Crooks v. Harmon

81 P. 95 | Utah | 1905

BARTCH, C. J.

Tbe plaintiff brongbt tbis action to enjoin the defendants from selling certain real estate. He alleges that he is the owner of the property, and that the defendants, who are sheriff and deputy sheriff, respectively, are about to sell it under an execution issued upon a judgment in favor of D. N. Ad-amson and against William Crooks, James Crooks, and W. W. Mathews. The answer denies that the plaintiff is the owner of the property, and alleges that the real owner of it is James Crooks, one of the judgment debtors, and that the property was being sold in satisfaction of the judgment. At the trial the court found the issues in favor of the plaintiff, and entered a decree enjoining the defendants from selling the property. This appeal is from the judgment.

The appellants have made four assignments' of error, and the first reads:

“The court erred in rendering judgment in favor of plaintiff and against the defendants because the testimony in the case is insufficient to show that the .plaintiff is the owner of the land in controversy, or any part of it; but, oh the contrary, the testimony shows that the pretended conveyance from James Crooks to the plaintiff was merely for the purpose of defrauding the judgment créditor of James Crooks, to wit, D. N. Adamson, and that such purpose was shared by the plaintiff herein and the said pretended grantor.”

The other assignments are in substantially the same form and of like character. The respondent insists that none of them can be considered by this court, because, as is urged, no objection or exemption has been presented by the appellants in such manner as to raise any question for determination.

Upon careful examination of the bill of exceptions and the assignments of error, we are of the opinion that the contention of tb© respondent is sound. 0 It will be noticed from tbe assignment above quoted that tbe appellants claim that tbe court erred in rendering judgment in favor of tbe plaintiff, because tbe testimony is not sufficient to show that be is tbe owner of tbe land in dispute, etc.; but there is no claim that tbe evidence is insufficient to show tbe things to which tbe 'findings refer, and tbe bill of exceptions does not purport to contain all tbe evidence but simply all tbe testimony; and yet, where a finding or a decision is challenged on appeal, as we may assume, for tbe purpose of this argument, was tbe attempt here, upon the ground that tbe evidence is insufficient to support such finding or decision, it must affirmatively appear from tbe bill that it contains all the evidence, else tbe appellate court may indulge tbe presumption that there was other sufficient evidence, not contained in tbe bill of exceptions. This bill, only purporting to contain all the testimony, is therefore defective, because tbe words “testimony” and “evidence” are not synonymous terms. Testimony is evidence, but evidence may or may not be testimony, or may consist of more than testimony. Tbe word “testimony” is a restricted, limited term, consisting only of the statements of witnesses, while tbe word “evidence” is a comprehensive term, embracing not only testimony, or the statements of witnesses, but also documents, written instruments, admissions of parties and whatever may be submitted to a court or jury to elucidate an issue or prove a case. Bouvier defines “testimony”: “Tbe statement made by a witness under oath or affirmation.” Black defines “testimony”: “Any species of proof or probative matter legally presented at tbe trial of an issue by tbe act of tbe parties, and through tbe medium of witnesses, records, documents, concrete objects, etc., for tbe purpose of inducing belief in tbe minds of tbe court or jury as to their contention.” It seems thus apparent that “testimony” is not tbe proper word to be- employed in a bill of exceptions to show that tbe bill contains all tbe evidence, and to warrant an assignment of error that tbe evidence is insufficient to support a decision. In Lindley v. Dakin, 13 Ind. 388, Hr. Justice Perkins said:

“It is said tbe judgment is wrong upon the evi-, dence. But the record does not purport to bring the evidence in the cause before this court. It states that all the testimony is embodied in it. Testimony is not synonymous with evidence. It is but a species, a class, or kind of evidence. Testimony is the evidence given by witnesses. Evidence is whatever may be given to the jury as tending to prove a case. It includes the testimony of witnesses, documents, admissions of parties.” etc.

Clearly, therefore, when, as here, in the concluding clause of a bill of exceptions, the word “testimony,” instead of the word “evidence,” is used to show that the bill contains all the evidence, no assignment of error based upon the insufficiency of the evidence presents a question which this court can consider, unless it appears affirmatively upon the face of the bill that no other species of evidence was introduced at the trial, except what is contained in the bill. In McDonald v. Elfes, 61 Ind. 279, it was said:

“Where, as in this case, the bill of exception's concludes with the words, ‘The above was all the testimony introduced on the trial of the above-entitled cause,’ it must affirmatively and clearly appear on the face of the bill that no other species, class, or kind of evidence except testimony was introduced on the trial of the cause, or it will be held that the bill of exceptions is insufficient.” (28 Am. and Eng. Ency. Law, 111, 112; 1 Greenl. Ev., c. 1, sec. 1; Gazette Printing Co. v. Morse, 60 Ind. 153; Koehler v. Hughes, 73 Hun 167, 25 N. Y. Supp. 1061; McConaha v. Carr, 18 Ind. 443; Hyman v. Friedman (Com. Pl.), 18 N. Y. Supp. 446; Aldridge v. Aldridge, 120 N. Y. 614, 24 N. E. 1022.)

If, however, we, notwithstanding our opinion that “testimony” is not the proper word to be employed in the certificate to a bill of exceptions, assume that this record shows upon its face tliat it contains all tbe evidence, still it cannot avail tbe appellants. They claim, under tbe assignments, simply that tbe court committed error "in rendering judgment in favor of tbe plaintiff.” Tbey make no specific objection to any finding of fact. Their assignments amount merely to general attacks upon tbe judgment on tbe ground that tbe evidence is insufficient to sustain it. Tbe judgment, however, is not based directly upon tbe evidence, but upon tbe findings; and in a case like this our statute, in section 3283, Revised Statutes 1898, gives each party an exception to tbe decision which embraces tbe findings, not to tbe judgment. Therefore assignments of error directed against tbe judgment upon tbe ground that tbe judgment is not supported by the evidence cannot be considered, as tbey present no question for review. It is true, a judgment may be erroneous, while the findings may be correct; but in such case, in order to correct tbe judgment, tbe specifications must show that tbe judgment is not sustained by tbe findings and not that it is not supported by tbe evidence. Or it may be that a judgment is supported by tbe findings, but is erroneous, because tbe evidence is insufficient to support the findings. Then, in such event, tbe specifications must show that tbe decision or tbe findings are not warranted by the proof. Such specifications therefore should attack tbe findings, not tbe judgment. “It has been frequently decided, and is well settled, that specifications which merely attack tbe judgment or conclusions of law cannot be considered.” (2 Spelling, New Tr. and App. Pr. sec. 434; Hayne, New Tr. and App., sec. 150; Coveny v. Hale, 49 Cal. 552; De Molera v. Martin, 120 Cal. 544, 52 Pac. 825; Mazkewitz v. Pimentel, 83 Cal. 450, 23 Pac. 527; Dawson v. Schloss, 93 Cal. 194, 29 Pac. 31.) Tbe record therefore presents no question which constitutes reversible error.

Tbe judgment is affirmed, with costs.

McOABT'Y and STEAUP, JJ., concur.