Preston v. Mutual Life Ins.

71 F. 467, 1895 U.S. App. LEXIS 3279

• Court: U.S. Circuit Court for the District of Massachusetts
• Decided: December 24, 1895
• Docket: No. 386
• Status: Published

Opinion

ALDBICH, District Judge.

The question whether the writing found in Preston’s pocket was written at or near the time of his death, in Greenfield, N. H., was an important and material question upon the trial. The plaintiff could only relieve himself from the consequences necessarily following the natural import of such writing by showing that it was written at an earlier period, and by evidence, circumstantial, or otherwise, that the deceased had recovered from the suicidal purpose; and upon this question there was oral and circumstantial evidence tending in the direction of the plaintiff’s contention to this effect, and sufficient, probably, to entitle him to go to the jury. The writing in-which the deceased expressed his purpose was read in evidence to the jury by plaintiff’s counsel, together with the name of Dea. A. H. Hardy, on the back thereof. It was not claimed or suggested until the closing argument that the paper contained further evidence. The defendant might well have relied on what the plaintiff pointed out and called attention to as all that the paper contained. A careful examination, without the aid of a magnifying glass, would not disclose anything further. Counsel for the plaintiff, in his closing argument, for the first time, and in support of his theory that the note was written at an earlier day, stated to the jury, with great force and emphasis, that the paper contained further and unmistakable evidence that it was written weeks before, and while the deceased was at Melrose, in Massachusetts, and, producing a magnifying glass, proceeded to demonstrate that by careful examination under a glass the name of C. W. Whitten (a person with whom the deceased sojourned in Melrose) could be discovered on the paper át the place where the address would naturally appear. The defendant did not object, and the court did not interfere. While I do not say there was intentional wrong or misconduct, I do think that the declaration, the argument, and the production of the magnifying glass, at such a stage of the proceeding, rendered the trial unfair, and that the declaration and argument must be treated as prejudicial to the defendant. The defendant had no opportunity to make an issue, as he well might, whether there was any name there, and, if so, whether it was the name of C. W. Whitten, or in the handwriting of the deceased. He had no opportunity to answer in any way by evidence or argument. It appeared in evidence that the note to the family, and the name of Deacon Hardy, were in the handwriting of the deceased, but there was no evidence as to the character of the writing alleged to have been disclosed by the magnifying glass. It is a familiar rule that counsel must not, in argument, refer to matter not in evidence, to the prejudice of the adverse party, and that failure to observe this rule is just ground for a new trial. The name to which counsel referred was not in evidence, in any proper sense, and the intentional argument thereon must be treated as so far irregular as to entitle the defendant to a new trial. It is no sufficient answer in this case to say that objection should have been made at the time, for it often happens that harm of this character, once done, cannot be cured. The failure to object deprives the defeiulant of the right of exception, but it does not relieve this court of its obligation to see that the parties have a fair trial. The proprieties of the administration of justice do not countenance a line of conduct which presents one side of a material question to a jury which is to determine such question, and it is plain and unquestionable that a verdict in favor of a party whose conduct was calculated to improperly influence the jury upon a material question should be set aside, and a new trial granted, on the ground of public policy, though the party may not have intended to act improperly. The duty of the court to see that a trial is fair, and that all material questions are fairly presented, is imperative, and the duty to regulate the proper conduct of a trial may be discharged either with or without motion. A case of such palpable unfairness might be presen! ed as to warrant the court in interposing upon its own motion. The motion to set aside the verdict is granted, not upon the ground that there was no evidence upon which the plaintiff could go to the jury, but for the reasons stated. Let the entry be: Verdict set aside.