Case ID: ark_88/html/0467-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "Hide, C. J.", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

London v. Hutchens.
    Opinion delivered December 7, 1908.
    Appeae and error — presumption where evidence is not brought up.— Where a proceeding to vacate a judgment after term was dismissed for want of prosecution, and a motion to set aside this dismissal was made, which, after hearing evidence, was overruled,, the. presumption on appeal will be that the motion was properly overruled if the evidence heard by the trial court is not brought up in the transcript.
    Appeal from Washington Circuit Court; /. N Maples, Judge;
    affirmed.
    /. B. London, pro se.
    
   Hide, C. J.

Hutchens sued London in a justice of the peace court in Washington County, and obtained a judgment by default. London appealed to the circuit court. He lived in Crawford County. He filed a motion in the Washington Circuit Court, praying a -continuance of the cause on account of the illness of Ms wife, alleging that her condition was such as required his personal attention. The continuance was granted, and the cause set for a day certain of the next term of court. Subsequently, during the same term, it was shown to the court that London was at Brentwood, in Washington County, and not at his home, and the court set aside the continuance and rendered judgment against him. London filed a petition to vacate this judgment, which was denied, and he appealed to this court. His record failed to show any final judgment, other than what purported to be such in the bill of exceptions, which was filed out of time. The court held that the bill of exceptions could not be considered, and that the final judgment should appear, not in it, but in the record entries in the transcript; and, none being there, his appeal was dismissed, on November 5, 1906. London v. Hutchens, 80 Ark. 410.

Subsequently, London filed an amended petition to vacate the judgment. A summons was issued upon it, and Hutchens was summoned to answer to the April term,. 1907. This was a proceeding predicated upon sections 4431, 4433 and 4434, Kirby’s Digest, which prescribe that the trial court shall have power to vacate a judgment after the .expiration of the term at which it was rendered for the causes which are therein made grounds for vacation.

This petition was dismissed for want of prosecution. London filed a motion to set aside this dismissal, setting forth that he had caused summons to issue to the April term, but that, owing to a misapprehension of the date of the convening of that term of .court, he had failed to attend the first week of its session; and alleged other matters tending to show merit in his motion. The record recites that this motion came on to be heard, and the court, “being well and sufficiently advised in the premises, doth overrule said motion, and doth refuse to set aside the order heretofore made, dismissing said cause.” From this order London has appealed.

There is no bill of exceptions, and therefore the evidence upon which the hearing was had is not preserved. The court has nothing to review. The appeal is one from the order refusing to set aside the dismissal of his proceeding for vacation of the judgment for want of prosecution. The judgment rendered against him after the cause was continued is not the subject-matter of this review. London had proceeded under the -statute to have it set aside, that proceeding was dismissed for want of prosecution, and the only matter here is the order refusing to set aside that order of dismissal. The record entry indicates that the court had evidence before it, and the presumption is always indulged, in the absence of evidence being brought here, that the evidence would sustain the action of the court.

The judgment is affirmed.