Case Name: LITTLE v. ARROWSMITH
Court: New Jersey Supreme Court
Jurisdiction: New Jersey
Decision Date: 1837-11
Citations: 16 N.J.L. 221
Docket Number: 
Parties: LITTLE v. ARROWSMITH.
Judges: 
Reporter: New Jersey Law Reports
Volume: 16
Pages: 221–221

Head Matter:
LITTLE v. ARROWSMITH.
On Certiorari to a Justice of the Peace.
An overseer of the road is not a competent witness in an action by himself as such overseer, to recover a penalty under the 33d section of the act concerning roads.
William L. Dayton for plaintiff.

Opinion:
By the Court.
This was an action brought by Arrowsmith, as overseer of the highway, against Little, to recover a penalty under the 33d Beat, of the act concerning roads, R. L. 625. On the trial, the Justice admitted Arrowsmith to be sworn as a witness in support of his action • and upon his evidence, gave judgment against the defendant below. The. Justice states on his docket, that he admitted Arrowsmith as a witness, because by the statute, the money when recovered is to be expended on the road, and therefore Arrowsmith had no interest in the event of the suit. In this the Justice was mistaken. Arrowsmith was directly interested, for if he failed to recover, he was liable for costs. Besides, a plaintiff in a suit at law, can never be a witness in his own case. Let the Judgment be reversed.
Judgment Reversed.