Case Name: Newton Howell v. Richard B. Pitman
Court: Supreme Court of Missouri
Jurisdiction: Missouri
Decision Date: 1838-06
Citations: 5 Mo. 246
Docket Number: 
Parties: Newton Howell v. Richard B. Pitman.
Judges: 
Reporter: Missouri Reports
Volume: 5
Pages: 246–248

Head Matter:
Newton Howell v. Richard B. Pitman.
A writ of error will not lie on a judgment of non-suit. Tlie plaintiff ahouldmove to set it'asid'e, and if the motion should be overruled, take his bill of exceptions; by this1 means the case may be properly-brought into the appellate court.
W. M. Campbell, counsel for plaintiff in error:
1. The only question for this court now to decide is,-whether the circuit court erred in excluding said survey,- and all evidence, written- and parol, in relation thereto! Plaintiff contends that the circuit court erred in making that decision; and that, if the survey was-returned, examined, approved and certified by the surveyor general,it was sufficient to make it competent testimony to go to-the jury. Copies of such plats and surveys are made legal evidence by Rev. Stat. of Mo. p. 254, sec. 6. The-other authorities cited by the counsel-for plaintiff in error are, act of Congress, 4th July,-1836; Rev.-Stat. of Mo. p. 251, sec. 6; Treaty of Cession; Gever’s Digest, p.-459, sec. 3- — 481, sec. 1 — 452, sec. 1 — 460, sec. 2- — 463,. sec. 1; U. S. Land Laws, 637, sec. 5.
2. A non-suit, such as that suffered in the present case, virtually terminates the cáse,- and- a writ of error does' properly lie; and it would be an idle form for the plaintiff to file a motiomto set- aside such non-suit, which was caused by the act of the court immediately preceding. Authorities cited to sustain this point are, Mo. Dec. vol.. 1 ,p. 780 — vol. 2, p. 195 — vol. 3, pp. 339, 359 — vol.-4,p». 358';. John,- Rep. vol, 7, p. 373.
. ,. ... , wihnoUie on a of non-™¡t- Tlie pW-the motion be take wh2b means the case may improperly the appellate-1*”' court;
É. Éates, counsel for defendant in error:
1. The question was one of locality merely, and the deputy surveyor expressly disavows the use of his own judgment in fixing the locality.
2. The locality by this survey, if fixed by the written order of the surveyor, Mr. Dunklin, and the production! of the order, was indispensable to show whether the smN vey in fact conforms to the confirmation and concession:
3. It does not appear that it was the duty, or even the right, of the public surveyor to survey this land — Act of Congress, 29th April, 1816; Clark’s Land Law, p. 698.
4. But if it were his duty, he must survey the land granted and confirmed, and none other. Here the survey is arbitrary as to place', and in its form is against the uniform requirements of the Spanish regulations and the laws of Congress, which require the rectangular shape, so much in front and so much in depth:

Opinion:
Edwards, Judge,
delivered the opinion of the court;
Howel brought an action of ejectment against Pitman! for a tract of land in St. Charles county. Pitman pleaded, the general issue. On the trial, a witness on the part of the plaintiff proved that he had surveyed the land in dispute; in conformity to an Order in writing from the surveyor general at St. Louis; which authority he returned to that office with his survey, Defendant's counsel moved the court to exclude from the jury dll evidence, parol and written, in relation to the survey, unless a copy of that order from the surveyor general should be produced; and this motion was sustained by the court. After the exclusion of the copy of the survey, and the evidence in, relation thereio, the plaintiff excepted to the opinion of the court, and suffered a HOn-suit; and now brings his writ of error to reverse the decision of the circuit court;
But one question arises on this state of the case, that is, will a writ of error lie on a judgment of By the first section of the act regulating practice in the supreme court, it is provided that " writs of error any final judgment or decision of any circuit court, in all cases, are writs of right." Has there been a final mentor decision of the circuit court in this case? non-suit, voluntarily suffered by the party himself, is not a final judgment or decision of the court, but is a mere act of the party himself, and must always be voluntary, that is,, by the plaintiff's counsel submitting to the same, or not appearing; and in no case can it be adverse, or without implied consent —3 Chit. Prac. 910—and therefore it will not form the basis of a writ of error.
The correct practice now seems to be this: the party suffering a non-suit must move the court to set it aside, anc^ *n discussing this motion all the points involved in ^ie case be brought under the review of the court. If the motion to set aside the non-suit be overruled, then the party may take his bill of exceptions, reserving the points and the evidence, and may sue out his writ of error on the decision of the court in overruling the motion to set aside the non-suit.; The decision of the circuit court, by which this motion is overruled, has been considered a decision finally disposing of the 'cause; and, therefore, from this decision, the writ of error will lie—English v. Mullanphy, 1 Mo. Rep. 780; Collins v. Bowman, 2 Mo. Rep. 196; Johnson v. Strader & Thompson, 3 Mo. Rep. 359. Tho judgment of the circuit court ought, therefore, to be affirmed, and the other judges concurring, it is affirmed.