Case Name: Mary L. Coldren, Appellant, v. T. J. LeGore, Administrator of Estate of J. LeGore, Appellee
Court: Iowa Supreme Court
Jurisdiction: Iowa
Decision Date: 1902-10-27
Citations: 118 Iowa 212
Docket Number: 
Parties: Mary L. Coldren, Appellant, v. T. J. LeGore, Administrator of Estate of J. LeGore, Appellee.
Judges: 
Reporter: Iowa Reports
Volume: 118
Pages: 212–216

Head Matter:
Mary L. Coldren, Appellant, v. T. J. LeGore, Administrator of Estate of J. LeGore, Appellee.
1 Actio'n for Support of Infant: EVIDENCE: EXCLUSION OF: ERROR. In an action against an administrator for support of an infant child defendant introduced evidence of a letter not addressed to deceased or the administrator, in which defendant claimed that plaintiff stated that she did not intend to file a claim with the administrator for the support of the child. Plaintiff testified that she stated in the letter that she ‘ ‘ was not going to file a claim now. ” Held error not to permit plaintiff to explain what she meant by the expression ‘ ‘ was not going to file a claim now. ’ ’
2 Evidence: admissibility of. A witness testified to a conversation in which plaintiff took part which resulted in a modification of the contract and whereby plaintiff took the child back on different terms from, those first argeed upon. The witness was asked whether plaintiff had anything to do with what occurred as to the dula returning to her home on a certain occasion and what, if anything, she had to do with it. Held not ou jectionable as calling for a conclusion or as assuming that she had anything to do with it.
3 Prejudicial Remarks of Court. On the trial, the court in substance remarked in the presence of the jury “there was no proof of an original agreement for the payment of money, and that counsel’s argument was in support of the contention that.plaintiff took the child in consideration of her society and helpfulness. ” Held, that the remark was erroneous and prejudicial.
4 Prejudicial Remarks of Court: review of an appeal. Where an erroneous remark of the trial court has been brought to his attention, it may be reviewed on appeal, although not made ground for new trial.
Appeal from Greene District' Court. — Hon. S. M. Elwood, Judge.
Monday, October 27, 1902.
Action at law to recover for the maintenance and support of an infant child of Joseph LeGore, deceased. Defendant jdeaded modification of contract and the statute of limitations. There was a trial to a jury, resulting in a' verdict for defendant, and plaintiff appeals.
— Reversed.
William JET. Stiles and R. 0. Howard for appellant.
Rose d¡ Henderson for appellee.

Opinion:
Deemer, J.
Joseph LeGore, deceased, was twice married. By his first wife, now deceased, he had one child, Mary, who for many.years has been cared for and supported by plaintiff. Lydia LeGore was the second wife of Joseph, and defendant is his administrator. After the death of Joseph, plaintiff filed a claim with the administrator of his estate for the support of the child Mary from August 7, 1884, to July 21, 1899, amounting in all to something like $1,200. Defendant pleaded the statute of limitations as to part of the items; a change or modification of the original contract under which plaintiff took the child; that whatever was furnished was a mere gratuity, the child being a niece of the claimant, and living with her in loco parentis; and sorpe other matters not necessary to be stated. On the issues thus joined the case was tried to a jury, resulting in a verdict and judgment for defendant. The arguments present a great many questions of more or less importance, and it is impossible, within the limits of an ordinary opinion, to consider all of them. Moreover, quite a number of points are unimportant in view of the conclusion reached, and are not of controlling importance. To such as seem to merit consideration we' shall now turn our attention.
During the trial a controversy arose as to the contents of a letter said to have been written' by plaintiff to Mary LeGore. Defendant's witness testified that plaintiff said in that letter' that she did not intend to file a claim for the support of the child with the administrator. Plaintiff's version of the letter will be shown by the following excerpt from the record, which also discloses the point we wish to consider. The record is as follows: " Q. I will ask, did Mrs. LeGore give all the contents of that letter? A. Mrs. LeGore did not give to the jury, or relate to the jury, all the contents of the letter. Q. State that portion of the letter that she did not give to the jury. The Court: Let her repeat the letter if she knows what it was. A. I said in that letter that what I had done, — that, in regard to the claim, I wasn't going to file the claim now; that, had her dear father lived, I knew that he would have made it all right with me, and remembered me. That was what was in the letter. She didn't repeat that. Q. And what did you refer to? What did you mean by the expression, 'I will not file a claim now'? (Objected to as incompetent and immaterial. Sustained.)" In view of the claim made by defendant for this letter, we think the objection to the last question should have been overruled, and the witness permitted to answer. The letter was not addressed to the deceased or to the administrator. At most it was a declaration against interest, or an admission which was subject to explanation. It is claimed that plaintiff, Lydia LeGore, and others were present at a conversation between Mrs. Ooldren and Mrs. Le Gore, when a modification of the original contract was made, 'whereby plaintiff took the child back with her on different terms from those first agreed upon. Lydia LeGore was the principal, if not the only, witness to this arrangement, and the following is taken from the record of her cross-examination: "Q. Who was present when this conversation took place? A. Mrs. LeGore, Mother Stiles, and Kalph. I won't say how long we were talking together. It was all of an half hour. I don't remember positively the time of day. The next tiling after this conversation was, I said, 'I will have nothing more to say about it;' that whatever decision Mr. LeGore and Mrs. Ooldren and Mrs. Stiles come to, why, I would have to abide. Q. Then from that time on you had nothing more to do with it, did you? A. I stated my position then, and I kept it all the time she was there. Q. After that you did not take any active part, so far as exercising any authority in the matter? So that Mrs. Ooldren had nothing to .do with anything that occurred about her going back to Nebraska? (Objected to as calling for a conclusion, and incompetent. Sustained.) Q. What did she have to do with it, if anything? (Objected to as assuming she did have something to do with it, and incompetent, the fact not shown. Sustained.)" We think the questions to which objections were sustained were proper, and that the witness should have been permitted to answer them.
II. During the argument of the case an objection was interposed to a line of address presented by counsel for defendant. In ruling on the objection the court said, among other things: "The issue in this case leaves out any payment. That don't appear £0 macje. an(j j think that is true, you have not plead payment; and i't does appear to be there was no original agreement by the terms of which there was to be payment made, and hence the court thinks in support of that contention. In other words, that the claim of agency carries out the claim that it was for the society •and benefit of the claimant, and the court thinks it is competent for that purpose." It is a little difficult to understand what was meant by this remark. This much, however, is clear: that the court " said in the presence' of the jury that there was no proof of an original agreement for the payment of money, and that counsel's argument was in support of the contention that plaintiff took the child in consideration of her society and. helpfulness. Had this language been embodied in the formal charge, it would unquestionably have been prejudicial, for it in effect destroyed plaintiff's entire -case. If there was no contract to care for the child for a compensation, plaintiff had no right to recover, and the case was at an end. The remark was erroneous and prejudicial. State v. Philpot, 97 Iowa, 367, and cases cited. Appellee says no exception was saved to this remark, but his claim is not gTjppoj.-fced. He further says that this was no t made a ground for a new trial. The matter was already brought to the attention of the trial court, and no motion was necessary.
Misconduct of counsel and of the jury is complained of. We do not think there is any merit in either claim. Hunt v. Railroad, 86 Iowa, 15; Kaufman Bros. v. Farley Mfg. Co., 78 Iowa, 679.
It is also argued that the verdict is without support in the evidence. In view of a retrial, we refrain from expressing ourselves on this proposition.
For the errors pointed out, the judgment is reversed.