Case Name: NORTHWESTERN NATIONAL BANK OF MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA, a Corporation, Appellant, v. CAROLINE HOWLETT. MARIE KELSO and Frances Johnson, Respondents
Court: North Dakota Supreme Court
Jurisdiction: North Dakota
Decision Date: 1932-06-30
Citations: 63 N.D. 163
Docket Number: File No. 5994
Parties: NORTHWESTERN NATIONAL BANK OF MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA, a Corporation, Appellant, v. CAROLINE HOWLETT. MARIE KELSO and Frances Johnson, Respondents.
Judges: Christianson, Ch. J., and Nuessle, Birdzell and Burke, JJ., concur.
Reporter: North Dakota Reports
Volume: 63
Pages: 163–176

Head Matter:
[File No. 5994.]
NORTHWESTERN NATIONAL BANK OF MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA, a Corporation, Appellant, v. CAROLINE HOWLETT. MARIE KELSO and Frances Johnson, Respondents.
(247 N. W. 57.)
Opinion filed June 30, 1932.
On Rehearing March 6, 1933.
Knauf & Knauf (8. K. Kllsworkh, on oral argument), for appellant..
Coffey & Strulz, for respondents.

Opinion:
Burr, J.
The plaintiff seeks to foreclose a chattel mortgage given by the defendant and covering ten cattle and two hundred and fifty sheep with increase thereof. A warrant of seizure was issued and the cattle and sheep taken, the sheriff certifying that he took three hundred and sixty-two sheep into his possession.
The intervenors made a third party'claim for the sheep and on being refused obtained from the court leave to intervene.
The intervenors allege they arc the owners of the sheep; deny they •ever authorized the defendant to mortgage the sheep; allege that .if plaintiff has a mortgage on the sheep the mortgage is void; that the sheriff took four hundred and thirty-eight sheep worth $4,818 and that while in his possession the said sheep were damaged in the sum of $3,000. Intervenors pray judgment for the return of four hundred and thirty-eight sheep and for $3,000 damages,' or in case the sheep are not returned then judgment for their value in the sum of $4,818.
The plaintiff's reply alleges only three' hundred sixty-three sheep were taken, that these belonged to Caroline Ilowlett, or if the inter-venors were the owners then the mortgage was given with the consent of the intervenors.
The case was submitted to a jury who returned a verdict in favor of the intervenors for the possession of four hundred and thirty-eight sheep and lambs and $800 damages, or in case the sheep and lambs were not returned then in their value in the sum of $3,066. Judgment was-entered accordingly.
• The plaintiff made a motion for judgment notwithstanding the verdict setting forth forty specifications of error, which motion was denied. Plaintiff then moved for a new trial upon similar specifications of error which motion was also denied.
The plaintiff appeals from the judgment, from the order denying the motion for judgment notwithstanding the verdict, and from the order denying the motion for a new trial setting forth forty-four specifications of error, thirty-three of which deal with the rulings of the court in the admission of testimony, one in ruling that the case was a jury case, two in instructions to the jury and the remainder with the rulings on motions for judgment, etc.
The court submitted the case to the jury on the theory that the issue involved was one for the jury. The issue tried was not the one between the plaintiff and the defendant; but the case framed by the complaint in intervention and the reply thereto. The only issue involved was the ownership of the sheep taken. The issue was between the intervenors asserting ownership and the plaintiff denying it.
Under the provisions of § 7413, Comp. Laws the complaint of the intervenor is to be tried "as if it was an original complaint." Whether the case is one triable to the court or to a jury is determined by the nature of the action. Under the provisions of § 7608 of the Comp. Laws "an action for the recovery of . . personal property must be tried by a jury, unless a jury trial is waived . or reference ordered. ; . As between the intervenor and the plaintiff in this case the intervenor is the plaintiff in the action in intervention and the plaintiff in tbe original ease becomes tbe defendant. As stated in Lacroix v. Menard (La.) 3 Mart. N. S. 339, 15 Am. Dec. 161, tbe intervenor "stands in tbe situation of a plaintiff" and such "intervenor is entitled to a jury trial." In tbe note to 16 Am. Dec. 184 it is shown tbe rights of tbe intervenor "are as comprehensive as those of tbe original parties." See also Rixa v. Rixa, 35 Misc. 227, 11 N. Y. Supp. 815, 816; 20 R. C. L. 693, and note to 123 Am. St. Rep. 311.
