Betterly v. Pingree , 96 Vt. 500 ( 1923 )

Watson, C. J.

On the face of the writ in this, case one David Brault was made a codefendant, but not having been served with process, the action was discontinued as to him, and the cause heard by the court against Clyde S. Pingree as sole defendant. The declaration is in one count, declaring upon a certain promissory note. Defendant filed no plea, nor affidavit of defense. At the trial the plaintiff testified in his" own behalf, and was cross-examined at length by counsel for defendant. No other evidence, except the note in suit, was introduced by either party. Defendant excepted to the holding that the action was a collection suit, also to the judgment. A skeleton bill of exceptions was filed, but that bill has never been perfected, even as to these two exceptions, nor is any question based thereon, briefed by defendant. Therefore all such questions stand as waived, and the matters before us are such only as are presented on the petition for a new trial.

The petition is based on the alleged loss by defendant, without his fault, of exceptions taken by him to rulings admitting or excluding evidence during the trial. It appears that no stenographic reporter was present to take down the evidence introduced, or any part of the proceedings; and that the only minutes thereof kept by any one were those made by the presiding judge, and these were not in full of what took place, a summary only. No request or suggestion was made by either side that a court stenographer be present to report the trial, nor that any one take minutes of the proceedings, nor that the presiding judge note down rulings made, or exceptions taken.

The ease was called in the latter part of the afternoon of a certain day, and the plaintiff was on the stand testifying when an adjournment was taken until the next morning, when the hearing proceeded and was closed. On the first day defendant was represented by one attorney, and on the second day by two. The evidence before us in support of the petition consists of the depositions of these two attorneys. The one who was present during the whole trial and cross-examined the plaintiff, deposes that it is his recollection that he took exceptions to rulings of the court on questions of the admissibility of evidence. The other states positively that such exceptions were taken. They both say they noticed the presiding judge taking minutes, and relied upon him to make a memorandum of defendant’s exceptions so taken, but that nothing was said concerning it. Neither could state more definitely about the exceptions claimed to have been taken. There is no other evidence supporting the petition.

On the other hand, the attorney who tried the case for the plaintiff states positively in his deposition that no exceptions were taken by defendant during the trial, to any rulings on questions as to the admissibility of evidence; that in such respect all the rulings made were in favor of defendant. The plaintiff deposes that once he was directed by the court to answer the question asked by defendant’s attorney, and objected to by his own attorney; and that he answered all questions asked him by either, and no exceptions were taken by defendant’s attorney to any ruling made by the court while he was testifying. The presiding judge deposes that his minutes do not show any objection or exception by defendant to the admission or exclusion of testimony ; that he has no recollection that any such exception was in fact taken by defendant; that he remembers that defendant excepted to the judgment, and he thinks also to the holding that it was a collection suit, in fact that his private docket shows that such exceptions were taken, but it does not show any exception to rulings on questions of evidence; that he usually notes exceptions as the trial of a case goes along, and especially intends to when there is no reporter present; that he does not recall that defendant or either of his attorneys requested him to note any exceptions during the progress of the trial, and he is sure that he should, if they had requested it.

[1-3] What the effect might be were we convinced that exceptions were in fact saved by defendant as claimed by him, and that the failure to note them was due to no fault on his part, we do not consider; for we are not satisfied on either question. The burden is with the defendant to show both affirmatively. It is enough to say that he has not met this burden in either respect. The weight of the evidence is against him; and, knowing that no minutes were being made by any one except the presiding judge, due diligence required at least that he make it known to the court that he was relying upon the minutes made by the presiding judge to show all exceptions saved during the course of the trial.

Petition dismissed with costs, and judgment affirmed.

Note: — Miles, J., Laving ceased being a' member of tbe Court took no part in tbe decision of tbis case.