17 Tex. 594 | Tex. | 1856
The only error assigned is, "that appelleesiwere permitted to read in evidence the answers to the interrogato
The fifth Section provides “ that every Commissioner, &p- “ pointed under this Act, shall have power and authority to take depositions, under a commission issued to him according to law, from any Court in this State, to be used as evidence “ in any cause, pending in a Court of the same when returned “ as prescribed by law.”
It is evident that under this fifth Section, the Commissioner for Texas could execute a commission and take the evidence of witness named in the commission ; but then he is required, in such cases, to return the commission in the same way, duly authenticated, as the law requires in ordinary cases of evidence taken by commission. It does not appear that any commission
But we believe, that under the third Section, the answers were properly and legally verified by the Commissioner.
Suppose these answers had been sworn to before any person in the county where the suit was pending, with the verification in the form used, leaving out Commissioner for the State of Texas, there can be no doubt that such verification could not be questioned. Then, under the third Section, when taken before the Commissioner, they are to be as good and effectual to all intents and purposes as if sworn to before the former.
The provision in the Act regulating the District Court practice, for swearing to the answers of parties to the suit, to interz'ogatories propounded, requires some notice. The two Acts went into effect on the same day, and both must be re garded as equally valid. If it can be done, we are bound to construe them in such a way as to sustain both. We believe that this can be done, and that there is really no conflict in them. They are both capable of being sustained. In many places it may not be in the power of a party wishing to swear to his answers, to have access to a Commissioner. There may be none in the State ; or may be so remote from the party, that it would be exceedingly inconvenient to swear to the truth of the answers before him : in such cases, he can swear to them before some Judge of a Court of Record, who shall certify the same, under the seal of his Court. We believe that the verification of the oath to the answers, in either way, would be good and valid, whether before a Judge of a Court of Record, or before a State Commissioner.
There is no error in the judgment, and it is affirmed.
Judgment affirmed.