5 Day 260 | Conn. | 1812
(After stating the case.) The first objection, on which the present motion is grounded, is, that no evidence ought to have been admitted, on the trial, relating to the wounds inflicted by the defendant, upon the plaintiff's wife; because, the only point in issue between the parties, was, whether the defendant had neglected to perform his professional duty. This objection proceeds from a misconception of the cause of action. The gravamen is the defendant’s ignorance, negligence and want of skill ; which may be as clearly evinced, by mis-feasance, as by non-fea-sance ; by positive acts, as well as by negligent. The declaration clearly shews, that the* action is founded on both grounds. The defendant is charged, not only with ignorance and negligence, in permitting the plaintiff’s wife to remain in great distress, for two days, but with an attempt to deliver her in an unskilful manner, pursuing a course of practice not warranted by, and contrary to, the established rules of proceeding in similar cases.
The plaintiffs sustained damage in both ways : That is to say ; the plaintiff’s wife endured great pain, and was in imminent hazard of her life, from the omission and negligence of the defendant; and she also received irreparable injury and lasting wounds from his unskilful practice. If, then, the whole declaration, taken together, contains several distinct allegations, ail going to constitute the gravamen, or one single oause of action, all being parts of the principal charge, there can be no doubt, that all these allegations may be proved, as pertinent to the issue. To warrant the admission of such proof, it is sufficient, if such allegations appear in the declaration. The allegata et probata must agree. This ip the only Criterion, by which the court can determine as to the rele
Again, it is further objected, that the several particular circumstances attending the transaction in question, ought to have been explicitly and distinctly set forth in the declaration, to warrant the admission of the evidence ; or that all the facts intended to be proved on the trial should have been stated in the declaration. But this is not necessary, according to the rules and precedents in analogous cases. in actions of assault and battery, a general statement is sufficient to let in proof of particular acts, and all the circumstances attending the transaction ; and there is sufficient precision, if the cause of action be so defined, that the party may plead the judgment in bar of another suit for the same cause.
It is apparent, that the allegation relating to the wounds received by the plaintiff’s wife, were introduced for the purpose of laying a foundation for a claim to damages, either as a part of the cause of action, or by way of aggravation : In either case, the judgment would be a good bar to another action brought for the same cause.
Besides, there are many cases, where the law, to preserve the chastity of the record, admits generality in the statement of facts; although such general mode of declaring, would not be strictly conformable to technical rules, in other cases. In this case, there is no necessity of resorting to this principle ; for the fact proved on tiie trial, was sufficiently stated in the declaration, to warrant the admission of proof of all the attendant circumstances.
It is also claimed, that the court erred in admitting evidence to shew, that the defendant falsely, or improperly, pretended, that the plaintiff’s wife was infected with the venerea! disease. This was proper evidence for the consideration of the jury, if introduced for the purpose of shewing, that the defendant was ignorant of the true state of the patient’s case : And if the defendant himself, who might be supposed to make the best of his case, had alleged the existence of guefa a dis
The next objection relates to the admission of evidence to shew ihe general character of the defendant, and that he was not a regularly educated physician and surgeon. Such evidence would have been improper, if it had been offered to increase the amount of damages. In such case, it would have been considered as setting up a new and distinct cause of action, inconsistent with the allegation in the declaration. But the defendant, in the first place, introduced evidence of his general character, to raise a presumption in favour of his skill and knowledge in his profession. It then became necessary, and it was competent, for the plaintiffs to rebut this proof. This is analogous to established principles of law. Whenever the character of a party is not immediately in issue, and cannot be directly impeached, in the first instance, yet, if he himself, first introduces evidence in support of it, the other party shall be permitted to rebut the evidence, by impeaching his general character ; the party himself having put it in issue. The defendant himself laid the foundation of this evidence, by first introducing witnesses in support of his character. Whether the evidence was properly admitted, is not now the question.
It is also insisted, that the court, on the circuit, ought to have compelled Doctor Gilbert, a witness, to answer the questions put to him on the trial of the motion in arrest, relating to certain improper conversations between him and one of the jurors, while the jury had the cause under consideration. It ought to be remarked, that before any particular questions were suggested, a general enquiry appears to have been made, of the witness, relating to the subject matter of the motion, who replied, “ that he knew nothing of any conversation, other than was stated in the motion, to
The only remaining question relates to the validity of the objection of the witness, (Doct. Gilbert,) to disclose the conversation, which took place between him and the juror. The witness assumed the right of determining whether the disclosure would criminate himself. If he is to be considered as the sole judge of the effect of his testimony, as it relates to himself, it is immaterial whether he decide the question right or wrong. The court, on this principle, can enquire no further. If he testifies, that his disclosures will expose him to be prosecuted criminally, it is conclusive. The court cannot compel a witness against his will, to disclose facts which
There is a difficulty in establishing a general rule, which will effectually preserve the rights of the witness, and at the same time, protect the party against a corrupt design of the witness, to hide behind the shield.of his privilege, facts important to him, and such as would not implicate the witness.
Rut in this case, there is no necessity of deciding the question. It appears, clearly, that an affirmative answer, would have implicated the witness in a crime; and that a disclosure of any part of the conversation stated to have been held with the juror, would have fixed upon him the crime of Embracery. The conversation with Read, as stated in the motion, consisted entirely of remarks made by the witness, respecting the nature of the cause, and the nature and character of the evidence offered on the trial, or the principles, on which the
I am of opinion, therefore, that a new trial ought not to be granted.
New trial not to be granted