Case Name: Thomas Saunders, Administrator of Benjamin Olbertson, v. Richard Addis
Court: North Carolina Court of Appeals
Jurisdiction: South Carolina
Decision Date: 1828-05
Citations: 1 Bail. 49
Docket Number: 
Parties: Thomas Saunders, Administrator of Benjamin Olbertson, v. Richard Addis.
Judges: Johnson, J. concurred. Colcock, J. absent from indisposition.
Reporter: South Carolina Law Reports
Volume: 17
Pages: 49–50

Head Matter:
Thomas Saunders, Administrator of Benjamin Olbertson, v. Richard Addis.
Columbia,
May, 1828.
A vendor of goods is not a competent witness to support the title of his vendee against third persons, claiming adversely to his own title.
Tried before Mr. Justice Gantt, at Union, Spring Term, 1828.
This was an action of trover to recover the value of certain furniture, of which the plaintiff’s intestate had died possessed, but which the defendant claimed as his own, and had converted to his own use. The conversion was proved, and the only question was as to the title. The defendant called a Mr. Taylor to prove, that the intestate, a short time previous to his death, being indebted to him, had authorised him to make sale of the furniture in question, in order to discharge the debt, and furnished him with a bill of sale for the purpose; and that he, Taylor, had accordingly sold the furniture to the defendant. This witness was objected to by the plaintiff, and the objection was sustained by his Honor, the presiding Judge, who held Taylor to be directly interested in the event of the suit. Other witnesses were examined on both sides; but their testimony left the question of title doubtful. The jury found for the plaintiff the value of the goods.
The defendant now moved to set aside the verdict, and for a now trial, on the ground that Taylor was a competent witness, and had been improperly rejected.
McKibbiN, for the motion.
Herndon, contra.

Opinion:
Nott, J.
delivered the opinion of the Court.
The Court concurs in opinion with the presiding' Judge as to the interest of Taylor. Having sold to the defendant, he had an immediate interest to support his title. The motion is, therefore, refused.
Johnson, J. concurred. Colcock, J. absent from indisposition.