Case ID: mass_88/html/0557-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "\n      Chapman, J.", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

Daniel Whitford vs. John S. C. Knowlton.
    A petition for leave to establish the truth of exceptions will not be dismissed as insufficient, if it avers that the matters set forth in the disallowed bill of exceptions, which is annexed, are correctly stated, and both taken together recite sufficient facts to authorize the granting of the petition.
    The proper time for filing a petition for leave to establish the truth of exceptions, in other counties than the eastern counties of this commonwealth, is at the first ensuing law term of this court.
    Petition representing that, after the rendition of a verdict in an action of the petitioner against the respondent at the Decern ber term of the superior court 1862, the petitioner filed his bill of exceptions to the rulings and instructions of the presiding judge, which bill of exceptions was filed as required by law, and the judge refused to allow the same; and that a copy of said bill of exceptions was annexed and made a part of this petition, and that it set forth in full the allegations and all facts material thereto, and that the matters set forth in the bill of exceptions are correctly stated; and praying that said bill of exceptions may be allowed. The copy of the bill of exceptions annexed contained the usual formal statements, which are suffi ciently referred to in the opinion.
    The answer admitted that a copy of the petition was deliv ered to the respondent on the 18th of September 1863, which was more than ten days before the sitting of this .term of the court, but denied that this notice was seasonable; and furthei denied that the petition was sufficient. The case came up upor these papers.
    
      F. H. Dewey, for the petitioner,
    cited Elwell v. Dizer, 1 Allen 484; Phillips v. Hoyle, 4 Gray, 570.
    
      G. F. Hoar, for the respondent.
   Chapman, J.

The respondent admits the truth of the allegations in the petition, but objects that they are insufficient, for several reasons which he assigns.

The petition, though it alleges that the exceptions were filed as required by law, does not state that notice was given to the adverse party, or that they were presented to the court, or that they were saved in conformity with the 34th rule of the superior court. But taking the petition in connection with the copy of the bill of exceptions annexed to it, and the allegation that the matters set forth in the bill are correctly stated, there is a sufficient allegation that the exceptions were properly taken and filed, and acted upon by the presiding judge. As he refused to allow the exceptions, the respondent had no need of notice to appear before him.

The present is the proper term for filing the petition, and it is admitted that a copy was delivered to the respondent’s attorney of record more than ten days before the sitting of the court. This is in conformity with the 32d rule of this court. But it is objected that this is insufficient under the Gen. Sts., and the case of Elwell v. Dizer, 1 Allen, 484, is cited. But that case applies exclusively to the eastern counties, in which questions of law' are carried to the law term of the court for the Commonwealth.

The petition being properly before the court, a commissioner is to be appointed to hear the parties and report the facts to the court