Case Name: Furbee et al. v. Shay et al.
Court: Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia
Jurisdiction: West Virginia
Decision Date: 1899-11-11
Citations: 46 W. Va. 736
Docket Number: 
Parties: Furbee et al. v. Shay et al.
Judges: 
Reporter: West Virginia Supreme Court
Volume: 46
Pages: 736–737

Head Matter:
CHARLESTON.
Furbee et al. v. Shay et al.
Submitted June 19, 1899
Decided November 11, 1899.
1. Justice of the Peace — Appeal.
If there has been a full and fair trial on the merits of the controversy in a civil action commenced before a justice, the judgment will not be reversed for mere technical errors, not prejudicial to the fairness of such trial. (p. 737).
2. Judgment — Reversal.
The party complaining- must show error to his prejudice to-secure reversal of a judgment against him. (p. 737).
3. Record — Bills of Exceptions.
When alleged bills of exception are not properly certified and made parts of the record, this Court will not consider the grounds of error thereby presented, (p. 737).
Error to Circuit Court, Tjder County.
Action by D. M. Furbee and others against Shay & McMullen. Judgment for plaintiffs. Defendants bring error.
Affirmed.
ShaNOr & Hunt, for plaintiff in error.
J. V. Blair, for defendant in error.

Opinion:
Dent, PresideNt:
This is an action of debt originally instituted by Fur-bee Bros, and Smith against Shay & McMullen, resulting in a judgment in favor of the plaintiffs against the defendants for the sum of one hundred and forty-one dollars and twenty-five cents. The defendants appealed to the circuit court of Tyler County, wherein the same result was reached. They then came to this Court, and here rely on the following errors:
First, that the jury was sworn to try the "matters in difference" before the issue was made up. This question has been settled by this Court in the case of White v. Emblem, 43 W. Va. 819, (28 S. E. 761). Also see Griffin v. Haught, W. Va. (31 S. E. 957). In actions originating in a justice's court, when there has been a fair trial on the merits of the controversy, no mere technical objection to the pleadings and issue, not prejudicial to the party complaining, will be deemed sufficient cause for reversing the judgment.
Second, that the circuit court erroneously instructed the jury, and refused to give a proper instruction asked by the defendants, or to set aside the verdict of the jury as contrary to the law and the evidence. These alleged errors depend entirely on the alleged bills of exception, none of which are properly made parts of the record, and therefore they cannot be considered by this Court. Criffith v. Corrothers, 42 W. Va. 59, (24 S. E. 569); Craft v. Mann, 46 W. Va. 478, (33 S. E. 260). The record disclosing no error prejudicial to the defendants, the judgment is affirmed.
Affirmed.