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3 Jones & S. 388

Ritter v. Phillips

The Superior Court of New York City · decided 1873-04-05

<p>Although judges of the General Term, on the hearing and determination of an appeal, were mistaken in assuming as a fact in the case, that a certain witness was in attendance at the trial, and could have heen called to contradict the testimony of one of the parties, yet it affords no sufficient ground for a re-argument, if it appears on the hearing of the motion for re-argument that the evidence of the witness would have heen simply cumulative.</p> <p>It cannot he said that a party is surprised hy any evidence on a trial if he is prepared to fully meet and rehut the evidence.</p>

Decided 1873-04-05

By the Court.—-Monell, J.

¶1It was undoubtedly a mistake in assuming that Fitzpatrick was in attendance at the trial, and could have been called to contradict the plaintiff’s statement, that Mr. Kreckler was present when the interest was paid. It now appears that Fitzpatrick was not examined as a witness on the trial, and the affidavits state that he was not even in attendance.

¶2But Kreckler and his wife were present at the trial and were examined as witnesses after the plaintiff had given his evidence. Mr. Kreckler testified that he was not with his wife when she paid the interest, and Mrs. Kreckler confirmed his statement, and added that it was Fitzpatrick, and not her husband, who was with her.

¶3*390It cannot "be said that a party is surprised by any evidence given on a trial, if he is prepared to fully meet and rebut it. That the defendants were prepared in this "case, is apparent from the fact that they did offer themselves as witnesses, and were examined and testified in rebuttal of the plaintiff’s testimony.

¶4The evidence of Fitzpatrick, if he had been present, would have been to the same purpose, and therefore clearly cumulative.

¶5This furnishes no reason for a new trial, and renders the misstatement of the fact of Fitzpatrick’s presence at the trial wholly immaterial.

¶6This being the only ground for a re-argument of the appeal, the motion must be denied, with $10 costs.

¶7Freedman and Curtis, JJ., concurred.

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