First National Bank v. Mulford

95 N.E. 432, 48 Ind. App. 84, 1911 Ind. App. LEXIS 118
CourtIndiana Court of Appeals
DecidedJune 20, 1911
DocketNo. 7,286
StatusPublished
Cited by5 cases

This text of 95 N.E. 432 (First National Bank v. Mulford) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Indiana Court of Appeals primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
First National Bank v. Mulford, 95 N.E. 432, 48 Ind. App. 84, 1911 Ind. App. LEXIS 118 (Ind. Ct. App. 1911).

Opinion

Lairy, C. J.

The complaint in this case was filed in the Dearborn Circuit Court to obtain a new trial under the provisions of §589 Burns 1908, §563 R. S. 1881, providing for the granting of a new trial in cases where the cause therefor is discovered after the term at which the verdict or decision was rendered. The complaint was based on the ground of newly-discovered evidence.

The complaint alleges that appellant brought an action against Cora P. Mulford in the Dearborn Circuit Court, on May 15, 1907, upon a promissory note for $135.90, and that the same plaintiff afterwards brought another action against Cora P. Mulford, Oliver P. Mulford and Ulysses Gr. Mul[86]*86ford, -upon two promissory notes executed by said defendants,- that afterwards said actions were consolidated, and defendant Cora P. Mulford filed an answer, alleging that she was a married woman, and that she executed said note as surety for the other two defendants, and received no part of the consideration of said note. The complaint further shows that a trial was had upon the issues thus formed and a judgment rendered in favor of defendant Cora P. Mulford.

The complaint then alleges that Fred Lubbe was the cashier of the bank at the time said notes were executed, that he personally made the loan, was familiar with all the facts and circumstances of the transaction, and that he would testify that he made the loan directly to Cora P. Mulford and delivered the money to her, and that she represented that she was borrowing the money for her own use, and was not security for any person; that he relied upon these statements in making the loan, and was induced thereby to make it, and that he had no knowledge that any person other than Cora Mulford had any interest in the money realized therefrom. It is upon his testimony as set-out in the complaint that appellant relies as its ground for a new trial.

The evidence introduced at the former trial is attached to the complaint as an exhibit, as is also a paper purporting to be an affidavit of Fred Lubbe, as to the facts wdthin his knowledge, and to which he wall testify in the event a new trial is granted. The complaint contains other averments, but we shall refer to only such parts of the complaint as are necessary to the understanding of the questions presented.

A demurrer to the complaint was sustained, appellant refused to amend or plead further, and judgment was rendered against it. The only question presented on appeal is the correctness of the ruling of the trial court in sustaining the demurrer to the complaint.

[87]*871. [86]*86The complaint is objected to on the ground that the affi[87]*87davit of Fred Lubbe attached to the complaint, and stating the facts to which he will testify, is not properly authentieated, and cannot be treated by the court as an affidavit. The objection to the sufficiency of the affidavit is well taken. Section 498 Burns 1908, §475 R. S. 1881, provides that “when any affidavit is taken in another state, and certified by the officer or justice of the peace taking the same, under his hand and seal of office, if he have any such seal, and attested by the clerk of the circuit or district court, or court of common pleas of the county where such officer exercises the duties of his office, under the hand of the clerk and seal of his court, the clerk also certifying that the officer or justice of the peace is, by the laws of said state, duly empowered to administer oaths and affirmations, and take affidavits, every such affidavit shall be deemed sufficiently authenticated, and may be received and used in any of the courts of this State.”

It was held in the case of Jackson v. State (1903), 161 Ind. 36, that an affidavit filed in support of a motion for a new trial, taken in the State of Tennessee and not authenticated according to the requirements of the statute before quoted, could not be received or used in the courts of this State. The court said: “Authority to take and certify affidavits does not belong to the office of notary public at common law, but whether it does or not is immaterial, since a legislative enactment is paramount to the common law, and the above statute specifically prescribes how an affidavit taken in a foreign state must come authenticated to receive faith and credit in our courts. It is provided that an affidavit shall be subscribed and certified by the officer, or justice of the peace, under his hand and seal of office, if he have one, and attested by the clerk, who shall also certify that such officer, or justice of the peace, is by the laws of said state empowered to administer oaths and take affidavits. The fixing of the specific mode of authentication must be held to exclude all other modes, and hence the courts have [88]*88no authority to heed an affidavit that is not vouched in the manner provided by law.”

2. The affidavit, filed as an exhibit in this case, shows by its caption that it was taken in the county of Leavenworth, and State of Kansas. As this affidavit is not authentica.ted in accordance with the requirements of §498, supra, and cannot be considered in determining the sufficiency of the complaint, we are led to inquire whether it is necessary, in order to make the complaint in this ease sufficient to withstand demurrer, that the affidavit of the person whose evidence is alleged to have been newly discovered, stating the facts to which he will testify, shall be filed with the complaint as an exhibit. It is undoubtedly true that a complaint to obtain a new trial, on the ground of newly-discovered evidence, must set out the evidence alleged to have been discovered, and if it consist of oral testimony, the name of the witness must be given, with a statement of the facts to which he will testify. These facts must appear either from the averments in the body of the sworn complaint, or from the affidavit of the person, by whom it is alleged they can be proved, filed as an exhibit. In this ease, the body of the complaint, which is sworn to, contains a statement of the name of the witness by whom the facts alleged to be newly discovered can be proved, and also a statement of the facts to which he will testify. For the purpose of the demurrer, it is admitted that the witness named in the complaint will testify to the facts stated therein. The affidavit of the party by whom such facts could be proved would tend only to show the truth of the facts, which are admitted by the demurrer, and would therefore add nothing to the force or effect of such admission.

The case of East v. McKee (1895), 14 Ind. App. 45, is cited by appellant as tending to support his contention on this point. It does not appear in that case that the name of the witness and the facts to which he would testify were set out in the body of the complaint. If these facts do not [89]*89appear in the body of the sworn complaint they must appear by the affidavit filed therewith as an exhibit, or the complaint will be insufficient to withstand demurrer.

Where a motion for a new trial on the ground of newly-discovered evidence is filed, the motion should be supported by an affidavit of the person by whom it is alleged the newly-discovered facts can be proved, stating the facts to which he will testify, and that a failure to file such affidavit or to state a valid excuse for not doing so, will render the motion insufficient. Ogden v. Kelsey (1892), 4 Ind. App. 299; McQueen v. Stewart

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Bluebook (online)
95 N.E. 432, 48 Ind. App. 84, 1911 Ind. App. LEXIS 118, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/first-national-bank-v-mulford-indctapp-1911.