Case Name: LISKER, Appellant, v. O'ROURKE, Respondent
Court: Montana Supreme Court
Jurisdiction: Montana
Decision Date: 1903-05-04
Citations: 28 Mont. 129
Docket Number: No. 1,554
Parties: LISKER, Appellant, v. O’ROURKE, Respondent.
Judges: 
Reporter: Montana Reports
Volume: 28
Pages: 129–132

Head Matter:
LISKER, Appellant, v. O’ROURKE, Respondent.
(No. 1,554.)
(Submitted April 29, 1903.
Decided May 4, 1903.)
Trial — Witnesses — Examination in GMef — -Anticipating Defense — Responsiveness of Answer — Appeal—Record—Omission of Judgment — Dismissal.
1. It. was not error to exclude evidence of plaintiff in chief, which, though relevant to the issue made by the answer, was not necessary to establish the case as alleged in the complaint.
2. It was not error to strike out a voluntary statement made by defendant, not responsive to the question asked him, and irrelevant to the issues in the case.
3. Under Code of Civil Procedure, Sections 1722, 1736, providing that an appeal may be taken from a final judgment entered in an action, and that appellant must furnish the court with a copy of the judgment roll, where the record does not show that any judgment has been entered in the case in the court below, an appeal from the judgment will be dismissed.
4. A minute entry directing judgment to be entered for defendant is not a judgment.
5. Under Code of Civil Procedure, Sections 1738, 1176, upon appeal from an order denying a new trial the record must contain a copy of the judgment roll.
Appeal from District Court, Silver Bow County; J ohn Lindsay, Judge.
ActioN by A. A. Lisker against John O’Rourke. From a judgment for defendant and from an' order denying a new trial, plaintiff appeals.
Appeal from judgment dismissed; order affirmed.
Mr. B. B. Howell, anddfr. Charles B. Sacheit, for Appellant.
Mr. John 0. Bender, for Respondent.

Opinion:
MR CHIEF JUSTICE BRANTLY
delivered the opinion of the court.
This action was brought by the plaintiff, as surety, to obtain contribution from the defendant, his cosurety. The defendant had judgment. The plaintiff has appealed' from the judgment and an order denying a new1 trial.
' 1. Upon the appeal from the order, the errors assigned are ulppn the rulings of the court in excluding certain evidtence offered by the plaintiff, and) in striking, out a certain statement made by the defendant when testifying in his own behalf. The evidence offered and excluded wasi neither, relevant to, nor did it tend in any way to establish, the cause of action alleged in the complaint. It related wholly, to matters alleged in the answer by way of affirmative defense. The plaintiff cannot complain because he was not permitted to introduce in chief evidence which, though relevant to the issue made by the answer, was' not necessary to make out his case as alleged. The evidence was properly excluded. -The evidence stricken out was a voluntary statement made by the defendant, not responsive to any question asked him, and wholly irrelevant to the issues in the: case. This ruling was also correct.
2. We cannot consider any. error assigned upon the appeal from the judgment, for the reason that the record does not show that any judgment has been entered in the case in the court below. To support an appeal, the judgment must not only be entered (Code of Civil Procedure, Sec. 1722, Session Laws of 1899, p-. 146), but the record on appeal must contain a copy of it (Code of Civil Procedure, See. 1736). The record contains a copy óf a minute entry directing judgment to be entered for the defendant. This order is: not a judgment. (Butte & Boston Con. Mining Co. v. Mont. Ore Pur. Co., 27 Mont. 152, 69 Pac. 714.) This appeal must therefore be dismissed. (Brunell v. Logan, 16 Mont. 307, 40 Pac. 597.)
The appeal from the judgment is' dismissed; the order denying a new trial is affirmed.