Case Name: Hinkler v. The Estate of Minkler
Court: Vermont Supreme Court
Jurisdiction: Vermont
Decision Date: 1842-01
Citations: 14 Vt. 558
Docket Number: 
Parties: Hinkler v. The Estate of Minkler.
Judges: 
Reporter: Vermont Reports
Volume: 14
Pages: 558–559

Head Matter:
Hinkler v. The Estate of Minkler.
Where a ease comes to this court on exceptions to the decision of the county court of questions of law, this court cannot entertain a motion for a new trial on the ground of new-discovered evidence.
This case came into this court on exceptions to the decision of the county court of questions of law arising upon the trial of an issue of fact in that suit without the intervention of a jury. The party, taking exceptions in the court below, now files his motion in this court for a new trial, on the ground of having discovered new and material evidence since the trial of the cause.

Opinion:
By the Court.
We cannot entertain that motion. In hearing this case we sit merely as a court of error, to revise the decision of the county court upon such questions of law as are reserved and sent here for revision. It is true that we have power to grant new trials in causes tried in the county court, but only upon petition. Motions for new trials are addressed always to the discretion of the court which tried the case, and can only be entertained while the cause is pending in that court. Such is the only reasonable construction which could be put upon the first section of the thirty-third chapter of the Revised Statutes.