Case ID: ark_95/html/0565-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "Hart, J.", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

Independence County v. Tomlinson.
    Opinion delivered February 7, 1910.
    1. Appeal and error — necessity for motion for new trial.- — A motion for a new trial is as necessary in trials by the court as in those by a jury and as well where the facts are agreed upon as where they are proved by witnesses; but it is not necessary where the errors appear from the judgment record itself. (Page 566.)
    
    
      2. Same — waiver of motion for new trial. — Where a motion for new trial is necessary to a review of a case on appeal under the rules of the Supreme Court, it can not be waived by the parties. (Page 566.)
    Appeal from Independence Circuit Court; Charles Coffin, Judge;
    affirmed.
    
      Oldñeld & Cole, for appellant.
    
      Sam M. Casey, for appellees.
   Hart, J.

The only question involved in this appeal is the liability of Independence County for fees and costs in a ■ case ■before a justice of the peace. Appellee Tomlinson was a justice of the peace. He and the other appellees presented to the county court a claim for fees and costs in a criminal case in bis court. The claim was disallowed, and an appeal was taken to the circuit court, where the case was tried upon an agreed statement of facts. The circuit court found for the claimants, and the appellant, Independence County, has appealed to this court.

No motion for a new trial was made in the court below.“A motion for a new trial is as necessary in trials by-the court as in those by a jury, and as well where the facts are agreed on as where they are proved by witnesses; but it is not necessary at all when the errors complained of do not grow out of the evidence or instructions, but appear from the record itself, without the intervention of a bill of exceptions.” Smith v. Hollis, 46 Ark. 17, and cases cited. .In the present case the errors complained of do not appear from the record itself. Hence there is nothing presented by the record for our review. This is conceded by counsel for both sides; and they attempt to overcome it by entering into a stipulation waiving a motion for a new trial and a bill of exceptions, and joining in a request for us to decide certain questions which they have agreed were involved in the trial of the. cause in the court below.

We regret that we can not accede to their request. As early as 1853, in the case of State Bank v. Conway, 13 Ark., page 344, this court said: “But it is to be understood that if a party merely excepts to the finding of the court or jury setting out the testimony, without any motion for new trial, and without any exception whereby he shall put his finger upon the alleged error of law as to any ruling or decision of the court below, there is no case presented for the consideration of this court. Such a practice, if allowed to extend itself, would break down the efficiency and dignity of the circuit courts, and they would become in effect so many commissioners to certify evidence up to this .court in any given cause for revision.” This rule has been steadily adhered to ever since.

The judgment will therefore be affirmed