Case Name: E. H. McCORKLE, ROBERT L. McCORKLE AND SARA L. McCORKLE v. KEITH M. BEATTY and Wife, KATHLEEN BEATTY
Court: Supreme Court of North Carolina
Jurisdiction: North Carolina
Decision Date: 1946-05-08
Citations: 226 N.C. 338
Docket Number: 
Parties: E. H. McCORKLE, ROBERT L. McCORKLE AND SARA L. McCORKLE v. KEITH M. BEATTY and Wife, KATHLEEN BEATTY.
Judges: 
Reporter: North Carolina Reports
Volume: 226
Pages: 338–342

Head Matter:
E. H. McCORKLE, ROBERT L. McCORKLE AND SARA L. McCORKLE v. KEITH M. BEATTY and Wife, KATHLEEN BEATTY.
(Filed 8 May, 1946.)
1. Evidence § 21—
Even when the financial inability of plaintiff to prevent foreclosure of a mortgage executed by him is relevant and competent, a question as to his “financial shape and the reason for it” is too broad.
2. Appeal and Error § 39e—
Where the record fails to show what the answer of the witness would have been if permitted to answer, the exclusion of the testimony cannot be held prejudicial.
3. Contracts § 221—
Ordinarily, evidence of all the facts and circumstances surrounding the parties at the time of the making of a contract, which are necessary to be known to properly understand their conduct and motives or to weigh the reasonableness of their contentions, is relevant and admissible.
4. Trusts § 2h: Appeal and Error § 39d—
In an action to establish a parol express. trust based upon an alleged agreement to purchase property at the foreclosure sale for the benefit of the plaintiff!, the mortgage debtor, financial distress of the plaintiff and evidence of the real value of the property are competent to establish the reasonableness of plaintiff’s contention that he sought the agreement. But where defendants admit that plaintiff sought the agreement, the exclusion of such evidence is not prejudicial, particularly where the price is to be fixed by the high bid.
5. Evidence § 42d—
In the absence of competent evidence tending to establish the fact of agency, declarations of the alleged agent, even if material, are incompetent.
6. Evidence § 22—
The extent to which cross-examination for impeachment is to be permitted rests largely in the discretion of the trial judge, and an exception to the extent of the cross-examination upon legitimate subjects of inquiry will not be sustained when the record fails to show abuse.
7. Trusts § 21b—
The burden is upon plaintiffs to establish an alleged parol trust asserted by them by clear, strong and convincing proof.
8. Same: Evidence § 7d: Trial § 31d—
Where tire burden is on plaintiffs to establish their cause by clear, strong and convincing proof, the court may instruct the jury as to the dictionary definitions of these terms, since “clear,” “strong” and “convincing” are used in the ordinary and accepted sense.
Appeal by plaintiffs from Sink, J., at October Term, 1945, of Meck-lenbtteg. No error.
Civil action' for a decree tbat under the terms of an express parol contract defendant Keith M. Beatty holds title to certain lands as trustee for plaintiffs. Here on former appeal. McCorkle v. Beatty, 225 N. 0., 178.
• There are three tracts of land. Two belonged to plaintiff R. L. McCorkle and one to plaintiff Sara L. McCorkle. On 9 September, 1940, they, together with E. H. McCorkle, husband of Sara, executed a trust deed conveying said property as security for the payment of a note to the Mutual Building & Loan Association. There was default and the trustee proceeded to foreclose the trust deed. The bid at the first sale was raised and the property was resold. Plaintiff E. H. Mc-Oorkle then appealed to defendant Keith M. Beatty for assistance, offering him $25 to furnish the deposit to raise the bid.
The testimony for plaintiffs tends to show that Beatty agreed to raise the bid, buy in the property, and hold title until plaintiffs could raise the money to pay the debt and reimburse defendant for expenses incurred; that he did buyin and took title to the property; and that plaintiffs tendered the full amount due, including expenses, but that defendant denied the agreement and declined to convey.
Beatty admits that McCorkle appealed to him to raise the bid so that plaintiffs would have more time in which to procure the necessary funds; that he agreed thereto and furnished the deposit for that purpose. The testimony for defendants tends to show further that at the same time Beatty told McCorkle that he was not interested in a $25 proposition; that he would not bid in the property for the plaintiffs; and that if the property was actually resold he would bid for himself.
On this conflicting testimony issues were submitted to and answered by the jury in favor of defendants. The court entered judgment on the verdict and the plaintiffs appealed.
Chiman S. Alexander and J ones ■& Smathers for plaintiffs, appellants.
W. C. Davis' and Paul B. Ervin for defendants, appellees.

Opinion:
Barnhell, J.
During tbe direct examination of E. H. McCorkle tbe following occurred:
"Q. Now, Mr. McCorkle, you bave made tbe statement tbat in September, 1941, you were in financial distress so tbat you could not raise tbis $315.00 to raise tbe bid or pay off tbe mortgage. May I ask you to explain to tbe jury your financial shape and tbe reason for it?
"Objection by defendants — sustained—ExceptioN No. 5.
"Couet: Tbe Court instructs you, Gentlemen of tbe Jury, tbat tbe plaintiff bad tbe legal right to request someone to make tbe advanced bid for him, or to furnish tbe money therefor, and tbe question you bave to determine is whether there was an agreement, and if so, what was tbat agreement. Tbe Court instructs you now 'that tbe parties bad tbe legal right, whether tbe witness was financially distressed or otherwise, to enter into such an agreement, and the defendant bad tbe legal right to enter into such an agreement, as they desired, within tbe law, and tbe law provides for a parol trust. Now, whether there was a parol trust here is one of tbe issues tbat you gentlemen bave to determine.
