Case Name: Zimmerman v. The Merchants and Bankers' Insurance Company
Court: Iowa Supreme Court
Jurisdiction: Iowa
Decision Date: 1889-05-13
Citations: 77 Iowa 350
Docket Number: 
Parties: Zimmerman v. The Merchants and Bankers’ Insurance Company.
Judges: 
Reporter: Iowa Reports
Volume: 77
Pages: 350–351

Head Matter:
Zimmerman v. The Merchants and Bankers’ Insurance Company.
1. Appeal: AMENDED ABSTRACT NOT DENIED TAKEN AS TRUE. The appeal in this case was based upon alleged errors in instructions. Appellant’s abstract nowhere showed that the instructions were filed, and an additional abstract by appellee stated in terms that the pretended instructions set out in the abstract were never written out, signed by the judge and filed in the case. To this there was no denial. Held, that the additional abstract must be taken as true, and the alleged instructions stricken out of appellant’s abstract, on motion to that effect.
2. -: defective abstract: DISMISSAL. Where an appeal is properly perfected, it will not be dismissed on account of a defect in the record, but the judgment will be affirihed or reversed, as the record will justify.
Appeal from Delaware District Court. — Non. John J. Ney, Judge.
Filed, May 13, 1889.
Action or a policy of insurance. There was a judgment for plaintiff, and the defendant appeals.
Baker & Haskins, for appellant.
J. H. Trewin and Houke & Lyon, for appellee.

Opinion:
Granger, J:
Appellee moves to strike from appellant' s abstract what purports to be the instructions of the court, on the ground that they constitute no part of the record, not having been filed in the cause nor preserved by a bill of exceptions. There is no bill of exceptions in the case, and appellant's abstract nowhere shows that the instructions were filed, and an additional abstract by appellee states in terms that the pretended instructions set out in the abstract were never written out, signed by the judge and filed in the case. To this there is no denial by appellant, and it is to be taken as true; but, if we were to.take the contradictory statements as presenting an issue as to the true state of the record in this respect, there is nothing from which we could determine the question. When the abstracts of parties present an issue of fact as to the state of the record in a law action, we must look to the bill of exceptions to settle the question, and it is the duty of appellant to furnish that record. Under this state of facts we must regard the instructions in the abstract as no part of the record, and the motion to strike the instructions from the abstract is sustained. Mudge v. Agnew, 56 Iowa, 297.
Appellee also moves to dismiss the appeal for the saíne reason. The appeal seems to have been properly perfected, and in such a case it is not our practice to dismiss an appeal merely because of a defective record, but to affirm, or reverse, as the record of the cause will justify.
The only errors assigned in the case are as to the giving of the instructions ; and, as under the ruling they are no part of the record, the assignment cannot be considered, and the judgment is
Affirmed.