Case ID: njl_4/html/0412-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "Kirkpatrick C. J. Rossell J. By the Court.", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

*Curtis against Hall.
    ON CERTIORARI.
    State of case made by Fleas, 
    
    . Evidence intoxication induced by the other 
    
    THIS action was originally brought by Hall, before a justice of the peace, and judgment rendered in his favour. Curtis appealed to the Common Pleas of Hunterdon, where tpe judgment was affirmed, and the cause was removed " . ° to this court by certiorari.
    
      L. H. StocMon,
    
    in opening for the plaintiff, offered to read to the court, a paper purporting to be a state of the case, upon the trial in the Common Pleas, signed and certified by the presiding judge, and sent up with the papers accompanying the writ.
    
      Ewing, for defendant, objected to the reading of the paper, for two reasons.
    1. That it did not appear in the record ; that it was the act of the court, or done by their order. 2. If done by their order and authority, the Court of Common Pleas have no power to grant a bill of exceptions, or make a state of the case. Penn. 637.
    
      
      
         Cannot seal bill of exceptions, Moore vs. Hamilton, 4 Zab. 532. Roston vs. Morris, 1 Dutch. 173. See Orange vs. Springfield, ante 186. Mendham vs. Morris, 2 South. 810.
      
    
    
      
      
        Burroughs vs. Richman, 1 Gr. 233. Rodman vs. Zilley, Sax. 320. Crane vs. Conklin, Sax. 347. Pittenger vs. Pittenger, 2 Gr. Ch. 156. Hutchinson vs. Tindall, 2 Gr. Ch. 357. Freeman vs. Staats, 4 Hal. Ch. 814. S. C. 2 Hal. Ch. 490, 1 Stock. 816. Selah vs. Selah, 8 C. E. Gr. 185. See Yauger vs. Skinner, 1 McC. 389. Dixon vs. Dixon, 7 C. E. Gr. 93.
      
    
   Kirkpatrick C. J.

We have never settled, that we have a right to demand a state of the case from the Common Pleas, but it is a settled principle, that if they choose to make a state of the case, they have a right so to do, and this court will take notice of it. The party should always have a way to make his rights appear to the Supreme Court, having the controling jurisdiction; and states of the case, should on proper occasions be made. Suppressions of truth, to sanctify judgments not sanctioned by law, are never proper.

STote.—This cause was afterwards tried, and verdict for Hall, and judgment affirmed on certiorari. (See page 148.)

Rossell J.

The practice has been as stated by the Chief Justice, and as this paper appears to be signed by the presiding judge, and to accompany the writ, it is proper to read it.

The paper was read, and by it and the transcript of the justice, it appeared that the defendant below, offered certain witnesses to prove that the note or bill on which the suit was brought, was given for boot on an exchange of horses ; that at the time he was intoxicated, and had been made so by the plaintiff, who fraudulently and artfully got him drunk and imposed upon him in that situation.

*L. II. Stockton. This conduct of the plaintiff was fraudulent and vitiates the contract. 1 Bur. 395. P. Wms. 130 n. a. The evidence ought to have been admitted.

Ewing insisted that if the facts alleged were true, they could not be offered as a defence, in such a suit, in a court of common law.

By the Court.

The judgment must be reversed. The defence offered was a good defence, and the evidence ought to have been admitted.

Southard J. gave no opinion.

Judgment reversed.