Patton v. Caldwell

1 U.S. 419, 1 Dall. 419

• Court: Supreme Court of Pennsylvania
• Decided: April 15, 1789
• Status: Published

Opinion

M‘Kean, Chief Justice.

The objection turns upon this principle, that the Defendant had no opportunity of cross-examining upon the former trial; and the answer is, that he, with the rest of the underwriters, had agreed to be bound by one verdict; which is certainly the only ground, for offering the evidence proposed by the Plaintiff’s counsel.

Whether this agreement was made in person, or by a Broker mutually employed, it is equally binding on the parties; and, under the agreement, all the underwriters were fully entitled to interfere upon the former trial, and to cross-examine the witnesses then produced. Although, therefore, we should not have allowed the special verdict to be read without full proof of the agreement; yet, on receiving that satisfaction, we think it would be unfair to suppress it; and, for the future, we desire, that all such agreements may be entered on the records of the Court.

The admission of this evidence, however, cannot be conclusive; as it is manifest, that testimony has been given on the present occasion, different from what was given on the former; and, consequently, a very different verdict may with great justice and propriety take place.