Juneau Bank v. McSpedon

| Wis. | Nov 26, 1862

By the Court,

Paikb, J.

We think the defendant should have been allowed to use the deposition of Mrs. Bartlett on the trial. There is nothing on the facé of the papers showing that it was taken on the part of the plaintiff. But even if there was, our conclusion would be the same. It is true the plaintiff had not offered to use it; and there are cases which have held that a party could not use a deposition taken on the part of the other, unless it was first used by the party taking it. But the opposite rule seems to us to be sustained by the weight of authority and argument. The only objection urged against it is, that if either party is allowed first to use a deposition taken by the other, the party taking it is deprived of the right of cross-examination. But the general presumption is, that the testimony of a witness will be in favor of the party calling him, and therefore the right of cross-examination ordinarily belongs to the opposite party. But if a witness should unexpectedly state facts against the party calling him, it would undoubtedly be within the discretion of the court to allow him, by questions in the nature of a cross-examination, to call out whatever he might be able in explanation or avoidance of such facts, just as a party is allowed to put leading questions to his own witness, where the latter appears evidently hostile to the party calling him. At all events, it would seem much more convenient that this practice should prevail in respect to depositions, than that a party who has called out from a witness, in a deposition taken by the other, all the facts material for him to prove, should be obliged to retake the deposition on his own behalf, or be prohibited from using the evidence in case his adversary was able to dispense with it. And this rule being established, the objection for want of cross-exam-nation would fail. For either party would then be allowed to examine the witness fully, both to prove facts in his own favor, and in explanation of facts stated in favor of tbe op- . posite party. And tbe statute evidently contemplates this. It provides that tbe party producing tbe deponent may first “ examine bim on all points wbicb be shall deem material, and then tbe adverse party may examine tbe deponent in like manner, after wbicb either party may propose sucb further interrogatories as the case may require.” Chap. 137, sec. 15, R. S. This was clearly designed to enable tbe whole testimony of a witness to be secured for tbe benefit of both parties in one deposition, and must be construed as giving both tbe corresponding rights of examination and cross-examination at tbe taking. Though perhaps it ought not to be held to allow tbe party producing tbe witness to cross-examine with a direct view of impeaching bis credibility. Therp are obvious considerations against this wbicb would not apply to cross-examination for any other purpose.

Tbe whole deposition should therefore have been admitted. For it is impracticable and inconvenient to divide a deposition, so as to admit that wbicb was given only in answer to one party. The answers on cross-examination are frequently intelligible only in connection with tbe examination in chief. And it seems useless to require either party to have repeated in answer to bis own questions, what tbe witness has clearly stated in answer to tbe other, as a condition precedent to bis right to use it.

As this makes tbe reversal of tbe judgment necessary, we shall not express any opinion upon tbe other questions argued, as a re-trial may present tbe case in a different aspect.

Tbe judgment is reversed, with costs, and a new trial ordered.