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13 Vt. 141

Hill v. Hogaboom

Supreme Court of Vermont

Decided January 15, 1841

Supreme Court of Vermont · decided 1841-01-15

This was an action of book account. Judgment to account having been rendered in the county court, an auditor was appointed, who afterwards reported that he notified the defendant of the time and place of hearing, who did attend, and “on the fifth day of February, 1840, examined and adjusted the book accounts of the plaintiff and defendant, from which he finds a balance of six dollars due to the plaintiff.” The auditor appended to his report the account of the plaintiff,…

Cited in Bouvier (1914)’s definition of “Auditor”

Decided 1841-01-15

¶1The opinion of the court was delivered by

Williams, Ch. J.

¶2There is but one exception to the report of the auditor, and that is, that he has not appended to his report the account of the defendant. To sustain this exception, it should appear, affirmatively, that the defendant presented an account, which was adjudicated by the auditor, and not returned by him. As the auditor has returned the account of the plaintiff, and has returned none of the defendant, the obvious inference would be that no such account was presented. The exception, therefore, could not prevail, if no affidavits had been produced. It seems, however, that the county court, out of abundant caution, admitted certain affidavits, taken ex parte, to show that, in fact, no such account was presented. In the administration of justice, such affidavits are frequently admitted, to bring facts to the notice of the court, as in motions for a continuance, and for a new trial. The other party usually has.the right to produce counter affidavits, and no injury can arise, as the court will take care that no unfair advantage is had. We can see no objection to the admission of such affidavits, if it becomes necessary in a case like the present. If, from affidavits, it had appeared that the auditor had omitted to do what he was required to do, the report might have been recommitted for amendment. But, when it appeared that the auditor accompanied his report with the only account presented before him, on the trial, nothing further could have been required *144of him. The affidavits were unnecessary, and whether it was a case proper to receive them, or not, is of no importance.

¶3The judgment of the county court is affirmed.

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