Moffit v. Rogers

15 Iowa 453, 1863 Iowa Sup. LEXIS 151

• Court: Supreme Court of Iowa
• Decided: January 5, 1863
• Status: Published

Opinion

Wright, Ch. J.

For the following reasons this judgment must be affirmed.

1. The affidavits relied upon are not incorporated in the bill of exceptions, by unmistakable reference, so as to make them a part of the record, as contemplated by section 8109 of the Eevision. The bill of exceptions signed by the judge states that “ thereupon plaintiff filed his certain motion, with affidavits attached, to set aside said verdict, which was considered and overruled, to which,” &c. And thus we have the only reference to the supposed affidavits. This is not sufficient; the statute is, that such “ writing” shall be incorporated by unmistakable reference, and that the clerk, in transcribing the bill of exceptions, shall write therein at length all matter included by such reference.

2. The motion for a new trial states that so far as the action was based upon a supposed warranty, it was abandoned, and reliance placed alone upon the alleged deceit If this is not so, then the affidavits of the jurors are of no moment, as they state that the case was decided alone upon this alleged abandoned issue.

And jet, aside from tbe averment in tbe motion, there is nothing in the record to sustain the allegation. For aught that appears in ’ the matter legitimately certified to us, the warranty was the only matter finally relied upon or controverted. If so, then there is no ground for claiming that the jurors abused their trust.

3. Giving all weight to the affidavits, the Court did not abuse its discretion in overruling the motion. We cannot see that the jury had any reasonable ground for entertaining the views stated in these affidavits. Davenport v. Cummings, ante; Jack v. Naber, ante.

Affirmed.