Case Name: Wiswall vers. Hall
Court: Superior Court of Judicature of the Province of Massachusetts Bay
Jurisdiction: Massachusetts
Decision Date: 1762-08
Citations: 1 Super. Ct. Jud. 27
Docket Number: 
Parties: Wiswall vers. Hall.
Judges: 
Reporter: Reports of cases argued and adjudged in the Superior Court of Judicature of the Province of Massachusetts Bay, between 1761 and 1772
Volume: 1
Pages: 27–27

Head Matter:
Wiswall vers. Hall.
Referees cannot be admitted to testify that their Award that each Party should bear his own Costs, was made in Consideration of a Promise by one Party never to enforce a certain Judgment against the other.
PLAINTIFF and Defendant had formerly submitted Matters in Controversy to certain Referees, who had reported thereon. This Action was brought by Wiswall vs. Hall to recover the Costs upon that former Suit, for though the Referees had reported that they should bear the Costs between them, yet Wiswall alledged that it was upon a Promise of Hall to bear the whole Costs. ( ) To verify this he offered the Referees as Evidence.
(2) This is inaccurately stated. The declaration alleges that the promise by the defendant, but for which “the referees would have awarded the plaintiff costs,” was, never to enforce a certain other judgment for costs previously recovered.

Opinion:
But
the Court
ruled unanimously that they could not by parol Evidence controul the Report which was of Record. ( )
(3) Arbitrators cannot by parol testimony contradict their formal award in writing. 10 Met. 433. 4 Cush. 317, 399.