222 Mass. 179 | Mass. | 1915
This is a petition to establish the truth of exceptions after disallowance by the judge of the Superior Court. It was referred to a commissioner, whose report establishes the truth of the exceptions set forth in the bill annexed to the petition. On motion, by consent of parties, it was recommitted to the commissioner in order that details might be added to show the setting in which the exceptions were taken and thus make them clearer. The supplemental report of the commissioner states that in the former report “ all matters in dispute under the petition to prove the bill of exceptions” were covered. By agreement of counsel, however, an exhibit was added to the exceptions. The supplemental report then proceeds as follows: “There are matters still in dispute between them [the counsel]; each party wishing to make additions to the bill to which the other does not agree. As described by counsel, they seem to be substantial amendments. . . . Accordingly, I have declined to hear the parties upon them.” This means that the additions desired to the bill of exceptions are more than the alteration of details or correction of verbal mistakes, or the addition of unessential matters whose omission may be
In a proceeding like this, the only matter before the court is the determination of the question whether the bill of exceptions presented to the judge and by him disallowed was true in whole or in any separable part. While minor deficiencies may be made complete and comparatively insignificant errors rectified, there can be no material modification of the bill as presented. It must either be allowed or disallowed in substantially that form. Morse v. Woodworth, 155 Mass. 233. Dorr v. Schenck, 187 Mass. 542.
If the bill of exceptions as filed, although setting out exceptions actually taken, contains irrelevant and objectionable evidence of such a character as to obscure the questions of law raised, or is of wholly unnecessary bulk, or presents a picture changed in color by the insertion of some evidence and the omission of other evidence, then it is not a true bill of exceptions and ought to be disallowed. A blending of exceptions with a mass of extraneous matter tending to give an unnatural complexion to the case is not a true bill and should not be established. Horan, petitioner, 207 Mass. 256.
It is perhaps conceivable that a bill of exceptions may be so bald in its statement of accompanying facts as to present only a skeleton and not á true representation of a case. If such a situation should arise, then the exceptions likewise would be defective and should be disallowed.
The place to settle exceptions and to make such amendments as may be necessary to render accurate the statement of the exceptions originally filed is in the Superior Court in ordinary cases. St. 1911, c. 212. In the rare instances when it is necessary to file a petition for the establishment of exceptions in this court, the field of inquiry is not broadened beyond the exceptions filed in the Superior Court except as to slight unintentional errors. The only question presented is whether the exceptions
When exceptions have been allowed by the trial judge and entered in this court, they sometimes are discharged for the purpose of correcting an error which by accident, mistake or oversight has crept into the record. Burbank v. Farnham, 220 Mass. 514. See Squier v. Barnes, 193 Mass. 21. But where the exceptions have been disallowed by the judge, the case must rest upon the record presented by the petition for the allowance of the exceptions and the report of the commissioner, save as to slight and unessential particulars.
There is nothing in the petition to establish the exceptions, in the two reports of the commissioner, or in the facts set forth in the motion now under consideration, to show that the rights of the parties are not protected in the record as it now is.
Motion denied. Case to stand for argument upon the report and supplemental report of the commissioner.