LeFleur v. Caldwell

Weaver, J. The record shows that the note sued upon was given to cover part of the purchase price of the paraphernalia of a pool hall outfit in the town of Alton, in Sioux County, sold by the plaintiffs to the defendant S. A. Caldwell. The negotiation for such sale was wholly with- S. A. Caldwell. The written contract and bill of sale were made with him alone. There was no agreement between -plaintiffs and Caldwell that the wife of the latter should join in the purchase or in the execution of the note. Caldwell made a cash payment of $2,000, and was to have two j^ears’ time upon the remaining sum of $1,800. When the papers were executed, one Gibbs, who seems to have acted as scrivener, asked Mary Caldwell to sign the note and mortgage, and she did so, without asking any questions. This action was [728] brought to recover upon the note so signed. S. A. Caldwell answered, setting up a counterclaim on the-ground of false and fraudulent representations concerning .the property and business, and Mrs. Caldwell answered separately, pleading want of consideration. The trial court found for the plaintiffs, as against S. A. Caldwell, and assessed their recovery at $270, and denied any recovery against Mary Caldwell. It is argued for appellants that the evidence is insufficient to justify the action of the court in allowing any damages in favor of S. A. Caldwell, and thereby cutting down the amount of plaintiffs’ recovery. We do not so regard the record. There is little room for doubt that plaintiffs largely overstated the extent and value of the business and income therefrom, and when we recall that they received a cash payment of $2,000 upon property of very doubtful value, there is little reason left for holding that the finding by the trial court does them any injustice in that respect. So far as the claim against Mary Caldwell is concerned, we have seen that the contract for sale of the property and business was made with the husband alone, and without any condition or agreement that the wife should become in any manner obligated, either as principal or surety, for the debt so created. The plaintiff, testifying as a witness, says: “I didn’t pay Mrs. Caldwell anything for her signature to the note and mortgage. * * * Didn’t ask him to have her sign. It was the suggestion of Mr. Gibbs. ’ ’ He also says: “We sold the tables to Mr. Caldwell, and were satisfied with his note and mortgage. ’ ’ Gibbs appears to be the scrivener who prepared tire papers. If he had any other relation to or function in the transaction, or any authority to represent'the interest of either party thereto, it is not shown by the record. It is perhaps a fair inference," though not so expressed, that he suggested the execution by the wife as a matter of precaution against any future denial of the validity of the lien, as having been made upon exempt property. The procurement of the wife’s signature appears to have been an afterthought, occurring after the contract of sale to the husband had become complete, and to have been made without consideration. [729] The court did not err in dismissing’ the petition as against the wife. It follows that the findings and judgment appealed from must be — Affirmed. Preston, C. J., Stevens and De Graff, JJ., concur.