn to answer such questions touching their qualifications as jurors as might be propounded to them, under the direction of the court; that the court then, in a loud, plain and distinct voice, read the names of the parties to this suit, plaintiff and defendants, and in a like loud, plain and distinct voice, asked said jury the following question: “ Are either of you related, by blood or marriage, to either of the parties to this suit?” That said Lewis A. Baker, being then in the jury box, and clearly understanding said question, answered the same in the negative; and that the [135] said Baker was thereupon accepted as a juror, and was afterward empanelled and sworn with the jury and tried this cause. • It further appeared that said Baker was in fact related by blood to the appellee, within the prohibited degrees, in this, that the appellee’s grandmother, and the grandfather'of said Baker were brother and sister, and that this relationship was not known to either the appellants or their counsel until after the jury had returned their verdict. In an affidavit made by the appellee, he admitted the relationship as stated between himself and the juror Baker, but did not know at the time of the trial that “he was as nearly related to the juror, as in fact he was.” The juror,Baker said in his affidavit, that, when he was examined touching his qualifications as a juror in this case, he did not know he was any relation of the appellee, and when he answered the question propounded by the court in the negative, he did so in utter ignorance of the I’elationship between him and the appellee, which had .since come to his knowledge. Upon the facts shown by the affidavits filed with the appellants’ motion for a new trial, it is very clear that Lewis A. Baker was nota competent juror on the trial of this cause. In the eleventh clause of the 1st section of “An act in relation to the construction of statutes, and the definition of terms,” approved June 18th, 1852, it is provided, that, “ "When a person is required to be disinterested or indifferent in acting on any question, or matter affecting other parties, consanguinity or affinity within the sixth degree, inclusive, by the civil law rules, or within the degree of second cousin inclusive shall be deemed to disqualify such person from acting except by consent of parties.” 2 R. S. 1876, p. 316. Trullinger v. Webb, 3 Ind. 198; Dearmond v. Dearmond, 10 Ind. 191; and High v. The Big Creek Draining Association, 44 Ind. 356. It can not be said, we think, under the facts shown by [136] the affidavits in this ease, that the appellants consented to the trial of this action by a cousin of the appellee, when they did not know of such relationship until after the trial Nor can it be correctly said, that the appellants have waived the objection-to the juror, on account of his relationship to the appellee, because they did not, personally or by theii counsel, examine the juror on his oath as to his relationship to the appellee. We are clearly of the opinion, that, as to this matter, the appellants had the right to rely implicitly, without any further examination, upon the answer of the juror to the question propounded to him by the court. It seems to us, also, that the fact alleged by the juror in his affidavit, that, at the time of the trial, he was wholly ignorant of any relationship between him and the appellee, can have no possible bearing on the correct decision of the question now under consideration. The appellants had a clear legal right to have their case tried by a disinterested jury. Under the law, the juror, Baker, was not a competent juror; but, without fault or negligence on the part of the appellants, and in ignorance of his incompetency, they accepted him as a juror. As soon as they were informed of the juror’s incompetency, the appellants moved the court, on that ground, for a new trial of this cause, but the motion was overruled. We think, that, under the facts of this ease, as shown by the affidavits and counter affidavits, the appellants were lawfully entitled to a new trial of this action, and that the court below erred in overruling their motion therefor. The judgment is reversed, at the appellee’s costs, and the cause is remanded with instructions to sustain the motion for a new trial, and for further proceedings.