Court Opinion

ID: 6570774
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-07-20 19:28:16.255213+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T15:56:53.838135
License: Public Domain

Skinnee, Ch. J.
delivered the opinion of the Court.
The record in this case shews, that an action of debt was instituted by the administrator of Erastus Jewett, deceased, for the recov-, ery of the balance found due by the Commissioners on the estate of the deceased, from Josiah E. Noble (the plaintiff in error) upon an adjustment of the mutual,claims of the said Noble and the deceased. Noble (the defendant below) pleads in bar, that he was nota creditor to the estate — that he did not exhibit any claim to the Commissioners for allowance; — that the finding and allowance of the claim by the Commissioners in favor of the estate, was not in offset to any claim exhibited by him. These facts are traversed by the plaintiffs below, and issue, by agreement of the parties, is joined to the Court; and, after hearing, weighing, and considering the testimony, judgment is thereon rendered for the plaintiffs. To this record is appended a history of the testimony given on the trial of the issue, and the same is sanctioned by the Judges’ signature.
The Courtis not called upon to decide any question arising upon the declaration or pleadings: the parties admit their sufficiency. The only question material to be decided is, Can this Court reverse a judgment rendered by an inferior Court, upon the trialof an issue of fact by the agreement, of the parties ? The County Court are obliged by the statute, if the parties agree, to perform the duties of a Jury; they hear the testimony of the witnesses — decide upon the degree of credit to be given to them — weigh presumptions, &c., and find the issue. The same result must follow, as if the judgment *37was rendered upon the verdict of a Jury; and no other remedy can be had, than such as might be had in that case. Nothing can be more clear, than if the Jury had found a verdict for the plaintiff, and judgment had been rendered thereon, it would have been conclusive.' No history or statement of evidence sanctioned by the Court or Jury would have laid the foundation for a writ of error. The case bears no analogy to a special verdict, in which facts are found, and upon which the Court is to pronounce the law. Upon the facts, which appear in evidence on the trial, no writ of error will lie f-nor can the party, by stating them in a bill of exceptions, lay the foundation of a writ ot error, so as to revise a decision upon a question of fact. Such statement allowed by the Court is irregular, and constitutes no part of the record. Of the law, in this case, the Court have no doubt; and it is presumed our peculiar system of trying questions of fact by the Court induced the party to prefer this writ.
The only way, in which a party can secure himself against a decision not warranted by the evidence, in this state is, by placing the issue to the Jury, and demurring to the evidence. If an issue of fact is tried by the Court, and the judgment is against the weight of evidence, the law affords no redress. If the issue is tried by the Jury, and the verdict is against the weight of evidence, the statute forbids a new trial. The judgment of the County Court, in this case, therefore, is affirmed with interest thereon as damages; and single costs only are allowed.