Terrell v. Kimbrell

This is a motion of plaintiff to retax cost "of issuing and executing subpoenas on ten witnesses and the fees for their attendance, on the ground that they were not examined in the case, and none were subpoena?d' for any good purpose. The suit was a statutory action of ejectment. It was brought by the plaintiff, who makes this motion. It was decided on plea in abatement, and not on the merits.

[1] The bill of exceptions, on this motion, shows that none of the ten witnesses were examined; that the case was tried on the plea in abatement, and not on the merits. The attorney for the plaintiff testified under oath on the motion, and the defendant’s attorney then gave testimony to the court, but without any objection by plaintiff thereto on the ground he was not sworn.

The plaintiff’s attorney makes motion in this court, supported by affidavits, to strike from the bill of exceptions the testimony of defendant’s attorney, because he was not duly sworn and did not testify. This objection, if true, should have been made at the time before the trial court, before the attorney testified. If he had made it before or during the trial, and it was true, and the court had overruled it, this would have been error. If he had objected on that ground, the court below would have, no doubt, sustained it, and had the attorney sworn.

[2] This court will conclusively presume that the bill of exceptions speaks the truth on collateral attack. If the appellant was dissatisfied with the bill of exceptions, as signed by the presiding judge, he should have made application to establish it in this court, and not moved, in this court on affidavits, to strike certain parts therefrom because untrue. Defects, if any, in a bill of exceptions, cannot be corrected in that way. Pearce v. Clements, 73 Ala. 256; Fonville v. State, 91 Ala. 39, 8 South. 688; Chapman v. Holding, 54 Ala. 61.

[3] It appears from the evidence, as shown by the bill of exceptions, that each witness would have testified to some material fact or circumstance on the merits of the case; that they were not subpoenaed to oppress the opposite party, and not over two were to prove any one particular fact. The court under the evidence properly refused the motion.. Section 3679, Code of 1907; Coker v. Patty’s Heirs, 51 Ala. 511; Forcheimer v. Kaver, 79 Ala. 285; Section 3662, Code of 1907, as amended by Acts 1915, p. 598.

We find no error in the record.

Affirmed.