Yantis v. Tate

Opinion by SHACKELFORD, C. This, action was begun in the district court of 'Payne county, Olda., by the plaintiffs in error against the defendant in error on the 7th day of April, 1919, to recover damages because of the destruction of certain property alleged to have been burned by fire charged to 'have been set out by the defendant, James Tate. The cause was tried to a jury at the May, 1920, term of the district court of Payne county. The jury returned a verdict for defendant, upon which, in due course, judgment was entered. In apt time the plaintiffs filed their formal motion for a new trial, and a few days later filed their motion for a new trial on the ground of newly discovered eividence. The motions for a new trial were heard and overruled. Two propositions are presented in the argument of plaintiffs in their brief: “(1) That the court erred in refusing to sustain the motion for a new trial because of newly discovered evidence. “(2) The verdict of the jury was contrary to the evidence.” The newly discovered evidence set out by way of affidavit attached to the motion for a new trial, was in part accumulative and in part would have the effect of impeaching certain fitnesses offered on the part of the defendant, and by whom he offered proof tending to show that he was not at a place where he could have, started the fire at the time it was shown to have been started. Motions for.a new trial because of newly discovered evidence address themselves very largely to the sound discretion of the trial court; and unless the court abuses its. discretion the action of the trial court in overruling the motion will not be disturbed. Jones v. Oklahoma Planing Mill & Mfg. Co., *210 46 Okla. 477, 147 Pac. 999; Eskridge v. Taylor, 75 Okla. 139, 182 Pac. 516; Wagoner v. Caskey, 85 Okla. 168. 205 Pac. 137. The newly discovered evidence would tend to impeach the testimony oí two or -three of defendants witnesses, but aside from these witnesses there is the testimony of several others, unimpeached, which tends strongly to support the defendant’s defense. The plaintiffs insist that the testimony of one Sam Richter, who at the time of the trial was out of the state, is very importan c for them in making out their case, and the court should have sustained the motion for a new trial because this, witness can be had in another trial. It is not insisted that his testimony is newly discovered, but that witness could not be had because at the time of the trial he was out of the state. It dloes. not appear that plaintiffs asked to have the cause continued because of the absence of Sam Richter. They went to trial without any effort to get his testimony by deposition or otherwise, or to have the cause continued 'because of his absence. His testimony, if present, would have been the same as his brother, Van Richter, who did testify. We think it cannot be said that the trial court abused its discretion in overruling the motion for a new trial because of the alleged newly discovered evidence. We have carefully examined the evidence offered on the part of dfendant, aside from the evidence of the witnesses whom plaintiffs insist they could impeach at another trial, and there is ample evidence in the record tending to. support the verdict of the jury. We recommend that the judgment be affirmed. By the Court: It is so ordered.