Case ID: misc_18/html/0364-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "Van Wyck, Ch. J.", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

Peter M. Wilson, Respondent, v. Henry D. Steers et al., Appellants.
    (City Court of New York, General Term,
    October, 1896.)
    1. Bills and notes — Diversion.
    If a promissory note is obtained by fraud or is diverted from the purpose for which it was given, and the maker makes proof of a fraud or diversion, the holder must then prove the bona tides of his holding, and the burden is upon him to do so.
    8. Same.
    But the maker does not prove diversion by offering to prove, upon the trial of an action brought upon the note, a letter written to a. third party, as to which the defendant’s counsel merely alleges that it states the conditions upon which the note was sent to the third party, the record failing to show that the letter was, in fact, produced or what its contents were.
    
      3. Evidence — General objection.
    A general objection to the admission of evidence is sufficient to exclude it if the evidence is improper in any view, unless the adverse party asks the court to direct his adversary to specify the grounds of his objection. Where this is not done the adverse party is not misled, but is supposed to understand the grounds of the objection.
    Appeal by defendant Steers from judgment on verdict directed for plaintiff, and from order denying new trial.
    C. H. & J. A. Young & Terry, for appellants.
    Ira D. Warren, for respondent.
   Van Wyck, Ch. J.

The action is upon a promissory note against the payee and the maker, in which the maker alone defends, and he by pleading admitted the execution and delivery by him of the note, but he alleges that the same was given to the payee, who held a first mortgage on the same real property upon which he held a second mortgage, under an agreement that if he (the maker) should purchase the property at foreclosure sale, then that the note was to be retained as payment of the interest on the first mortgage, but that if he did not purchase the property the note was to be returned to him by the payee, and that he did not purchase the property. The plaintiff discounted the note for the payee and the verdict was directed for him at trial because of the failure of the defendant to introduce any evidence whatever. However, the defendant-appellant contends that he made proper effort at trial and was prevented by an adverse ruling from proving that the payee had diverted the note from the alleged purpose for which it was given, and that by reason thereof he is entitled to a reversal here, because of the rule that: If a promissory note is obtained by fraud or'diverted from the purpose for which it was given, and is sued upon by a subsequent holder, and the defendant maker submits proof of the fraud or diversion, the plaintiff must then make proof of the bona fides of his holding, and the burden to do so is upon him. The rule is correct (Sifter v. Boggs, 15 Misc. Rep. 623; 72 N. Y. St. Repr. 798), but did the maker herein properly endeavor to make such proof? The record shows that his only effort to make such proof was made just after the plaintiff had rested, and was as follows: “Defendant’s counsel offers in evidence a-letter to Mrs. Thompson, to show the purpose for which the note was given. We offer in evidence the letter to Mrs. Jane L. "Thompson, which was written and which states the conditions upon which the note was sent to her.” Objected to. Sustained. Exception. Defendant rests. :

The record does not show that the letter was shown to. or seen by the court or by plaintiff’s counsel, or produced at all,- Or marked for identification, or by whom it was' written, or that it was ever delivered, or what it contained, except counsel’s mere assertion that it -stated the conditions upon which' the note was sent to the payee, or what were the conditions mentioned in- the letter, and the. letter does not appear in the record, nor was it exhibited on - the argument of this appeal. Appellant’s counsel concedes that there are several- grounds upon which the court could have properly sustained the objection to his offer, but contends it was error to sustain this objection because it was general, that is, it did not assign any grounds of objection. This contention should have-been made at trial by requesting the court .to direct plaintiff’s' counsel to specify the grounds of his objection, and such request "Would have undoubtedly been granted. But no such request was-, made, and the rule in .such case is as stated by our appellate authority: Where evidence is excluded upon an objection which stated no grounds, and none are called for by the adverse party, he is not misled, but may be supposed to understand them; and, if any ground in fact existed for the exclusion, it will be assumed that it was placed on the right ground. Miner v. Stolts, 11 Misc. Rep. 338; 32 N. Y. Supp. 2. It is not error to sustain a general, objection if any sufficient ground . for it exists, provided that no request be -made that the ground be specified. Abb. Tri. Brief p. 57. Where the objection, is general, stating" no grounds, and the decision is with the objector, the objection is sufficiently stated, and error does not lie for rejecting the evidence as the- opposite counsel has a right to have the objections stated, but if he does not call for them he is hot misled, and may be supposed to understand them. Height v. People, 50 N. Y. 395. When evidence is excluded, upon a mere general objection, the ruling will be upheld if any ground in fact existed for the exchision. It will be assumed, in the absence of any request by the opposing party or the court to make the- objection definite, that - it was’ understood',, and that the ruling was placed upon the right ground. Tooley v. Bacon, 70 N. Y. 37. However, there is a different rule where the objection is overruled and the evidence is received, and in such case the rule is: Where there is a general objection to evidence and' it is overruled, and the evidence is received, the decision of the trial judge will be sustained on appeal, unless there be some ground which could not have been obviated if it had been specified, or unless the evidence called for was in any aspect of the case incompetent. Quinby v. Strauss, 90 N. Y. 664. The appellant’s counsel asked the following question of plaintiff while cross-examining him: “ Q. At what period was that note payable from the date? Objected to as a waste of time. Sustained. Exception.” The appellant’s counsel now assails the correctness of that ruling and invokes in aid of his contention the rule: That where an objection to testimony on a specific ground is made at trial and is sustained, and the evidence excluded, no other ground of objection, which could have been obviated, will be listened to on appeal in support of the ruling. Newton v. Harris, 6 N. Y. 345. Where specific objection is made to evidence offered, every ground of objection not specified, which is capable of being obviated by evidence, is waived. Marston v. Gould, 69 N. Y. 220. When this question was put, the note dated February 10, 1894, had already been marked in evidence, and by its terms was payable in three months after date, and the defendant, had in his pleading specifically admitted the making of the note described in the complaint as made on that day and payable at that time, and moreover the note itself had just been handed to the witness when the question was asked. It certainly would have been a waste of time to have permitted any further proof of the date and time of payment of the note which had already been absolutely established, was uncontradicted, and was indisputable under the pleadings. The judgment and order must be affirmed, with costs.

Fitzsimons and Scotchman, JJ., concur.

Judgment and order affirmed, with costs.