Opinion
6 Div. 398.
December 17, 1925.
Appeal from Circuit Court, Jefferson County; J. C. Hail, Judge.
Cabaniss, Johnston, Cocke Cabaniss, Sumner E. Thomas, and Gerry Cabaniss, all of Birmingham, for appellant.
The statement of a party, whether oral or written, which is of a self-serving nature, is not admissible in evidence in his favor. 22 C. J. 220; 10 R. C. L. 1150, 960; Harkness v. State, 129 Ala. 71, 30 So. 73; Greenleaf on Evi. (16th Ed.) § 469b; McCrory v. Donald, 192 Ala. 312, 68 So. 306.
H. M. Abercrombie and Edgar Allen, both of Birmingham, for appellee.
The court did not err in admitting the letter over general objection. Williams v. Anniston Elec. Co., 164 Ala. 84, 51 So. 385; Rutledge v. Rowland, 161 Ala. 114, 49 So. 461; Starr, etc., v. May Mills, 207 Ala. 620, 93 So. 572; Thompson v. Vildibill, 211 Ala. 199, 100 So. 139; 10 R. C. L. 981; Watkins v. Roden Coal Co., 205 Ala. 367, 87 So. 565.
We are, of course, aware of the rule that mere self-serving declarations are not admissible in evidence, but the letter of February 25, 1924, from the plaintiff to W. C. Patterson, the defendant's claim adjuster, and made the basis of the second assignment of error, was one of a general correspondence between the plaintiff and his agents and the defendant's agents, and all of which related to the matter in controversy and was like unto a conversation between the parties, and, in a sense, a part of the res gestæ. Starr Jobbing House v. May Mills Co., 207 Ala. 620, 93 So. 572, and authorities there cited. This letter purports to be in reply to one from said Patterson of February 23d, wherein he was claiming storage charges, and the plaintiff's response and narration of the circumstances under which he delivered the goods, his efforts to get them weighed and settle the shipping charges, had a bearing on the claim being made by Miller for storage as distinguished from freight or shipping charges, and wherein he offered to pay the freight.
True, the letter may have contained irrelevant matter as well, but the trial court cannot be reversed for overruling a general objection or motion to exclude as addressed to the letter in its entirety.
The judgment of the circuit court is affirmed.
Affirmed.
SAYRE, GARDNER, and MILLER, JJ., concur.