Even where an action is begun as an equity case, it may bo changed to a jury case by subsequent pleadings, which outline tbe issues in dispute. Hart v. Wyndmere, 21 N. D. 383, 131 N. W. 271, Ann. Cas. 1913D, 169. Lehman v. Coulter, 40 N. D. 177, 168 N. W. 724; Farmers' Nat. Bank v. L. Tudor & Son, 48 N. D. 200, 211, 183 N. W. 845. If this may follow in actions between original parties, much more so in case of an intervenor, in tbe trial between him and tbe plaintiff, when tbe-issues formed by tbe pleadings are those triable to a jury. There was no error in.holding the issue was oné properly triable to a jury.
Tbe thirty-three specifications of error, based upon the rulings of tbe court in tbe admission of testimony, deal largely with two main propositions — the ownership of the sheep at the time the mortgage was given to the plaintiff, and the value of the sheep at tbe time they were taken by tbe sheriff.
The defendant purchased from tbe Security State Bank of Medina some cattle and gave a mortgage on them for the purchase price — the. mortgage being drawn by Mr. Schrawder, the cashier. Tbe defendant claims tbe sheep were included in tbe mortgage without her knowledge and that she told the cashier the sheep belonged to the intervenors, who are her daughters. Tbe mortgage was renewed and again the sheep were included, the renewal being assigned to the plaintiff.
The claim of the intervenors is that in the spring of 1915, when they were mere slips of girls, a neighbor presented them with thirty-two motherless lambs; that they took care, of these lambs and the sheep in question are the increase thereof; that they had no knowledge that the sheep were mortgaged, and never consented to it.
The sheep were assessed in tbe name of the mother but the assessor testified that this was done because the girls were under age. The mother was a witness for the intervenors and testified that she was not tbe owner of tbe sheep, never was, and that sbe told tbis to tbe cashier at tbe bank at tbe time tbe mortgage was taken.
It is not necessary to set forth all of tbe evidence but tbe foregoing is sufficient as a basis for tbe discussion of some of tbe specifications of error.
Over tbe objection of tbe plaintiff that tbe testimony was hearsay, incompetent, immaterial and in no manner binding upon tbe plaintiff tbe counsel for intervenors was permitted to ask twelve witnesses whether tbe defendant bad at any time made statements as to tbe ownership of tbe sheep, and they testified that at intervals between tbe date of tbe trial and as far back as 1919 she bad stated tbe sheep belonged to tbe girls.
These witnesses were called by tbe intervenors to testify what a third person to tbis action said relative to tbe title of property in tbe possession of tbe third person. Tbe mother was tbis "third person,"' so far as tbis suit is concerned. Sbe bad testified that sbe was in possession of tbe sheep; but was not tbe owner. Tbe testimony offered was statements made by a third person to tbe witnesses and tbe rule is that such testimony is hearsay and inadmissible. If these twelve witnesses could so testify, then they could have testified, even if tbe mother did not testify, and tbe hearsay character would become more apparent. It would then be "that, kind of evidence which does not derive its value solely from tbe credit to be given to tbe witness himself, but rests, also, in part, on tbe veracity and competency of some other person." Tbis type is pure hearsay. Hopt v. Utah, 110 U. S. 574, 581, 28 L. ed. 262, 266, 4 S. Ct. 202. It is no less hearsay because tbe mother had already testified.
During tbe trial tbe mother was asked if sbe bad not made such statements. Objections were made on tbe ground that these were hearsay but tbe record does not show sbe answered.
Intervenors were trying to show statements made out of court by tbe one they said bad possession of tbe property. In Parliman v. Young, 2 Dak. 175, 4 N. W. 139, 711, tbe defendant who claimed under one Wilson, offered to show by bis own testimony that a liveryman who bad possession of tbe horses in question bad stated they were tbe property of Wilson and that be was keeping them for Wilson. Tbe Territorial Court held tbe evidence was not admissible; that tbe testimony of the liveryman himself might be admissible, but not the testimony of some one who heard him say so. This is the situation here. The testimony of the mother that she was not the owner was admissible, but not the testimony of some one else who heard her say so. In 10 R. C. L. 960, the rule is laid down that "statements made by a witness to other persons are no exception to the hearsay rule" except where attempt is made to impeach the witness, or sometimes where the statement sought to be permitted is contradictory to what the witness has said and one is permitted to examine his own witness because of unforeseen hostility. Such is not the situation in this case. The evidence presented here was for the purpose of strengthening the witness's testimony. Re Dolbeer, 153 Cal. 652, 96 Pac. 266, 270, 15 Ann. Cas. 207, the exceptions are well discussed. See also Culpepper v. State, 4 Okla. Crim. Rep. 103, 111 Pac. 679, 31 L.R.A.(N.S.) 1166, 140 Am. St. Rep. 668.
