142 N.W. 176 | S.D. | 1913
Appeal from circuit court of Codington county. Action for libel. Jury trial. Verdict for plaintiff for $125 damages. Defendants appeal from the judgment and order overruling motion for new trial. The notice of -intention to move for a new trial recites “that said motion will be based upon the minutes of the court, the instructions of the judge of this court given to the jury on the trial of the above-entitled action, and upon all of the records and files in said action.” No statement of the case, bill of exceptions, or transcript of the record required by chapter 15, Laws 1911, has ever been settled, certified, or filed. The notice of intention to move for a new trial recites that the motion will be based upon insufficiency of evidence to sustain the verdict, and errors of law occurring at the trial in giving certain instructions and refusal of instructions requested by appellants. Appellants’ abstract or statement of facts has printed therein certain purported instructions given the jury, and requests for instructions refused, but does not purport to contain any of the evidence at the trial. On March 8, 1913, respondent served notice of a motion returnable on motion day of the April term to strike from appellants’ abstract all matters not a part of the judgment roll proper, on the ground that no bill of exceptions or statement of the case has ever been settled, and that such matter cannot properly be made a part of the abstract. By written stipulation of
The original motion by respondent also involved an application to dismiss the appeal on the ground of insufficiency of the appeal bond. The order to show cause now under consideration also contemplated the correction of the appeal bond if found insufficient. But in the view we take this part of the application requires no further consideration. The order to show cause is founded upon affidavits of defendants Geo. H. and Lydia R. Eastwood and of Hon. Geo. H. Marquis, additional counsel now appearing for appellants. The affidavits of the defendants Eastwood are to the effect that upon the trial of said action in the lower court, and in the preparation of the record on appeal they employed a firm of reputable attorneys of high standing and long practice in this state; that they relied upon the knowledge, skill, and fidelity of said attorneys, and believed in good faith that the record on appeal had been properly prepared; that affiants acted promptly and without delay and in good faith in taking said appeal ; that as the time drew near for .the argument upon said appeal they became anxious to know which of the firm of attorneys employed by them would appear upon such argument; that, because of answers to their inquiries, appellants were left in doubt as to whether either of said attorneys would appear before this court, and, being convinced that they could not depend upon either of said attorneys to present an oral argument, appellants employed Hon. Geo. H. Marquis to appear and make such oral argument; that their said last-named counsel immediately procured the abstract and briefs upon appeal, and upon examination thereof advised affiants that the record upon appeal appeared fo be incomplete, in that no statement of the case or bill of exceptions had been settled by the trial court, and none transmitted to the
Clearly, it is not within the power of this court upon this
But this court we think may assume that no other or different grounds than such as are disclosed upon this hearing could be presented to the trial court; and if it appears that the trial court, upon such showing, would be without power or jurisdiction to grant such relief, this court should refuse to permit this case to be returned to that court for the purpose of making such application as an idle act.
It follows that the application f-or leave to remand the case for settlement of a bill, -statement, or exceptions must be denied,