49 Iowa 571 | Iowa | 1878
“ [The first party, no name.]
“J. C. Coad, second party.
“Filed October 21, 1876.
“Samuel T. Craig, Auditor.
“I do hereby certify that the foregoing is a correct copy of the original paper or instrument now on file in this office.
“Witness my hand and seal of Monroe county, Iowa, February 13, 1877.
. “Samuel T. Craig, County Auditor.”
The defendant objected to this evidence because it was secondary — a copy, and not a part of the county records of Monroe county. The objection was overruled, and the evidence was admitted. To this action of the court the defend ant excepted.
Section 3702 of the' Code provides: “Duly certified copies of all records and entries, or papers belonging to any public office, or by authority of-law filed to be kept therein, shall be evidence in all cases of equal credibility with the original record or papers so filed.” The copy in question is not admissible under' this section. It is not a record belonging to the auditor’s office, nor is there any authority of law for filing it or keeping therein. The instrument in question is a mere private contract between N. W. Edwards and the defendant. The fact that it purported to be an assignment of a contract made between N. W. Edwards and Monroe county is not material. The county in no way, as appears from the
Reversed.