281 S.W. 384 | Ark. | 1926
Lead Opinion
(on motion to strike out bill of exceptions and to dismiss the appeal).
This is an action instituted by appellant against appellees in the chancery court of Sebastian County (Greenwood District), and it was tried before the chancellor in vacation by consent of parties on May 11, 1925, pursuant to statute which authorizes vacation decrees. C. M. Dig. 2190. The decree was signed by the chancellor on October 20, 1925, and filed with the clerk of the chancery court on November 14, 1925. The direction in the decree was that it be entered as of May 11, 1925, the day of the hearing. The decree also contained a recital of an order allowing appellants "120 days from May 11, 1925, within which to prepare *840
and file a bill of exceptions." The case was tried on oral testimony taken at the bar of the court, but there was no order of the court conferring authority to a stenographer to take the testimony and file a transcript thereof as a part of the record. Berry v. McGraw,
A purported bill of exceptions signed by two individuals was filed with the clerk of the chancery court on November 9, 1925, and the same has been embraced in the transcript as a part of the record. The appeal to this court was granted and perfected on November 23, 1925.
The decree did not become effective until it was filed with the clerk for entry on the record, and the time for appeal did not begin to run until that date. C. M. Dig., 2190; Red Bud Realty Co. v. South,
But the bill of exceptions certified by alleged bystanders is not valid, because there is no showing in the record that the chancellor refused to certify it. Fordyce v. Jackson,
It has been suggested however that, inasmuch as the bill of exceptions was on file when the chancellor filed his decree with the clerk, the presumption should be indulged that he approved the bill of exceptions as a part of the record. This is not so, for the bill of exceptions does not comply with the statute, and no presumption can be indulged that it was presented to the chancellor, or that he took cognizance of it as a part of the record. There was nothing to give authenticity to the bill of exceptions thus filed — it was not before the chancellor when he heard the cause tried, and we think there is no ground for a presumption that the chancellor saw the bill when he filed his decree and approved it.
The motion to strike out the bill of exceptions is sustained, but, inasmuch as the appeal was perfected in apt time, and the record may or may not disclose error in the proceedings, the motion to dismiss the appeal is overruled.
Dissenting Opinion
I dissent on the ground that, under our practice, oral evidence in chancery cases may be a part of the record by having it taken down in writing in open court, and by leave filed with the papers in the case. Fletcher v. Simpson,