Quinn v. Pinson, 25 N.C. 47, 3 Ired. 47 (1842)

Dec. 1842 · Supreme Court of North Carolina

25 N.C. 47, 3 Ired. 47

OLIVER QUINN vs. GILBERT PINSON.

December 1842.

Where, in an action for deceit in the sale of a horse, it was proved that the horse went blind soon after he was sold, without any subsequent hurt or ill usage; that in the opinion of a farrier his eyes were naturally defective-, the defect was such as would not render the horse blind suddenly, and that the defendant had bred the horse and owned him till he was nine years old; these are circumstances the judge must leave to the jury as tending to prove the scienter. He has no rightto say there is no evidence upon that point.

Appeal from the Superior Court of Law of Cleaveland county, at the Fall Term, 1842, Lis Honor Judge Pearson presiding.

This was an action on the case, in the nature of an action of deceit, brought to recover damages fora deceit in the sale of a horse. On the trial, a variety of testimony was introduced, but the only material parts, which relate to the question brought before the Supreme Court, are stated in the opinion of the court. The jury found a verdict for the plaintiff.

The defendant’s counsel then moved for a new trial, upon the ground that the court erfed in leaving to the jury the question as to the defendant’s knowledge of the unsoundness of the horse — that the court should have instructed the jury there was no evidence to justify them in finding such knowledge in the defendant.

The court refused a new trial, and, having rendered judgment according to the verdict^ the defendant appealed to the Supreme Court.

Hoke for the plaintiff

No counsel for the defendant.

Ruffin, C. J.

It seems not to have been disputed that the horse’s eyes were diseased at the time of the sale. That may have been inferred front the opinion of the farrier of the natural defect of those organs, and from the circumstance, without any particular hurt or subsequent ill-usage proved, they went out in so short a period after the sale.. — ■ -Against that inference the defendant made no objection; but he insisted only, that, “ as to the defendant’s knowledge of the unsoundness, there was no evidence.” Now if to those facts, which were thus taken for granted, be added, that the defendant bred the horse and owned him until he was nine years old, and that the witness stated, that such eyes did not usually go out suddenly, but that “ they would come and go sometime before they entirely failed” — we must say, there is some ground, though it must be admitted to be slight, for the jury to suppose, that during the long use of the horse by the defendant, some of those affections of the eyes had occurred, and, if so, were visible to him. It is true, they might reasonably have judged, that, if the eyes had been actually diseased before the sale, the plaintiff could have proved the fact explicitly, instead of offering a conjecture of the witness on the point; and had the court authority to grant a new trial upon the ground, that the verdict was not warranted by sufficient evidence, we might feel inclined to set this verdict aside. But we have no such power; and we must admit, that the judgment of one skilled in such diseases, who saw the horse at the, sale, and after he became blind, does afford some presumption, that the seller had discovered the defect in the vision during his ownership. The expression “ for some time,” is, indeed, vague ; but it was the duty of the party to ask for an explanation of his meaning from the witness, and the province of the jury to interpret his words.— They do not, necessarily, relate- back beyond the period of the sale ; but they may not have been so intended, and, with the context, and under the finding of the jury, we are now so to understand them. We cannot therefore say, that the case was so entirely destitute of proof of a scienter, as to render it erroneous in his Honor to submit the point to the jury, and must affirm the judgment.

Per Curiam. Judgment affirmed.