Lisbon v. Bath

Lisbon v. Bath.

If a party does not insist upon an exception to a deposition, of which he is fully aware, at the first trial, it will be deemed to be waived, and he cannot take advantage of it afterward.

A verdict will not be set aside as against evidence, when the evidence is circumstantial and conflicting, so that different conclusions may be fairly drawn by different persons.

Assumpsit, for supplies furnished by the plaintiffs to Bailey Clough and his wife, alleged to have their settlement in Bath.

The pauper was taxed from 1825 to 1882 inclusive; generally for one or two cows and some other stock, and in 1831 for one cow, two young cattle, and one sheep. Sherburn Lang was collector for 1830, and the pauper paid his tax for that year in full.

To establish the settlement of the pauper in Bath, it was necessary to shew that his taxes for the year 1831 had been paid by him. There was assessed against him that year, a minister tax of fifty-one cents, which it was agreed was illegal. It was also admitted that he paid his highway tax; and that all his other taxes for that year, amounting to $3.03, were paid by him, except three cents, and the question respecting the taxes of that year was whether this balance of three cents was paid by the pauper.

It appeared that Mr. Sutherland, the clergyman for whose benefit the minister tax was assessed, gave directions'in that and in previous years, to the selectmen and collector, not to enforce the collection of that tax against any who were unwilling to pay, and that these instructions were followed in that and in other years.

It also appeared that the defendants in 1846, paid $62.00, and in 1847, $65.00, for the relief of Bailey Clough, and made no claim over.

To prove that the pauper paid this balance of three cents, the plaintiffs introduced the deposition of Bailey Clough, who testified, in substance, that he resided in Bath, but could not tell the year he came there. He paid taxes in Bath; Sherburn Lang was colector of taxes in Bath one of the years he lived there, but he could not tell which year; had the impression he paid his taxes in that year. Lang had a minister tax which he declined paying; witness did not recollect the amount of the taxes, or what he j>aid; nor where; nor whether Lang was collector more than one year. The witness thought he paid the whole to Lang; no part to any other person. Did not recollect that his taxes were abated by the selectmen; recollected there was a difficulty about his voting one year, because his taxes were abated, but could not tell the year; recollected the tax paid to Lang more definitely than the taxes of other years, because it has been talked of; witness was in his eightieth year; his health bad and his memory very poor; had an attack on the last Sunday night before he testified, that made it difficult for him to get about the house. It benumbed his flesh and affected his speech and lungs.

The second interrogatory and answer was as follows:

Did you pay your taxes during the time you resided in Bath, or any portion of the time you lived there; and if so what portion, and what years did you pay your taxes; and was Sherbum Lang collector of taxes any year or years while you resided there; and if so, did you pay him your taxes for the year or years that he was collector ?

Ans. -— That I am certain, I could not answer. I know I have paid taxes in the town of Bath. When the collector came, if I had the money I paid the tax, and if I had not, I waited till I got it. I do remember that Sherburn Lang was coEecfor of taxes in Bath one year while I lived there. I do not rem'ember his being collector any more than one year, nor what year he was collector. I supposed I have the impression, after the time that has elapsed, that I paid the tax that year as regularly as any one in town.

At the time of caption the defendants objected to the second interrogatory in this deposition as leading, and renewed the objection on the trial. This deposition, including the answer to the second interrogatory, was read on the former trial of this cause. The defendants excepted to this question on the former trial, but this exception was not furnished to the court after the verdict, as among those relied upon by the defendants, to set aside the verdict, and was not sent to the superior court in the case transferred on that trial. The defendants also excepted to this answer, because the witness did not testify from recollection. The answer was admitted subject to these exceptions.-

Darius Clough, son of the pauper, a witness for the plaintiffs, testified as follows: “ I lived with my father in the fall and winter of 1881. Mr. Sherburn Lang, the collector, came there for a tax against my father, and said he had not his tax bill with him; he said he had business in the neighborhood and thought he would turn aside and get his tax; that he saw the tax list a few days before, and it would not be much difference from three dollars; not many cents difference; two or three cents difference. He talked over the minister tax; my father mentioned the minister tax, and said it would be hard for him to pay it, as he had not the means or privilege of attending the meeting. Mr. Lang said Mr. Sutherland had given him the agency to discharge the minister tax to such persons as were unable to pay. I then took my father aside and gave him three dollars to pay the tax; and my father gave the money to Mr. Lang, and Mr. Lang said he would discharge or cross out the tax, or something to that effect; and said it would not be much difference either way from three dollars. He did not say whether he could tell which way it would be. He did not say anything about paying back if the tax were less, or calling for the difference if it were more.”

