{ "id": 1485042, "name": "Rogers, Administrator, v. Stewart", "name_abbreviation": "Rogers v. Stewart", "decision_date": "1944-03-20", "docket_number": "4-7313", "first_page": "1118", "last_page": "1122", "citations": [ { "type": "official", "cite": "206 Ark. 1118" }, { "type": "parallel", "cite": "178 S.W.2d 849" } ], "court": { "name_abbreviation": "Ark.", "id": 8808, "name": "Arkansas Supreme Court" }, "jurisdiction": { "id": 34, "name_long": "Arkansas", "name": "Ark." }, "cites_to": [ { "cite": "32 Ark. 337", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ark.", "case_ids": [ 1877185 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ark/32/0337-01" ] }, { "cite": "55 S. W. 18", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.W.", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "67 Ark. 318", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ark.", "case_ids": [ 1152577 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ark/67/0318-01" ] }, { "cite": "100 S. W. 898", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.W.", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "82 Ark. 136", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ark.", "case_ids": [ 1529075 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ark/82/0136-01" ] }, { "cite": "79 S. W. 2d 995", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.W.2d", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "190 Ark. 579", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ark.", "case_ids": [ 1421830 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ark/190/0579-01" ] } ], "analysis": { "cardinality": 423, "char_count": 7037, "ocr_confidence": 0.497, "pagerank": { "raw": 4.03580807328026e-08, "percentile": 0.055619458895093885 }, "sha256": "f4da0419fc76c14a63a40401723aa36c1326ab70d36a459debe278f6a3e101e1", "simhash": "1:8fd9a5953e0a34a9", "word_count": 1223 }, "last_updated": "2023-07-14T15:20:24.664732+00:00", "provenance": { "date_added": "2019-08-29", "source": "Harvard", "batch": "2018" }, "casebody": { "judges": [], "parties": [ "Rogers, Administrator, v. Stewart." ], "opinions": [ { "text": "\u25a0Knox, J.\nAppellee presented to the administrator of the estate of L. M. Martin a claim for $134.50 for services as farm laborer and overseer, alleged to have been rendered to Martin. As first presented the claim was based upon an alleged express contract, but before trial an amended claim was presented, seeking recovery on quantum meruit for the same amount based upon an implied contract. Appellant, as administrator, rejected all of said claim except the sum of $26'.25, which he allowed. The court, after hearing, allowed the -claim in the sum of $68.12.- The final judgment reads in part as follows - \u201cThe cause having been submitted to the court upon the claim filed and the response thereto by the administrator and his offer to pay on said claim the sum of $26.25 in full settlement of the same which offer has been maintained throughout the trial, and the testimony of D. N. Stewart and Len Savage' . . . and the testimony of Y esta Rahe Holder ... all offered on the part of the claimant, and the testimony of Floyd Rogers, Witt Bryan and Tom Johnson . . . offered on the part of the respondent, administrator.\n\u201cIt is by the court considered, ordered, and adjudged that the testimony of D. N. Stewart, claimant, is incompetent, and that the same be and is stricken and not considered; that the claimant, D. N. Stewart,-have and recover of and from the respondent, Floyd Rogers, as administrator of the- estate of L. M. Martin, deceased, the sum of $68.12 together with all of his costs in this action. \u2019 \u2019\nAppellant in his brief states, and appellee apparently concedes, that, \u201cThe sole question ... is whether there is sufficient . . . evidence to support a judgment ... in any sum.\u201d\nThe testimony was presented to the court ih .the form of depositions. Appellee in his own deposition testified to facts relating to (1) his employment by deceased; (2) the nature of the services rendered; (3) the dates on which such work was performed; (4) the reasonable value of such services, and (5) other matters tending to support his claim.\nThe ruling of the court to the effect that claimant\u2019s own testimony is incompetent is based upon the provisions of the Constitution of 1874, Schedule, \u00a7 2, and set \u25a0out as \u00a7 5154 of Pope\u2019s Digest, providing that in actions against executors or administrators neither party shall be allowed to testify as to transactions with or statements of the testator -or intestate. The ruling of the court is in accordance with the decisions of this court. Graves v. Bowles, 190 Ark. 579, 79 S. W. 2d 995; Williams v. Walden, 82 Ark. 136, 100 S. W. 898; Gash v. Kirkham, 67 Ark. 318, 55 S. W. 18; Miller v. Jones, 32 Ark. 337.