Case Name: STANTON v. C. B. & Q. R. CO.
Court: Supreme Court of Wyoming
Jurisdiction: Wyoming
Decision Date: 1917-06-26
Citations: 25 Wyo. 138
Docket Number: No. 887
Parties: STANTON v. C. B. & Q. R. CO.
Judges: PottüRj C- J., concurs.
Reporter: Wyoming Reports
Volume: 25
Pages: 138–143

Head Matter:
STANTON v. C. B. & Q. R. CO.
(No. 887;
Decided June 26th, 1917;
165 Pac. 993.)
Appeal and Error — Motion for New Trial — Preservation of Grounds for Review — Sufficiency—Motion for New Trial Out of Time — Compliance With Court Rules.
1. A rule denying a' continuance will not be reviewed on appeal unless assigned as error in the motion for a new trial.
2. A rule denying a motion for a new trial containing none of the grounds prescribed by statute for a new trial is not erroneous.
3. The denial of a motion for new trial filed long after the time allowed by law is not erroneous.
4. The fact that litigant conducted his own case without the assistance of counsel is no excuse for disregarding well . established and necessary rules of practice.
ON PETITION FOR REHEARING.
5. Where depositions were taken on behalf of plaintiff in December, 1914, and duly completed and certified by the officer before whom taken, were not filed until after the case was tried and submitted, though the case was set for trial April 29th, 1915, and continued on plaintiff’s application until June 21st, 1915, plaintiff cannot complain that the court on the trial of the case in his absence did not consider such depositions.
6. Plaintiff in error had no ground for complaint because his appeal was decided by only two of the justices of the Supreme Court, where he was personally present and argued his case and knew that the third justice was ill and unable to sit.and such justice never recovered sufficiently prior to ■his death to participate in the work of the court.
Error to District Court; Natrona County; Charles :E. Winter, Judge.
Action by Frederick'J. Stanton against the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad Company, et al. Judgment for defendant named, and plaintiif brings error.
Frederick J'. Stanton, pro se, for plaintiff in error.
The court erred in not granting plaintiff a continuance. Defendant, Samuel J. Jordan, is a fictitious person and must have been impersonated by someone else at the time of the alleged conveyance. Defendant has been unable to find Samuel J. Jordan. A. T. Butler is alleged to have been connected with the transaction, but nothing is found among his effects which gives any information as to the transaction. There was a hearing on the third motion for a new trial, at which plaintiff in error was examined in court showing physical disability and lack of funds to employ counsel to prepare motion for a new trial. Defendant in error never paid all of the consideration for said realty. The deed to defendant in error is a forgery. There was no proof that the $207.00 paid on the purchase price was ever paid to Jordan, the alleged grantor.
Burke & Riner, for defendant in error.
A conveyance to or by a person under an assumed name is effectual to pass title. (Wilson v. White, 84 Calif. 239, 24 Pac. 114; 13 Cyc. 538; David v. Williams Co., 83 N. Y. 265; Wakefield v. Brown, 38 Minn. 361.) A notary’s certificate is presumptive evidence of facts certified. (First National Bank v. Citizens National Bank, 11 Wyo. 58; B'oswell v. Bank, 16 Wyo. 187.) Only the clearest and strongest proof will establish forgery as against the certificate of the officer taking the acknowledgment. (Chiving-ton v. Colorado Springs Co., 9 Colo. 597, 14 Pac. 212; Adams v. Smith, n Wyo. 200; Young v. Duval, 109 U. S. 573.) The first motion for a new trial contained no assignments of error; the second motion for a new trial was filed out of time. (Sec. 4603, Comp. Stats. 1910.) There was no bill of exceptions and nothing for the court to review. (White v. Sisson Co., 1 Wyo. 395; Boswell v. Bliler, 9 Wyo. 277; Casteel v. State, 9 Wyo. 267; Tood, et al., v. Peterson, 13 Wyo. 513; Blonde v. Merriam, et al., 21 Wyo. 513.) The third motion for a new trial on the ground of newly discovered evidence was filed out of time and is insufficient. (Wabash Co. v. Mirrieless, 81 S. W. 437.) It did not set out the evidence claimed to be newly discovered. (29 Cyc. 956; Hester v. Smith, 5 Wyo. 291.) There was a lack of diligence. (Hardin v. Card, 15 Wyo. 217.) It must be shown that the alleged newly discovered evidence is competent. (Hester v. Smith, supra; Link v. U. P. Co., 3 Wyo. 68b; Demple v. Carroll, 21 Wyo. 447; Paseo v. State, 19 Wyo. 344.) No grounds warranting a continuance were shown, nor was there an abuse of discretion shown on the part of the court in refusing a continuance. (Robinson v. State, 18 Wyo. 216; Kefifer v. State, 12 Wyo. 49.). The fact that counsel for defendant is absent attending court in another county is no ground for continuance. (Van Horn v. State, 5 Wyo. 501.) Defendant in error purchased the land in good faith and the decree should be affirmed.

