Case ID: us_15/html/0363-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "Mr. Justice Story", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

(practice.)
    Inglee v. Coolidge.
    No writ of error lies to the highest court of law or equity of a state, court, under the 25th section of the judiciary act of 1789, unless there is something apparent on the record bringing the case within the appellate jurisdiction of this court.
    The report of the judge who tries the cause at nisi prius containing a statement of the facts, is not to be considered as a part of the record; the judgment being rendered upon a general verdict, and the report being mere matter in pais to regulate the discretion of the court as to the propriety of granting a new trial, the writ of error, • in such a case, will be dismissed.
    This was a writ of error upon a judgment of the supreme judicial court of Massachusetts, rendered in an action of assumpsit. The declaration contained three counts, to which the general issue was pleaded, and upon two of these counts the jury found a general verdict for the defendant, (the plaintiff in error,) and upon the third count a general verdict, with damages for the original plaintiff. The cause was then continued, as the record states', “ for. the opinion of the whole court upon the law of the case, as reported by the judge who tried the same.” At a subsequent term, judgment was rendered by the whole court for the plaintiff upon the verdict found in his favour. The report of the judge who tried the cause came up in the record annexed to the writ of error, with . other proceedings and exhibits in the cause.
    
      Mr. G. Sullivan, for the plaintiff in error,
    argued, that, by the report of the judge",, in the court below, it appeared that the chief question in this cause involved a constructive application ol the act ei congress of the. 18th of June, 1812, declaring war against Great Britain, to the question whether the purchase of a British license to protect the property of a citizen, was a lawful consideration for the promissory npte- on which the action was brought. It is contended, by the defendant in error, that however this may be, this court cannot sustain the writ of error in the present case; because the report of the judge is no part of the record. To determine the question suggested by this objection, it becomes necessary to inquire of what a record consists. “A record,” says Britton, “ is a memorial or remembrance, an .authentic testimony in writing, contained in rolls of parchment, and preserved in a court of record.” But a more particular definition is given by Lord Coke, who defines it to be “ a memorial of the proceedings or acts of a court of Record.” In modern times, to avoid the delay incident to the preparation of a special verdict at the trial, a-practice has grown up of reserving the cause for the whole court, upon a special case, which is prepared by the counsel, or, as a substitute therefor, is made by the judge, and thrown into the form of a'report, under a special agreement of the parties, that, a nonsuit, a default, or even a different verdict may be entered, according to the decision of the court; such is the practice in the supreme court of .Massachuiaiitfa Where is the substantive difference between th% “ special case” and a report made under such Understanding and agreement ? Error lies; upon a special case. The judgment qí the court beloW. in the», case of Hunter v. Martin was founded, on a statement of facts, as settled by a case agreed. But, the report of the judge, in . the present case, was a nectessary proceeding or act of the court, upon which its decision on the merits was founded. It ascertained all the facts in the case; and what more does a special case or verdict? The position assumed.on the other side narrows the ground of remedial process, in a manner inconsistent with a libera], application of the constitutional powers of this court.
    Mr. Webster, for the defendant in error,
    contended^ that the points on which the plaintiff relied could not he raised in this case. Nothing appears on the record of the judgment in Massachusetts by which the court can pronounce that judgment to be erroneous. The general rule of law confines writs of error to matters arising on the record, and the statute expressly provides, that m cases where writs of error are brought in this court to reverse judgments rendered in state courts, on the ground that,such judg ments were rendered against the validity, or on an erroneous construction of a statute of the United, States, “ no other error shall be assigned or regarded, as a ground of reversal in any such case, than such as appears on the face of the record, and'immediately respects the .béfore-mentioned question of validity or construction.” The judge’s report of the evidence is nO' part of the record. Still less are the depositions of-witnesses. Nothing, therefore, appeals on the face of this record which, in any way, respects either- the validity or construction of any-statute of the. United States. This is, in effect, an attempt to reverse the judgment of á court for error in refusing, to grant a new trial. If a party be dissatisfied with the direction of a judge at Nisi Frius, in-matter of law, there are two modes, in either of which he may ordinarily cause such direction to be reviewed»- Without nutting the question oh the record, he .may move for a new trial, on the report of the judge in that court opt of which the record issues; or he may tender his bill of exceptions, the object-of which is to put the question on the. record, and then bring his. writ óf error. But he cannot pursue both courses. If he relies on his motion for a new trial, then his objection does not appear on the record, arid, of course, no writ of error lies. If he tender his bill of exceptions, the court where the record is. will not grant a new trial on the ground stated in the bill of exceptions, for the question is then oh the record, and the error, if any, may be corrected by writ of error - The discussion of questions of law on motions for new trials is attended with the well-knpwn consequence of giving up the right of proceeding further with the cause. The effect of this in England on the. jurisdiction, of the House of Lords has not escaped the notice of Lord ... . Chancellor Eldon. But this is for the consideration of the parties themselves. In this case the plaintiff in error has made his election. He has chosen to trust to the success of his motion for a new trial in the court of Massachusetts. If that has failed, he can have no remedy here by writ-of error.
    March 13th.
    
      
      
         C. 27.
      
    
    
      
      
         Co. Litt. 317. a. 360 b.
    
    
      
       1 Wheat, 304,
    
    
      
      
         Fabrigas v. Mostyn, 2 W. Bl. 929.
    
   Mr. Justice Story

delivered the opinion of the court, and after stating the case, proceeded as follows :

Mr. Wheaton, for the defendant in error, moved for costs.

A motion has been made to dismiss the writ error, upon the ground that there is nothing apparent upon the record which brings the case within the appellate jurisdiction of this court, under the 25th section of the judiciary act of 1789. It is conceded, on all sides, that this is entirely correct, unless the report of the judge who tried the cause, which contains a statement of the facts, is to be considered as A part of the record. And we are unanimously of opinion that it cannot he so considered. It is not like a special verdict or a statement of facts agreed of record, upon which the court is to pronounce its judgment. The judgment is, rendered upon a general verdict, and the report is mere matter in pais, to regulate the discretion of the court as to the propriety of granting relief, or sustaining a motion for a new trial.

The writ of error must, therefore, be dismissed.

[Mr. Chief Justice Marshall., The court floes hot give costs where a cause is dismissed for want of jurisdiction.]

Writ of error dismissed without costs. 
      
       Costs will be allowed upon the dismission of a writ of error, for want of jurisdiction, if the original defendant be also defendant in error. Winchester v. Jackson et al. 3 Cranch, 515.
     
      
       2 Dow’s Rep. 480. Smith et al. v. Robertson et al. This was an insurance cause appealed from the court of session in Scotland to'the House of Lords, having been originally brought in the c.ourt of admiralty in Scotland. In deliVering the judgment Of the house, affirming the decree of the court below, Lord Eldon stated, that “ their Lordships were aware, and it waS due to the court of sessioni to mark the fact, that these cases were all heard there in such a course, that there was no obstacle in point of form to prevent their coming before their lordships, By the old mode of proceeding in Westminster Hall, forty years-before he had set foot in it, the practice was, to have special verdicts found, and then the case might come upon error to the House of Lords. But this practice had been altered by Lord Mansfield,. upon the whole; with considerable utility; and now for the sake of expedition, instead of entering the matter at length upon the record in a special verdict, special cases were mide for the dpinioh of the court; and nothing appearing on the record but the general verdict, the subject might have np door by which to come Into that house. But in the court of session, as he understood their prao tice, the cases were heard in such a form, that the subject could not be prevented from coming to heir lordships) and, therefore, it was no discredit to the court of session that so many of their decisions in these insurance causes were brought under the .review of thoftr lordships.”