124 Me. 278 | Me. | 1925
An action of assumpsit in the name of the Fishing Gazette, described m the writ as a corporation located in New York,' to recover on an account annexed for advertising space furnished to the defendant company.
The plaintiff at the trial, in support of its declaration, offered an affidavit subscribed and sworn to by Russell Palmer, who described himself as treasurer of the Fishing Gazette Publishing Co., Inc., of New York.
The affidavit was offered as complying with Sec. 127, Chap. 87, R. S., and the oath was administered, according to the jurat, by Ruth C. Lane, Notary Public in and for New York County, and bears the imprint of a notarial seal.
To the introduction or reception of this affidavit the defendant seasonably objected and was allowed an exception. The court ordered judgment for the plaintiff. The case is before this court only upon the defendant’s exception to the admission of the affidavit.
The bill of exceptions, however, is irregular in form and insufficient under the well-established rules of this court. No grounds of the defendant’s objection to the admission of the affidavit appear in the bill of exceptions; nor does it appear, except .by inference, that the defendant was aggrieved by its admission, as there might have been, so far as the bill of exceptions discloses, sufficient evidence in the case outside of the affidavit, on which to base the judgment of the court, although it appears to be tacitly admitted that the affidavit is the sole basis on which the judgment rests. This court cannot be compelled to travel outside the bill of exceptions itself. It must
However, as ebunsel agree upon the main issue between them, and it is one frequently occurring in practice, and no question is raised by the plaintiff as to the adequacy of the bill of exceptions, the court will consider such of the defendant’s objections as the parties agree were raised in the court below.
The defendant’s objection to the constitutionality of the Act has no merit. This court has already held that the kind of evidence, that may be received by the court, may be determined by the Legislature. Mansfield v. Gushee, 120 Maine, 333, 336; State v. Intox. Liquors, 80 Maine, 57; Wade v. Foss, 96 Maine, 230; Berry v. Lisherness, 50 Maine, 118; Cooley Constitutional Lim., (6th Ed.) 450-2. While the language of the statute is mandatory as to the effect and sufficiency of such affidavits as evidence, this court held in Mansfield v. Gushee, supra, that its probative force must still be for the jury, or the tribunal determining the facts.
Upon the question of misnomer or variance, it does not appear that this question was raised in the court below. Against the objection of the plaintiff, it cannot be considered here under the defendant’s bill of exceptions.
A variance or question of identity between parties named in written documents and those in the writ might, if raised below, have been cured or explained by other evidence. Whether cured or not in this case it must now be treated as waived, and moreover is of no importance, in view of our construction of the statute.
The real question between the parties, and the basis of the only objection which it is agreed was raised in the court below to the introduction of the affidavit is whether it was sworn to before an official authorized to administer the oath in such cases and also whether it sufficiently appears that the person whose name is subscribed to the jurat was a duly appointed and qualified notary public.
This method of proof is wholly statutory. The use of affidavits as evidence on which to base a final judgment is not permitted in this state in actions at law unless by virtue of some statute. Only the affidavits, therefore, described by Sec. 127 of Chap. 87, R. S., and made before the magistrate therein named, i. e., “a notary public using a seal,” can be received and have the probative force given to it by the statute.
But in view of the previous decisions of this court, Bramhall v. Seavey, 28 Maine, 45, 49; Wilkins v. Dingley, 29 Maine, 73, 74; Holbrook v. Libby, supra, and the rule of construction generally observed in such cases, Black on Interpretation, Sec. 42, Page 91, Sec. 127 cannot be construed as conferring any authority on foreign notaries. On the contrary, it must be held to restrict the use of such affidavits to those made before domestic notaries alone.
The Legislature will not be presumed to intend by language without limitation to bind or confer any authority upon persons not within its jurisdiction. ‘ ‘It is only when the legislature of the state expressly or by necessary implication grants the authority, that persons bearing without the limits of the state an official character, can perform any official act to be effectual by the laws of this state.” Bramhall v. Seavey, supra. Where authority is conferred on officials, or officials are designated in a statute, the presumption is that only domestic officials are included.
No necessary implication exists in this instance that foreign notaries are also included. There is ample scope for the operation of this act when confined to affidavits made before domestic notaries. It is a significant fact, also, that whenever the Legislature has conferred authority on officials in other states to perform acts, or authorized official acts done in other states, to be effectual in this state, it has done so in express terms, as in the case of depositions and acknowledgment of deeds, Sec. 20, Chap. 112, R. S.; Sec. 23, Chap. 78, R. S.
As remarked supra, this method of proof is only permitted by virtue of the statute, and only affidavits, taken as provided in the statute, can be received. The Legislature, therefore, not having expressly, nor by necessary implication, authorized the receipt of affidavits made before officials in other states, or even before any other official than a notary public in this state, only such as have been made before such official, and bearing the imprint of his official seal, can be received or have the effect prescribed by the statute.
Exceptions sustained.
