Case ID: ill-app_24/html/0198-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "Reasons for affirming by Wilkin, J.", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

Michael Smith v. Josiah Forth.
    
      Practice—Evidence.
    
    An objection to the admission of an account book in evidence can not be first raised in this court.
    [Opinion filed October 5, 1887.]
    Appeal from the Circuit Court of White County; the Hon. C. C. Boggs, Judge, presiding.
    Mr. Ross Graham, for appellant.
    No briefs were filed for appellee.
   Reasons for affirming by Wilkin, J.

This is a very small case growing out of a controversy over a saloon bill. Appellee sued appellant before a Justice of the Peace, and on appeal to the Circuit Court (by which party does not appear), he recovered judgment for the amount of his claim, 816.85, and the case is again appealed to this court.

On looking into the record we find that the principal ground relied on for a reversal is the admission of objectionable evidence on behalf of appellee. Appellee’s bartender testified that he kept a book of the items sold by himself and other employes of appellee to appellant, which he produced, and the items were without objection read to the jury. On cross-examination he stated that some of the items were rendered to him by other bartenders, and that he knew nothing personally as to tlieir correctness. The twenty items read to the jury aggregate the amount of the judgment below. Appellant admitted that he got drinks at the bar of appellee for which he paid nothing, hut claims that, by an arrangement previously made with appellee, he was to have them without charge. This appellee denies. Appellant also swore that in no event could his bill exceed the sum of §3.00. In rebuttal the account book kept by appellee’s bartender was again offered in evidence and admitted without objection. It is now urged that there was error in admitting the book, no sufficient foundation having been laid for its introduction. It is a sufficient answer to this position to say that it can not be urged for the first time in this court. Ho objection or exception appears to have been taken on the trial. The book account, together with the testimony of the barkeeper, made a prima faoie case for appellee, and it was for the jury to say whether it was overcome by the evidence of appellant. We think the jury was fairly instructed as to the law of the case, and find no substantial cause for a reversal and further prolongation of this unprofitable litigation.

Affirmed.