Sherburn Lang, the collector, a witness for the defendants, testified that at the time when the three dollars were paid on Clough’s taxes, he made no agreement to pay the balance or see it paid; that he received and credited the three dollars generally on Clough’s taxes, without any agreement as to the balance; that he paid the three dollars only, and no more; that at the time of the payment of the three dollars, there was a conversation about the minister tax; that Clough asked how much the minister tax was, and said he would try to get an order for that part. He further testified that he had fully settled with the town for the taxes of that year; that the town charged him with the whole amount, and deducted the abatements; that he could not tell whether there was any abatement on Clough’s tax; that he had no particular recollection on that point. The defendants introduced the following abatement order:

“ Feb. 24,1844.

To the Treasurer of Bath:

Allow Sherburn Lang, collector of 1881, twelve dollars and eighty cents, being the amount of all the abatements on his tax bill, by agreement and settlement of this date.

(Signed,)

There was no evidence to shew how this sum of $12.80 was made up.' The selectmen who signed this order are still living at Bath.

Mr. Patterson, town clerk of Bath, a witness for the defendants, testified that he was a selectman of Bath in 1831, and in several subsequent years; that he and Mr. Hutchins had made thoi’ough search, and could not find any order or other muting that shewed an abatement on the tax of Clough for the year 1831; that in his practice as selectman, the particular taxes abated were specified in the abatement order, but that general abatement orders had sometimes been given like that made on the settlement with Lang, February 24, 1844. No order to abate taxes for the year 1831 was produced, except that stated above.

There was no evidence that the collector afterwards called on Olough for this balance of three cents, or for the minister tax.

The jury found a verdict for the plaintiffs, which the defendants moved to set aside, for the ruling of the court admitting the answer to the second interrogatory in Bailey Clough’s deposition, and because the verdict finding an agreement on the part of Lang to pay the tax of 1831, and payment of the same by him was against evidence.

0. R. Morrison and Sibbard for the defendants.

1. The second question in the deposition of Bailey Clough is leading. It suggests not only the subject, in relation to which the witness was desired to answer, but also what answer he was desired to give. 1 Greenl. Ev., 481; Williams v. Eldridge, 1 Hill’s (N. Y.,) Rep., 249.

2. The answer is merely what the witness inferred, and not what he recollected. 1 Greenl. Ev., 483.

3. The testimony of Darius Clough, upon which the plaintiff relied to prove an agreement of Lang to pay the balance of the tax, has no such tendency. A promise “ to. discharge or cross out the tax,” is not a promise to pay the three cents, which remained unpaid. The witness having stated what promise Lang did make, the jury should not be allowed to presume, that he made another. The facts have not been changed from what appeared at the former trial.

4. The plaintiffs did not show, that the Clough tax was not included in the abatements, and so there was no ground for a presumption that the collector was obliged to pay the amount of the balance in his settlement with the selectmen.

5. The collectors being charged with the amount by the selectmen, would not be a payment of the tax. If thus charged, and if the charge was allowed by him, there is no evidence that in this settlement he acted as the agent of Clough. If, under the circumstances testified to by him, he paid to the town the amount of all the taxes, which had not been abated, it was done to exonerate himself from his liability to the town, and was not a payment of the taxes for and in behalf of those against whom the taxes had been assessed. Notwithstanding what he did with the selectmen, he might have collected the whole of every tax, which had not been paid to him. It is not enough for the plaintiffs to prove that Lang promised to pay the balance, and that he was afterwards obliged to allow the amount of it in his settlement with the selectmen. There was no consideration for the promise, and he was under no obligation to perform it. The plaintiffs must shew, not only that Lang allowed to the town the amount of the tax, but that in doing so, he intended to act, and did act, for and in behalf of Clough; and the evidence, so far as it proves anything, disproves this essential fact. Wallkill v. Mannaking, 14 Johns. Rep., 88.

6. If there is any evidence tending to sustain the plaintiffs’ ease, still the verdict should be set aside, because it is decidedly against the weight of evidence. Wendell v. Safford, 12 N. H. Rep., 178.