Opinion:
Beard, Justice.
The plaintiff in error seeks a reversal of a judgment of the District Court of Natrona County, rendered in an action brought by him against the defendants in error, in which action he alleged in his petition that he was the owner of certain real estate situated in said county; that defendant Railroad Company claimed title thereto by virtue of a warranty deed from defendant Samuel J. Jordan, and that said defendant claimed that said Jordan on August 26, 1910, received a warranty deed to said land from plaintiff. And he alleged that said last mentioned deed purporting to have been executed by plaintiff to said Jordan was a forgery; and that plaintiff had never parted with his title to said land. He prayed that said pretended deed from plaintiff to said Jordan be declared a forgery and null and void; and that defendants be enjoined and debarred from asserting .any claim to said land adverse to plaintiff.
The defendant Railroad Company answered, admitted that prior to August 26, 1910, plaintiff was the owner of said land; admitted that it claimed title thereto by virtue of a warranty deed from said Jordan, and denied that the deed from plaintiff to said Jordan was a forgery.
Upon the issue thus joined the case was tried to the court, and the court found against the plaintiff, and that the title to said land was in the defendant, Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad Company, and dismissed the action at plaintiff's costs.
The record filed in this court is so- imperfect and defective that it is at least doubtful if it presents anything which can, under the well settled rules of practice, be considered. It appears, however, that the issues were made up in May, 1912, and thereafter the case was set down for trial April 29, 1915, and on the application of plaintiff was continued until June 21, 1915. On that date the cause coming on for trial, the plaintiff not being present or represented by counsel, the court announced, "I have here a communication from Frederick J. Stanton, plaintiff in this action, asking for a further continuance of the case." The application for a continuance was resisted, and by the court denied and the trial proceeded with, the judgment being entered the same day. The communication referred to is not included in the bill of exceptions, nor is the ruling of the court denying a continuance assigned as error in the motions for a new trial. That ruling cannot therefore be considered, being raised for the first time in this court. On July 1, 1915, plaintiff filed a motion to set aside the judgment and for a continuance of the case until the next term of the court. The motion contains none of the grounds prescribed ¡by the statute for a new trial. On August 28, 19x5, plaintiff filed another motion for a new trial, signed by himself and by two "advising attorneys for plaintiff." These motions came on for hearing and determination August 30, 1915, at which time, the order recites, plaintiff appeared in person and by counsel, A. H. Cobb, Esq., and Joseph N. Baxter, Esq. Upon consideration by the court, both motions were denied, to which ruling exceptions were taken. There was no error in the ruling on the first motion, as it was insufficient, stating no statutory ground- for a new trial.
The second motion was filed long after .the time allowed by law for filing the same had expired, and for that reason alone the denial of the same cannot -be held to- 'be erroneous. We have, however, considered the motion and the evidence given in support thereof, and are of the opinion that no abuse of the discretion of the court in its ruling is made to' appear. It appears that plaintiff was conducting his own case without the assistance of attorneys, except as' above, stated, which may in a measure account for the defects in. the record. But this court cannot on that account depart' from and disregard the well established and necessary rules of practice and procedure. The judgment is sustained by sufficient evidence, and is affirmed. Affirmed.
PottüRj C- J., concurs.