Case Name: John Denn, ex dem, Lucretia Hughs versus William M. Morrell and others
Court: New York Superior Court
Jurisdiction: New York
Decision Date: 1828-12
Citations: 1 Hall 382
Docket Number: 
Parties: John Denn, ex dem, Lucretia Hughs versus William M. Morrell and others.
Judges: 
Reporter: Reports of cases argued and determined in the Superior Court of the city of New York
Volume: 1
Pages: 382–383

Head Matter:
John Denn, ex dem, Lucretia Hughs versus William M. Morrell and others.
Dec. Term, 1828.
Upon an application for a new trial, on the ground of newly discovered evidence, where such evidence rests in the knowledge of a witness, the Courfwill require the party moving to produce an affidavit of the witness, setting forth the tacts upon which he relies, or to show that it could not be obtained.
This was an application for a new trial, upon the ground of hewly discovered evidence. The original action brought by the the plaintiffs, was an action of ejectment, to recover one third part of a house and lot of land, situated in the city of New-Yorlt. Upon the trial, the plaintiffs had a verdict, subject to the opinion of the court, upon a case to be made, and upon the argument of the case, the court gave judgment in favour of the plaintiffs. The defendants now moved for a new trial upon the ground of newly discovered evidence. The affidavit upon which the motion was founded, was made by John M. Cannon, one of the defendants, and it set forth th e particular jacts, which the defendants expected to prove, if a new trial were granted. It stated also, that a fortnight after the trial of the cause, the deponent “ discovered new “ and material evidence in favour of the defendantsand further, that upon a new trial, the deponent would be able to prove the facts upon which relied by Frederick Dibblee, Esq., of the city of New-York, counsellor at law. It was also stated by the deponent, that the witness would testify, that the lessor of the plaintiff had, at a certain period long since elapsed, executed a deed in his presence, either a quit claim or a release, (the witness could not remember which,) whereby all the interest of the lessor in the premises was conveyed to one Maria H. Williamson. That said deed was delivered in the presence of Dibblee, but had never been in the possession of the deponent, and as he was informed, and verily believed, it had never been in the possession of the other defendants, but had been lost or mislaid in the life-time of the said Maria. '
It was objected to this application, J
I. That the affidavit did not contain any allegation of the deponent’s ignorance of the fact, that Dibblee could testify to the matters detailed until after the trial.
II. That there was no affidavit of Dibblee.
III. That there was no affidavit of the other defendants as to the loss of the deed. And [3 Caines’ R. 186. and 8 J. R. 489.] were cited.

Opinion:
Upon this state of facts, the Court held, that the party moving for a new trial upon the ground of newly discovered evidence^ was bound to produce the affidavit of the witness, from whom such evidence was to come, setting forth the facts, or shew that such affidavit could not be obtained. In the present case, (they said,) there was no ground to suppose that Dibblee would give the testimony detailed in the affidavit, except from the belief of the deponent, and the application was therefore refused.
[W. W. McLellan, Att'y for the plff. John M. Cannon, Att'y for the deft.]