Lowell v. Flint , 20 Me. 401 ( 1841 )

The opinion of the Court was by

Shepley J.

The first error assigned is, that there was no satisfactory proof, that the plaintiff in error enlisted into the company of light infantry. This was a fact to be decided by the magistrate, and his record states, that “ Lowell’s enlistment was proved.”

The second is, that there was no evidence, that the company was legally organized. The commission of the captain was produced. And it is provided by Statute c. 121, § 21, that “ the commission of the captain or commanding officer of any company shall in all cases be deemed sufficient evidence of the organization of such company.” Whether the other documents introduced for that purpose were duly authenticated was immaterial.

The third is, that there was no evidence of a vacancy in the office of ensign, which the company was called together to fill. The commanding officer of the company is presumed to be in the proper discharge of his duties. It is not for the soldier to refuse obedience because his commander does not exhibit to him the orders of his superior. He must obey the command, and if it have been illegally or oppressively issued, he may have the officer tried and punished.

The fourth is, that the commanding officer of this company did not give notice in writing of the enlistment to the commanding officer of the standing company within five days. The record shews, that the testimony upon that point was not free from contradiction and doubt. It was the duty of the magistrate to decide upon it, and to give such weight to the testimony of each witness and to the circumstances tending to corroborate or to invalidate it as he judged to be justly due to it. In deciding upon the testimony it does not appear, that he violated any rule of law. Nor that he decided without any testimony to authorize the conclusion, to which he came. This Court is not therefore authorized to revise and reverse his decision upon the fact.

The fifil is, that there was no list of the members of the company annexed to the order to warn them. The statute does not require any list to be inserted in, or annexed to, the order. It is sufficient, that the persons to be warned are made certain; and that may be done by inserting their names in the order or by a reference to another document.

The order in this case directed the clerk, who keeps the record of the company, to warn all the non-commissioned officers and privates enrolled in said company. This reference to the enrolment determined who were to be warned.

The sixth is, that there was no proof of the signature of Balkham, or that he was authorized to act as commander of the regiment. The legal presumption as before stated is, that persons acting in an official capacity are properly authorized, and that their official signatures are genuine. Fraud or crime is not to be presumed.

The seventh is, that parol evidence of what appeared upon the roll was admitted without proof, that it was in the possession of the plaintiff in error and without notice to produce it.

It appears from the record that there was proof, that it was in his possession, and that he was called upon during the trial to produce it, that a reasonable time was allowed him to produce it, and that he refused. The object of the notice is to afford the party an opportunity to produce the original, that he may not be injured by secondary evidence. It must appear, that he had reasonable notice. And what notice would be reasonable must depend upon the circumstances attending each case. Usually a notice given during the trial could not be regarded as reasonable. There may be exceptions, as where the paper is present in Court, or within such short distance, that the Court for the purposes of justice, thinks proper to allow the party full time to obtain it without inconvenience. And such appears to have been this case; for the record states, that the party had a reasonable time to produce it and refused. That statement must be received as correct and the secondary evidence as properly admitted. This Court, in Emerson v. Fiske, 6 Greenl. 206, determined to adhere strictly to its thirty-fifil rule, but that did not bind the magistrate.

The eighth is, that there was no order authorizing any person to give notice of the enlistment.

If the commanding officer sign the notice and direct it to be delivered by another and it be delivered, there is no necessity for a written military order. It may be delivered, by an agent, by whom the delivery can be proved. If the act be an official one, it is not of a military character.

Judgment affirmed with costs.