Miller v. Adkins

Headnote

Evidence — stipulation that statement ma/y he read as plaintiff’s testimony — If read hy defendant, on trial, after plaintiff’s decease — dffendamt cannot testify to personal transactions with deceased — Oode, § 399.

In an action of ejectment, a stipulation was made by the plaintiff and defendant, by which a certain statement was agreed to be “a statement of the evidence that the witness Canfield (the plaintiff) would give on the trial, and that the same may be read in evidence on the trial of this action by either party, with the same force and effect as if the said plaintiff and witness were personally present and examined as a witness therein.” Subsequently, Canfield conveyed his interest in the premises to the present plaintiffs, and, upon his death, shortly after, they were substituted in his place. Upon the trial, the defendant read the said statement, and then offered himself as a witness to testify to personal transactions with the deceased.

Held, that the evidence was properly excluded: that the parties did not intend by the stipulation to waive the right to object to the defendant’s testimony as inadmissible, under section 399 of the Code, and that the exception therein, allowing a

party to testify as to any communication as to whicb. the testimony of the deceased party lias been given in evidence, only applied to cases in which such testimony is given by the adverse party, and not by the one who oifers himself as a witness to testify to such transaction.

Appeal from a judgment in favor of the plaintiff, entered upon the report of a referee.

This was an action of ejectment originally commenced by one Stephen Canfield. On the 17th of April, 1874, the parties to that action made the following’ stipulations :

“ SUPREME COURT.

££ StepheN Canfield v. AbNER S. AdhiNs.

££ It is hereby stipulated and agreed for the purposes of this action, that the following is a statement of the evidence that the witness Stephen Canfield would give on the trial hereof, and that the same may be read in evidence on the trial of this action by either party, with the same force and effect as if the said plaintiff and witness were personally present and examined as a witness therein.”

Tben followed the testimony.

On the 28th of March, 1874, Canfield executed and delivered to the present plaintiff a warranty deed of the premises described in the complaint.

In May, 1874, Canfield died, and on the 6th of October, 1874, the action was revived, and the grantees in said deed were substituted as plaintiffs in his place and stead.

Upon the trial the defendant read in evidence the testimony of Canfield, taken in pursuance of that stipulation, and then offered himself as a witness, under section 399 of the Code, to give testimony as to personal transactions had with the deceased in relation to the matters contained in said statement. This testimony was excluded by the referee as inadmissible.

The evidence offered was admissible on two grounds: 1. By virtue of the stipulation, irrespective of section 399 of the Code. 2. By virtue of the exception contained in that section. By the stipulation made only a few days before his death, it was agreed that the statement of the evidence that Stephen Canfield would give on the trial of the action might be read in

evidence on the trial by either party, with the same force and effect as if the said Canfield were personally present and examined as a witness thereon. It was read in evidence by the defendant. It was, then, to have the same force and effect as if Canfield had been personally present and examined as a witness on the part of the defendant. If he had been, unquestionably the defendant would have been admissible as a witness, not only to the transactions referred to in the stipulation, but to all transactions between him and Canfield. The effect of this stipulation cannot be limited to the narrower meaning that the statement of the testimony was to have the same effect as if it were delivered by the witness orally. It is wide enough in its terms to embrace the construction put upon it by the defendant, and should be construed most strongly against the party making it against whom it is used. The testimony of Adkins was not excluded by section 399 of the Code. The defendant was a competent witness under section 398 unless he came within the prohibition of section 399. The testimony of the deceased person having been given in evidence, the opposite party was a competent witness to the transactions or communications so testified to. It is not material on whose behalf the testimony of the deceased person is given. The Code, as it stands now, makes no discrimination.