Court Opinion

ID: 6438637
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-06-25 12:14:52.101591+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T15:52:29.735038
License: Public Domain

Rugg, C.J.
These cases come before us on exceptions taken at the hearing of motions for a new trial on the ground *499of newly discovered evidence. The specification alleged was that the attorney for Bannon during the trial mingled with and conversed with some of the jurors sitting on the panel. The judge found as facts “that during a recess of the court while said cases were on trial, counsel for John J. Bannon did speak to a juror or group of jurors not exceeding three in number” and “that said counsel for John J. Bannon said nothing to said juror or group of jurors about the cases.” Although the finding does not fully disclose the person who began the conversation, it is susceptible of the construction that it was begun by the attorney.
The decision in Claffey v. Fenelon, 263 Mass. 427, 434, is precisely applicable to the facts here disclosed, where it was held that such conversation upon an indifferent subject and wholly unrelated to the case on trial did not necessarily result in a mistrial. What there was said need not be repeated. It is decisive of the case at bar.
It follows that there was no error of law in the refusal of the trial judge to rule that the verdicts must be set aside. The disposition of the motions rested in the main in sound judicial discretion. There is nothing to indicate abuse of discretion. Davis v. Boston Elevated Railway, 235 Mass. 482, 495-497.

Exceptions overruled.