Gately v. Kniss , 64 Iowa 537 ( 1884 )

Seevers, J.

I. The appellee has filed a motion to dismiss the appeal on the grounds:

First, That the evidence was not taken and reported by the official reporter of the court. This is not a valid objection to a consideration of the case on the merits, because it sufficiently appears that it was heard'on depositions and other written evidence. Second, That no bill of exceptions was filed. None is required in an equity case. Third, Appellant’s abstract does not show the objections made to the evidence and the rulings of the court thereon. The record before us fails to indicate that any such objections or rulings were made. A certificate of the trial judge sufficiently indicates and indentifi.es the evidence offered and introduced in the court below, and, as such evidence is set out in the abstracts, we have sufficient to enable us to consider the case on its merits.

II. The defendants, Kniss & Walters, were contractors, and had undertaken a job of work for the railway company. The plaintiff testifies that he performed certain labor in the construction of the railroad for and at the request of E. F. & A. Oately, or one of them, who, as we understand, were subcontractors under Kniss & Walters. The plaintiff' does not claim tliat he was employed by the defendants, or that he did any labor at their request. It was incumbent on the plaintiff to establish that the defendants were under a legal obligation to pay him, and this be has failed to do. There is no evidence so tending. It appears from the evidence of one of tbe defendants tbat there was' a contract between the defendants and E. Gately, the sub-contractor, but, for some reason unknown, the contract was not attached to the deposition, and the same was not introduced in evidence. Counsel for the appellee insist that the court was warranted in presuming that, according to the terms of such contract, the defendants had made themselves personally liable to pay the plaintiff and others who worked and labored for the sub-contractors. But no such presumption can he indulged. The contract must speak for itself. It is true, some of the laborers were paid by tbe defendants, but this was done, not because of any legal obligation, but as a matter of protection to the laborers, and to tbe end, we suppose, that no mechanic’s -lien could he filed against the road.

Reversed.