"Plaintiffs object and except to tbe above instructions of tbe Court. EXCEPTION No. 6."
Tbis witness likewise sought to give evidence as to the value of the property described in tbe trust deed. On objection tbis evidence was excluded and plaintiffs excepted.
These and similar exceptions pose tbis question: In an action to bave tbe defendant declared trustee for plaintiffs under an express parol agreement is evidence of tbe value of tbe property and of tbe financial distress of tbe plaintiffs competent and admissible?
Tbe exception to tbe quoted question is without merit. Tbe question itself is too broad and tbe record fails to disclose' what tbe witness would bave said if permitted to answer. Furthermore, there is considerable evidence in tbe record tending to show tbat McCorkle at tbe time was in very straitened financial circumstances. Hence tbe exception, apart from tbe special instructions of tbe court to the jury at tbe time, would not command our serious attention.
Perhaps we might pass tbe instruction, repeated in tbe general charge, with tbe comment tbat tbe court merely explained tbe legal right of tbe parties to make tbe contract at issue. But tbis is not tbe point. Tbe court, in effect, instructed tbe jury tbat evidence of McCorkle's financial distress was irrelevant and immaterial and was not to be considered by them. Thus tbe court instructed tbe jury tbat other evidence in tbe record tending to show bis financial embarrassment was not to be considered.
Ordinarily evidence of all tbe facts and circumstances surrounding tbe parties at tbe time of the making of a contract, which áre necessary to be known to properly understand their conduct and motives or to weigh the reasonableness of their contentions, is relevant and admissible. Henley v. Holt, 214 N. C., 384, 199 S. E., 383; Bank v. Stack, 179 N. C., 514, 103 S. E., 6; Cunningham v. Long, 186 N. C., 526, 120 S. E., 81; 65 C. J., 321, sec. 83.
The imminent forced sale of property under mortgage at a price considerably less than its real market value and financial distress which renders the mortgagor incapable of protecting the equity therein are circumstances which usually impel a person to seek aid from a friend. McCorkle testified that he went out to find a friend to help him raise the bid and to buy in the property. The evidence plaintiffs sought to develop was competent as tending to establish the reasonableness of this statement.
Even so, we are constrained to hold, on this record, that its exclusion and the error in the remarks of the court at the time were rendered harmless by later developments in the trial. The defendant testified in his own behalf. In so doing he admitted that McCorkle came to him and endeavored to get him to raise the bid and purchase the property for the plaintiffs. Thus the very fact the excluded evidence would tend to prove is admitted.
For the reason stated the exclusion of evidence of the value of the property was likewise harmless error. The property was to be sold at public sale under mortgage. The sale price was to be fixed by the high bidder at the sale. 'Whether Beatty agreed to buy for McCorkle or insisted he would buy only for himself he was to purchase, if at all, as the high bidder at the sale. This is an admitted fact. Hence the excluded testimony as to the real value of the property was material only as it tended to show the reasonableness of McCorkle's statement that he sought aid from defendant. As that fact was admitted the plaintiffs suffered no disadvantage by the exclusion of the testimony.
The court below did not deny plaintiffs the right to show that Taylor, the lawyer who was conducting the sale for the building and loan association, was the agent and attorney for Beatty in respect to the transactions between plaintiffs and defendant. He denied them the right to do so in the manner attempted. In the rulings of the court in this respect we find no error.
In the absence of competent evidence that Taylor was attorney for defendant his declarations, even if material, were incompetent.
The extent to which cross-examination for impeachment is to be permitted rests largely in the discretion of the trial judge. S. v. Roberson, 215 N. C., 784, 3 S. E. (2d), 277; Foxman v. Hanes, 218 N. C., 722, 12 S. E. (2d), 258; Bank v. Motor Co., 216 N. C., 432, 5 S. E. (2d), 318; S. v. Cloninger, 149 N. C., 567; S. v. Bailey, 179 N. C., 724, 102 S. E., 406; S. v. Beal, 199 N. C., 278, 154 S. E., 604. Tbe matters about which McCorkle was cross-examined were legitimate subjects of inquiry bearing upon his credibility. Plaintiffs' exceptions to questions permitted in the course thereof fail to disclose any abuse of this discretion.
The burden rested upon plaintiffs to establish the alleged parol agreement by clear, strong, and convincing testimony. Boone v. Lee, 175 N. C., 383, 95 S. E., 659; Avery v. Stewart, 136 N. C., 426; Grimes v. Andrews, 170 N. C., 515, 87 S. E., 341; Anderson v. Anderson, 177 N. C., 401, 99 S. E., 106; McFarland v. Harrington, 178 N. C., 189, 100 S. E., 257; Cunningham v. Long, supra; Jones v. Coleman, 188 N. C., 631, 125 S. E., 406; Peterson v. Taylor, 203 N. C., 673, 166 S. E., 800; Henley v. Holt, supra.
There is nothing in the rule or in the application thereof by this Court to indicate or suggest that the words "clear," "strong," and "convincing" are employed in any unusual or exceptional sense. They are words of everyday language and mean what they are generally understood to mean. Hence the court committed no error in instructing the jury as to the dictionary definitions of the terms.
This cause narrows down to one issue of fact. Did Beatty agree to purchase the property at the sale for and in behalf of the plaintiffs or did he decline to do so and notify McCoivkle that he would bid for himself? Twice a jury has answered in favor of defendants. As we find no prejudicial or reversible error, the verdict and judgment must stand.
No error.