NT. A. Bellows and Band for the plaintiffs.

1. The question is not leading. The witness was old and infirm and his-mind not very clear, and it was necessary to direct his attention to the point about which his testimony was needed. It was done by calling his mind to his residence in Bath, the payment of taxes there, and the fact that Lang was collector, all acknowledged facts, about which there was no controversy: and he was then enquired of, if he paid his taxes while Lang was collector. This we do not understand to be leading, since it does not suggest the answer, as it must do to be leading. 1 Stark. Ev., 123; and upon material points. 1 Phil., Ev., 268. The-whole controversy is, whether he paid his taxes when Lang was collector; and he might as well be enquired of in that form, as to be asked whether he paid his taxes in 1831. It is manifest that he could not state the years that he paid taxes, but could give a distinct account of what occurred when Lang was collector. The question then, we say, went no further than was proper,.considering the condition of the witness, and the necessity of leading his mind to the subject of enquiry. 2 Stark. Ev., 125-6. Auro v. Petroni, 1 Stark. Rep., 100. In Sadler v. Murrah, 3 How., 195, (5 U. S. Dig., 984,) it was held that a witness might be asked, if he was a notary public at a certain time and place; if he protested a bill and gave notice, &c.; and if so, in what manner, &c.

Again, how far leading questions shall be allowed, is to a great extent within the discretion of the judge who tides the cause; for he only can understand the occasion for them. People v. Mathes, 4 Wend., 247, Marcy, J.; Donnell v. Jones, 13 Ala. Rep., 490. In this case the discretion was properly exercised, for it is clear that the witness was not led.

2. The answer is, in substance, that he had an impression that he paid his tax that year. It is to be read, “ I supposed, and I had the impression,” &c. It is for the jury to say whether he intends to state an inference or memory, and it may well be understood to be a statement of his impression of the fact. “ On any subject to which a witness may testify, if he has any recollection at all of the fact, he may express it, as it lies in his memory, of which the jury will judge.” 1 Greenl. Ev., §440.

To both these objections, the defendants are now precluded from taking exception, because no such exception to the manner of examining a witness, or to the witness’ manner of stating his evidence, even if it amount to secondary evidence, ought to be allowed, after a deposition has been read on a former trial, and no exceptions taken or insisted upon. Burnham v. Wood, 8 N. H. Rep., 337; Coffin v. Jones, 13 Pick. Rep., 441; Moody v. Rowell, 17 Pick. Rep., 490.

4 and 5. Erom the lapse of time and the admissions of Bath that the pauper had his settlement there, by supporting him, the jury are authorized to find that he had such settlement. Hopkinton v. Springfield, 12 N. H. Rep., 328, and on this ground alone, they might find that all his taxes for seven years had been paid. So they might find that the whole tax for 1831 including the three cents, had been paid; as they did find that the tax of 1880 had been paid. So, if no direct evidence of the payment of the tax of 1831 had been offered, the jury might nevertheless have found it paid. The direct evidence, which was offered is not to be regarded as necessarily all that was said and done by the parties, as if we were about to construe a written instrument. It may well be looked upon as establishing certain points of an arrangement by the parties, leaving the rest to be suppled by the inferences naturally to be drawn from the nature of the case, aided by lapse of time, and the admissions of the defendants. The substance of the proof is this, Lang knew the tax was about three dollars, he could not tel whether two or three cents more, or less. He agreed to take three dolars, and discharge or cross out the tax. The fair construction is, he was to keep the excess or pay the deficiency. He was to make an effectual discharge, and that could only be by payment. It was his duty then to pay the tax; he has paid it, if it was not abated, and there is no evidence it was abated. It is proved that there is no evidence of such abatement to be found. The admission made by the town was shortly after the making the order for the abatement. It is not necessary there should be a binding contract by Lang to pay the tax; it is enough if he did pay it at the pauper’s request.

6. In Wendell v. Safford, 12 N. H. Rep., 178, the court say that it is their duty to set aside a verdict when “ it is decidedly against the weight of evidence,” but it is also said, “ the general rule under such circumstances is, the verdict once found shall stand. The setting it aside is the exception, and ought to be an exception of rare and almost singular occurrence,” and the whole case of Wendell v. Safford is, we think, decidedly against the weight of the defendants’ exception. For though a clearer case than this for the interference of the court, the verdict was not set aside. 2 Tid. Prac. 908.