Court Opinion

ID: 6739474
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-07-20 23:20:51.437614+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T16:01:54.876832
License: Public Domain

Bronson, J.
This is an action for assault and battery. The answers allege a counter assault and the use of force alone necessary in self-defense. The jury awarded a verdict of $7 50 to the plaintiff. Tho defendants have appealed from an order denying a new trial. Tho parties were farmers, neighbors, and friends for some eighteen or nineteen years. The alleged assault occurred upon the farm of the plaintiff in May, 1918, and arose over an adjustment of damages for trespassing cattle. Upon order of the court, after this action was instituted and after an adjudication of insanity and commitment of the plaintiff to an insane asylum, the guardian of his person and property was made a party. The defendant complains of the trial court’s action in refusing to strike out the testimony of the plaintiff upon the ground of his insanity; in sustaining an objection to a question propounded upon the plaintiff’s cross-examination directed towards his manufacture and use of intoxicating liquors; in' improperly instructing the jury concerning the subject and rights of self-defense; and in denying a new trial upon the grounds of surprise.
The entire record has been reviewed. It is apparent therefrom that the defendants were accorded a fair trial without the existence of prejudicial error. No- objection was made to plaintiff’s testifying, until after his testimony had been received, and then, upon the ground that, being- under guardianship as insane, the presmnption was that his insanity continued and made him incompetent as a witness. No attempt was made by the defendants to test the competency of such witness. 40 Cyc. 2201. His testimony as given justified the trial court in determining his competency as a witness. It was entirely proper for the trial court to sustain objection to the question asked upon cross-examination to the effect that Rotieluk, during the year 1919, was manufac*196taring whisky on his place, and was selling it for $8 per quart there. It was not properly directed towards testing Ms credibility, nor the cause of his insanity.
The instruction of the trial court concerning the rights of the defendants in self-defense and their legal liability for acts of assault and battery were fairly given. It is unnecessary to recite these instructions in detail. Likewise tbe trial court did not err in refusing to grant a new trial on grounds of surprise. The affidavits in that regard submitted arc to tbe effect that tbe plaintiff and also Ms son, upon a pre: liminary bearing before a justice of tbe peace, testified differently tban at this trial. One of tbe parties making such showing was one of the attorneys for the defendant, present in court, and present upon the preliminary hearing. In no manner was this discrepancy in his testimony called to the attention of the trial court, and no application was made for a continuance. The showing was manifestly insufficient to award a new trial. The order is affirmed, with costs to the respondent.
Robinson, Oh. J., and Christianson and Birdzell, JJ., concur.
Grace, L I concur in the result.