The opinion of the Court was drawn up by
The first error assigned is, that the declaration was too defective to authorize a judgment in favor of the original plaintiff. It is contended, that it should have contained an averment, that the privates had been ordered to appear at the time and place appointed for the review by the commanding officer of the company, and that such order had been issued in obedience to the orders of his superior officers; because they alone were authorized to determine the time and place for the review.
The declaration is quite unskilfully drawn. It states, that the “ said company was drawn forth to assemble at Enoch Gammon’s house in Naples, at six o’clock, A. M. on the ninth day of September, 1840, for the purpose of regimental inspection and review.” This does not necessarily imply, that the privates composing the company were ordered to assemble at that time and place by their commanding officer, or by any competent authority. By the act then in force, c. 44, art. 28, a forfeiture was incurred by a private, “ who being duly ordered,” should unnecessarily neglect to appear at any inspection or review. But it does not follow, that the judgment must be reversed because the declaration was thus defective. The
Another error assigned is, that parol testimony was admitted “ to prove, that the H company had always been considered to be the same company as described in the document signed by the selectmen as Capt. James Ross’ company.” Such testimony did not determine or vary the limits of the company, which were proved by the proper testimony. It only proved, that the same company had been known by different names.
Another error assigned is, that the testimony introduced to prove, that the plaintiff in error had been duly enrolled as a member of the company was illegal and insufficient. The document received for that purpose was described as the “ Record of the roll of the company of infantry in the second regiment, first brigade, fifth division, under the command of Capt. Lovell V. Foster, as corrected on the first day of May, 1840.” The defendant in error was appointed clerk on August 25, 1840, by another captain, who had been qualified on that day. The roll, without any authentication by any former officer or clerk of the company, appears to have come to the possession of the defendant as clerk, and to have been used on that day. At the time of the trial it was first authenticated as the roll of the company by the clerk as the one used and corrected on that day. The magistrate could not authorize any amendment or authentication of it. The clerk might make the necessary certificate under the sanction of his official oath. And this he might do at a later time as of the date of the transaction, as appears to have been decided in the case of Cox v. Stevens, 2 Shepl. 205. The other errors assigned have not been insisted upon in the argument.
Judgment affirmed.
