Case ID: tex-l-r_2/html/0078-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "Watts, J.", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

JOHN CONNER vs. JOHN & ELIZA HOLLAND.
    
      Husband and Wife — Mule of Etiidewce. — Tlie grounds oí the exclusion of the testimony of the husband and wife, as witnesses for or against each other as announced in case of Gee vs. Scott, 48 Tex., 810, is not alone that of interest in tlie subject matter of litigation, but that public policy required its exclusion. Tlie rule is different.since the adoption of tlie Revised Statutes. See this case for facts and circumstances, held to support tlie judgment of the court below, against tlie plea of payment against tlie positive testimony of tlie defendant.
    Appeal from Travis County.
   Opinion by

Watts, J.

This case was decided by the Supreme Court in 1877. The judgment was then reversed because the court below excluded the evidence of the wife of appellant, offered in his behalf. At the same term a rehearing was granted, and the case is now before the court for disposition.

In the case of Gee vs. Scott, 48 Tex., 510, it was held that the statute then in force, removing the disabilities of parties as witnesses, did not render the husband and wife competent as witnesses for or against each other. The grounds for the exclusion of such evidence is not alone that of interest in the subject matter of the litigation, but that public policy required its exclusion.

Since that time the rule has been considered as settled under the statute then in force, and the rule then announced has been followed in subsequent cases.

We conclude that there was no error in excluding the evidence of the wife of appellant offered in his behalf.

Of course, since the adoption of the revised statutes the rule is otherwise.

Appellant claims that the verdict of the jury is against the evideuce. In support of that assertion it is urged that the evidence as to the payment of the notes by appellant in 1862 is so conclusive as to authorize this court in holding that the judgment is clearly wrong. This assumption is predicated upon the hypothesis that there is no evidence tending to repel that adduced by appellant, as to his having paid the notes sued on to Bird Holland prior to his death. These notes were in the possession of Holland for more than two years after it is claimed that they had been paid. At his death they went into the possession of his executors and from thence to the appellees.

The production of the notes and their introduction in evidence by the appellees, prima, facie^ established appellant’s liability, and the burden was upon him to establish to the satisfaction of the jury the truth of his plea of payment. From this it, will be seen that the production of the notes by appellees entitled them to a verdict, unless appellant established his defense of payment to the satisfaction of the jury by such evidence- as they might deem credible and worthy of belief.

While appellant testifies positively to the payment as plead, and produces the evidence of other witnesses tending to the same conclusion, there are circumstances developed by the evidence that are not altogether in harmony with the truth of that defense. It is claimed that the payment was made in the Spring of 1862, and was evidenced by a deed from Holland, then executed and delivered to appellant, and that a very short time thereafter, and before the deed could be proved up and recorded, it is claimed that this deed among other papers was stolen from appellant and that he never thereafter recovered possession of it. Now, notwithstanding Holland lived for two year's after that time, no effort appears to have been made to secure from him another deed or other- writing evidencing the fact that these uotes had been paid, attd that the property had been re-conveyed to him by Holland. Besides, no effort seems to have ever been made by him to substitute the deed after the death of Holland, notwithstanding the latter during his life, and his executors and legatees since his death have held the notes, and exercised such rights of ownership as were totally inconsistent with appellant’s claim of right to the land or possession of the notes.

Again, his declaration to the executor that he intended to sue to recover the land because the notes were usurious, does not harmonize with the‘subsequent assertion, that he had long before paid the notes and secured a conveyance of the land. , *

Considering these in connection with other circumstances disclosed by the record, this court would not be authorized t* say that the evidence so greatly preponderates against the verdict and judgment that they appear to be clearly wrong.

As to the objection to the introduction of the notes sued on in evidence, it is a sufficient answer that the executors were acting under an independent will, and as such assigned or transferred the notes to ajjpellees. This assignment vested in -the appellees the legal title to the notes and authorized suit thereon in their names. Besides, appellant was not thereby deprived of making any valid defense he might have against the notes, and which he could have asserted had they remained in the hands of the executors.

We conclude and so report that the judgment onght to be affirmed.

Adopted.