In this action against the mother statements by her that she was the owner could be shown by plaintiff. They would be relevant and admissible against her.
There are exceptions to the rule against hearsay testimony — -such as declarations against, interest, matters of public and general interest, statements that are "part of the res gestas" etc.
The respondent cites numerous cases wherein the general proposition is cited that "the statements of a third person in possession of property, as to whom he holds it for, or as to Avho is the owner, are not hearsay, but competent evidence to prove the facts stated. They are a part of the res geste, and characterize the possession," citing Elwood v. Satterlee, 68 Minn. 173, 71 N. W. 13; Brown v. Kohout, 61 Minn. 113, 63 N. W. 248; Stockton Sav. Bank v. Staples, 98 Cal. 189, 32 Pac. 936; Lowman v. Sheets, 124 Ind. 416, 24 N. E. 351, 7 L.R.A. 784; Ohde v. Hoffman, — Iowa, —, 90 N. W. 750; Handlan-Buck Mfg. Co. v. Waterloo Drop Forge Co. 173 Iowa, 452, 155 N. W. 802; Hanson v. Shepherd, 154 Minn. 277, 191 N. W. 599; and other cases in support of this general proposition.
The quotation selected is sound law when applied to the facts involved in the cases noted, but an examination of these cases shows that the testimony sought to be elicited was brought out by one who attempted to show statements made against interest, such as in the cases of Hanson v. Shepherd and Ohde v. Hoffman, and therefore come within the exceptions. In the former case one B had sold the property to the plaintiff and the defendant and a witness were permitted to testify that B under whom plaintiff claimed had said he did not own the property, though on the trial B testified he did. The defendant had a right to show B had disclaimed ownership in himself as the defendant was levying upon the property as property of one from whom B admitted he got the property originally.
In the case of Ohde v. Hoffman, — Iowa, —, 90 N. W. 750, supra, the opinion does not state who inquired as to what the defendant said as to ownership, but apparently the plaintiff was attempting to show the defendant claimed to be the owner of the property involved — a fact against interest of the defendant and of the intervenors who claimed under him. It was held the rejection of such testimony was error, and it would be under such circumstances.
The California case was an action to quiet title and the court admitted statements of one in possession as to the nature of his possession in order to show that one of the defendants had notice that his claim was adverse.
The Minnesota case of Brown v. Kohout was also an action in ejectment, the defense being adverse possession under a deceased person, and the declarations of this deceased person were admitted in evidence in order to show the character of the possession and that it was indeed adverse.
It is difficult to tell from a reading of the Indiana case how the disputed evidence came to be presented. The opinion says "the court over the objection of the appellant (the plaintiff) permitted the ap-pellee to prove certain declarations made by himself in relation to the ownership of the property in controversy but these declarations were made while in possession of the property and under the rule as stated — it was admissible as part of the res gestas." However the opinion cites Durham v. Shannon, 116 Ind. 403, 19 N. E. 190, as authority and that case says: "Declarations made by decedent while in possession of the mare, in derogation of his title, are admissible not only against him, but against one claiming title under him after such declarations."
Intervenors claim the statements sought to be proven are "part of the res geste" and are admissible as such. The primary facts which constitute the matter at issue and "which are the undesigned incident's of a particular litigated act" .are admissible "when illustrative of suclr act." McMahon v. Chicago City R. Co. 239 Ill. 334, 88 N. E. 223. But by no stretch of imagination can it be said that these isolated statements of the mother, totally unconnected with each other, covering such a period of years, are "part of the res gestas," in this case.
Testimony called for was clearly hearsay, it was not part of the "res gestae," it did not fall within any of the exceptions to the rule against hearsay, and therefore its admission was erroneous.
Owing to the number and character of the witnesses, the energy displayed in the presentation of the testimony, the issue involved and the relationship of these statements to this issue it is clear the testimony introduced was prejudicial and it must have had an important bearing upon the decision. The tendency was to show that all through that neighborhood for a period of between ten and fifteen years everybody knew the sheep belonged to the intervenors and not to the mother. Title to property does not rest upon rumor, general impression, or public opinion, and the issue in this case was title in the intervenors and not in the mother.
It is not necessary to pass upon the alleged errors regarding the quality and character of the sheep and the damage which accrued as well as failure of proof as to their value. The objections to the lack of testimony may be quite serious and yet if defective, the defects may be supplied on another trial. - The same holds good with reference to the alleged error in part of the charge to the jury.
Eor the error in admission of this erroneous testimony a new trial should have been granted, and therefore the order denying a new trial is reversed and a new trial ordered.
Christianson, Ch. J., and Nuessle, Birdzell and Burke, JJ., concur.