Court Opinion

ID: 5609528
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-01-11 03:54:48.750255+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:37:03.688587
License: Public Domain

ON MOTION ROE REHEAEING. *711said: “We think there was no error in the judge’s permitting the paper to be read. He did not by this decide it was proven; the issue was for the jury, and but very slight evidence was necessary to put the paper before them. Indeed, when the1 plea of non est factum is the issue, we are not prepared to say that the judge has anything to do with even a prima facie case.” In the Jewell case, supra, the third headnote is as follows: “In answer to a plea of non est factum it is only necessary for the plaintiff to make out a prima facie case of the execution'of the instrument sued on, in order to authorize its admission in evidence.” In the opinion in that case, written by Simmons, C. J., it is said: “The plaintiff tendered in evidence the note sued on. It seems from the record that the defendant filed a plea of non est factum. This plea put the burden upon the plaintiff to prove the execution of the instrument sued on, before it could be admitted in evidence. The plaintiff assumed this burden and proved by a witness the signature of the defendant to the note. It appeared from the note that it had been originally dated May 15, and changed to May 25, 1894. This witness, who testified as to the genuineness of the signature of the defendant, also gave it as his opinion that the figure '2 was in the handwriting of the defendant. This certainly made out a prima facie case which authorized the judge to admit the note in evidence, and it was for the jury to say, under proper instructions from the court, which were given in this case, from the whole evidence, whether the execution of the note had been fully proved” (italics ours).
In our judgment neither of these cases bears out the contention of counsel. In the first case cited the ruling is merely to the effect that on the trial of the issue of non est factum slight evidence of the execution of the paper is sufficient to carry the issue to the jury, but, as was said by Chief Justice Simmons in the language just quoted from the Jewell case, this issue should be submitted to the jury “under proper instructions from the court;” and in the latter case the original, record on file in the office of the clerk of the Supreme Court shows that the instructions by the court to the jury, which were characterized by the Supreme Court as proper instructions upon this subject, were as follows: “You observe that the pleadings make two issues for you to determine. *712The first is whether or not this is the act of the defendant so far as the note is concerned, and secondly, whether the deed was given to secure this note. As you may find these issues to be, your verdict must necessarily follow. It is the duty of the court to instruct you as to the burden of proof in the case, as to how you shall weigh and value testimony, as well as to instruct you as to the form of your verdict. The burden of proof in the case is on the plaintiff, that is, it is incumbent upon the plaintiff, Mrs. Wallcer, to satisfy you, by a preponderance of the evidence, that her contention is the true one. She is not required, to furnish testimony wholly freeing your mind from doubt, but a preponderance and weight of evidence” (italics ours).
It seems clear that the decisions in these two cases relied on by counsel for the plaintiff in error are not opposed to the ruling in the instant case. While “slight evidence”’for the plaintiff may make a prima facie case, sufficient to prevent a nonsuit and to carry it to the jury, it by no means follows, when this “slight evidence” for the plaintiff is met and combated by evidence introduced by the defendant, that the plaintiff is then entitled to prevail before the jury. The plaintiff’s slight evidence -may be sufficient to carry him safely to the jury, but when, after reaching the jury, this evidence is attacked by evidence from the defendant, then, befqre the plaintiff is entitled to prevail, it is incumbent upon him to bring up reinforcements in the shape of a preponderance of the evidence. If counsel’s contention were carried to its logical conclusion, it would mean that in any case where there was sufficient evidence to avoid a nonsuit, no matter what rebutting evidence had been presented by the defendant, it would be erroneous for the judge to instruct the jury that before the plaintiff was entitled -to recover he must prove his contentions by a preponderance of the evidence. This would be in the very teeth of that universally recognized principle of law, that the plaintiff has the burden of proving his ease by a preponderance of the evidence.
We are firmly of the opinion that where a verified plea of non est factum has been filed, although slight evidence as to the execution of the paper in question may prevent a nonsuit and carry the case to the jury, yet when this slight evidence has been met by evidence to the contrary, then the burden is upon the plaintiff to *713prove the execution of the paper by a preponderance of the evidence, and that a charge to this effect is not erroneous.

Rehearing denied.

Jenkins and Bloodworth, JJ., concur.