Case Name: Crawford, Appellant, vs. Christian and wife, Respondents
Court: Wisconsin Supreme Court
Jurisdiction: Wisconsin
Decision Date: 1899-01-31
Citations: 102 Wis. 51
Docket Number: 
Parties: Crawford, Appellant, vs. Christian and wife, Respondents.
Judges: Bardeest, J., took no part.
Reporter: Wisconsin Reports
Volume: 102
Pages: 51–54

Head Matter:
Crawford, Appellant, vs. Christian and wife, Respondents.
January 13
January 31, 1899.
Evidence: Mental capacity: Opinion of nonexpert: Cross-examination: Appeal.
1, The opinion, of a nonexpert witness as to the mental condition of a person cannot properly be received in evidence -until such witness has first qualified himself by stating facts within his personal knowledge and means of personal observation, such as to satisfy the court of his ability to give an intelligent opinion liable to be of some assistance to the jury in coming to a correct conclusion.
2. A witness cannot properly be cross-examined as to a mere collateral matter, not affecting his credibility, but tending to disgrace him.
3. The findings of the trial court will not be disturbed on appeal unless clearly against the preponderance of the evidence.
Appeal from a judgment of the oironit court for Dodge county: James J Dice, Circuit Judge.
Affirmed.
Action to set aside a conveyance of real estate on the ground of fraud and undue influence. The answer put the material allegations of the complaint in issue. The court found the facts as follows: April 1Y, 1895, plaintiff was the owner of the property described in the complaint. On that day he conveyed the same to Gcurl Ohristiam, for the sum of $4,101. He had sufficient mental capacity to conduct the necessary business transactions to sell and convey his property as he did. Neither Gcurl Christian, nor any agent for or other person acting in his behalf, was guilty of fraud or undue influence in securing a conveyance of the property, but it was conveyed by plaintiff freely and voluntarily, according to his own wish in the matter. The consideration for the conveyance was a fair measure of the value of the property. As conclusions of law the court found, in substance, that plaintiff failed totally to 'establish his cause of action, and that defendants were entitled to a judgment against the plaintiff for their costs and disbursements in the action. J”udgment was entered accordingly, and plaintiff appealed.
For the appellant there was a brief by Malone c& Baeh-Tvuber, and oral argument by J. E. Malone.
They argued, among other things, that the conveyance ought to be set aside because the evidence showed that the plaintiff was weak-minded and unable to understand business transactions ; that he sold his farm for a very inadequate price, and without taking proper advice, but under undue influence. Oole v. Getzinger, 96 Wis. 559; Mcurdmg v. Sandy, 11 Wheat. 104, 125; Jaehson v. King, 4 Cow. 20Y, 220; Mall v. Perhins, 3 "Wend. 626, 631; Ta/ylor v. Taylor, 8 How. 183; Wheeler v. Smith, 9 How. 55, 82; Watkins v. Brant, 46 "Wis. 419,428; Knott v. Tidyman, 86 "Wis. 164.
George W. Slocm, for the respondents.

Opinion:
Marshall, J.
It is not considered necessary or advisable to discuss at any considerable length the assignments of error urged on this appeal. The cause appears to have been fairly tried and the record free from any prejudicial error.
The evidence of a nonexpert witness as to the mental condition of plaintiff was properly rejected, there being no foundation for a nonexpert opinion from the witness. Such an opinion may properly be given as evidence on the subject of mental unsoundness, but'only upon the witness first qualifying himself by stating facts within his personal knowledge and means of personal observation, such as to satisfy the court of his ability to give an intelligent opinion liable to be of some assistance to the jury in coming to a correct conclusion. Such evidence is an exception to the general rule which confines a nonexpert witness to a statement of facts only. The exception applies solely when the qualification of the witness is first satisfactorily shown in the manner indicated. Burnham v. Mitchell, 34 Wis. 117; Jones, Ev. § 366; Rogers, Expert Testimony, § 6.
Some remarks were made by the court during the trial, to which exception was taken. They were certainly not prejudicial, as the presiding judge was to decide all questions of fact as well as law.
The cross-examination of a witness on a mere collateral matter, not affecting credibility, but tending to disgrace the witness, was properly excluded. Emery v. State, 101 Wis. 627; Jones, Ev. § 836.
The other assignments of error are all directed to whether the findings of fact are sustained by the evidence. The record has been examined with care and without discover ing any good reason for disturbing the decision of the trial court, under the familiar rule that such decision must prevail unless clearly against the preponderance of the evidence. That rule applies here the same as in other cases tried by the court.
An extensive note upon the subject of nonexpert opinions as to sanity or insanity is appended to the case of Ryder v. State (100 Ga. 528), in 38, L. R. A. 721.— Rep.
By the Court. — Judgment affirmed.
Bardeest, J., took no part.