\nIt is immaterial that the claim asserted here is upon an implied and not an express contract, the constitutional provision applies to either type. Cash v. Kirkham, supra; Williams v. Walden, supra.\nIn support of his argument that the testimony-was sufficient to justify the allowance of the claim, counsel for appellee refers to testimony of appellee, Len Savage, tlie administrator, and Mrs. Vesta Holder. Of course, the testimony of appellee cannot be considered for any purpose, and in order to determine whether there is evidence supporting the findings of the court we must look only to the testimony of the other three witnesses. Appellee summarizes the testimony of these witnesses as follows: \u201cLen Savage, a neighboring farmer, testified that in a general way all of the neighbors were acquainted with what went on in the community, and that he knew that appellee was working on Lawrence Martin\u2019s farm from April, 1942, until Mr. Martin\u2019s death. He said this was a matter of common knowledge in the community. Mr. Savage also testified that he thought a man would be lucky to get that kind of work done for $3 per day.\u201d\n\u201cThe administrator, son-in-law. of deceased, testified that appellee was working for deceased and when Mr. Martin got so bad he told him to go ahead. It is true there was some labor for $1.50 as testified by other witnesses; yet, this was where a renter was furnished a house and garden and worked odd days when they were not busy in crops. No labor could be had on farms at any price for straight time.\u201d\n\u201cMrs. Vesta Holder, a witness for appellee, testified that she had been closely associated with deceased for eight years; that she was acquainted with deceased\u2019s business and kept his books. She was in his home at the time of his death. She knew 'that appellee had worked for deceased for some time prior to his death. She said some time prior to his death the deceased had told her he owed appellee; that,she knew it, because she kept the books. Q. You knew he owed Delph Stewart some amount for that labor? A. Yes, I know that.\u201d\nIt will be seen that none of these witnesses testified as to the number of days worked by appellee. Appellee had testified that he worked nine days in April at $2 per day and 44y2 days between May 1 and July 7 at $3 per day. It is suggested in the briefs that the award of $68.12 made by the court was arrived at on the basis of a computation of'54% days of labor at the rate- of $1.25 per day. There is no testimony in the record of 54% days employment other than the testimony of appellee himself, and since his testimony was properly stricken as being incompetent there is no testimony from which the court could have found that appellee worked 54%, or any other number of, days. While the trial court declared that the testimony of appellee was incompetent and was not to be considered, it is apparent that, as was said by Mr. Justice Baker concerning the trial court in Graves v. Bowles, supra, he \u201csuffered himself to be influenced thereby.\u201d\n\u25a0 The judgment discloses an offer on the part of the administrator to pay $26.25 -in full' settlement of the claim, which offer \u201chas been maintained throughout the trial. \u2019 \u2019\nAssuming, without deciding, that an estate would not be bound bjr an admission made by its administrator to the effect that such estate was indebted to a claimant in a certain amount, nevertheless where a claim is properly verified and presented, we can perceive of no good reason why the probate court could not accept as some evidence of such fact representations made by the administrator to the effect that his investigation disclosed that all or part of such claim was justly clue and owing. AVe conclude, therefore, that there was evidence sufficient to support the claim to the extent of $26:25, but no. more. Since from inception of and throughout the proceedings the administrator offered to pay this sum, all costs should be adjudged against appellee.\nThe judgment of the lower court is reversed, and the cause remanded with directions to allow appellee\u2019s claim to the extent, but 'only to the extent of $26.25, and enter judgment- in favor of appellant against appellee for all costs incurred in this and the trial court.", "type": "majority", "author": "\u25a0Knox, J." } ], "attorneys": [ "Shouse & Shouse, for appellant.", "Virgil D. Willis, for appellee." ], "corrections": "", "head_matter": "Rogers, Administrator, v. Stewart.\n4-7313\n178 S. W. 2d 849\nOpinion delivered March 20, 1944.\nShouse & Shouse, for appellant.\nVirgil D. Willis, for appellee." }, "file_name": "1118-01", "first_page_order": 1138, "last_page_order": 1142 }