Noyes v. Hewitt , 1 Lock. Rev. Cas. 304 ( 1799 )

Per Nelson, J.

“ The subject of the dispute was a horse. The jury must have found that the plaintiff Hewitt was not the owner. The Common Pleas held he was the owner. If this be considered a question of fact, the judgment of the Common Pleas must be affirmed; and if a question of law, then I think they were right. So that in either'view, the judgment must be affirmed.”

But the Court of Errors held that as there was evidence on both sides, though very slight on one, a court of Common Pleas is not authorized on certiorari to reverse the judgment; although such court may arrive ata very different conclusion upon the weight of evidence.”

“ That a court of Common Pleas may, however, reverse a judgment of a justice where there is no evidence or a material defect in the proof; or where there is a recovery for a totally different cause of action from that laid in the declaration, or where the demand recovered is manifestly illegal,” also “That the Supreme Court is not concluded by the judgment of a court of Common Pleas in a certiorari cause from reversing the judgment of that court on the assumption that such judgment was rendered on the facts of the case and therefore not the subject of review by the Supreme Court; that, on the contrary, where the Common Pleas reverse a judgment of a justice without any assignable cause it is erroneous. Whitney v. Sutton, 10 Wend. 413, and Columbia Turnpike Co. v. Haywood, id. 435, are contra and overruled by this case.”

The discharge of the defendant by the justice instead of directing the jury to find him “ not guilty,” was held no cause of reversal, though the Chancellor says: “ It is probable he erred, in point of form, in this respect.” But he says: “ It was a mere technical error; and he argues that it was no ground for reversing the judgment as to Noyes, on that account, as the statute in terms directs “ that the court of Common Pleas shall disregard mere technical omissions, imperfections, or defects in the proceedings before the justice.” 2 R 8. 257, § 181. He then says: “ The evidence given after Noyes was discharged, as he was then no longer a party to the suit, was not evidence on which the Common Pleas could reverse the judgment as to him.”