Shortz v. Quigley

Tilghman C. J. after stating the case, proceeded as follows: It is first to be considered whether there is any error in the entering the judgment. It appears there is not. It was regularly entered in pursuance of a warrant of attorney. The motion to open the judgment was an appeal to the court to exercise a summary jurisdiction on principles of equity. In hearing these motions, courts are not tied down to those strict rules of evidence which govern them in trials by jury; because it is presumed that their knowledge of the law prevents their being carried away by the weight of testimony not strictly legal. I have never heard it supposed that a bill of exceptions lies to the court’s opinion, in receiving or rejecting testimony upon motions for summary relief. The statute of 13 Ed. 1. on which [225] bills of exceptions are founded, has not been construed to extend to such cases. If it did, the delay of justice would be' infinite. Every motion however trifling that was made in the course of a suit, would be the subject of a writ of error. I consider the point as too well settled to need discussion. The strength of Shortz’s case consists in this; that by the agreement of 4th December 1800, the bond on which judgment was entered in this case, was to be considered as void, unless Quigley conveyed the land by 15th October 1801. Although this is introduced into the record, yet being a distinct paper from the bond on which judgment was entered, this Court at the same time that they consider it, must consider a number of other circumstances, particularly that Shortz entered on the land, and still holds it. I am by no means satisfied that on a writ of error we are at liberty to enter into those equitable circumstances, which might induce the Court of Common Pleas to give an opinion one way or the other. But I do not think it necessary to express any opinion on that point, and I desire it be understood that I do not. Supposing for argument’s sake, that we have a right to decide on the whole merits as they appegr on the record, I see no reason for reversing the judgment, because it appears that Shortz if injured, is not without remedy. He may have his action on some of the writings which have passed between him and Quigley, and recover such damages as a jury shall think he has sustained. This being the case, and the real equity of the matter appearing very doubtful on the record, I am of opinion that there is no cause for reversing the judgment of the court below. Yeates J. I have no hesitation in saying, that if I had been on the bench of the Common Pleas of Crawford county, I would have given my voice that the defendant below should have had a hearing of his cause before a jury, upon the facts disclosed to us on this argument. They would be the legal and and constitutional judges tq ascertain whether any substantial damages had been sustained by reason of the plaintiff’s not having made the title by the 15th October 1801. But even as matters now stand, Shortz has a full and complete remedy in an action founded on the contract of the 4th December 1800, if he has been in truth injured by the delay of Quigley. Where compensation for the delay mav be made in damages, a court [226] of equity would not on that ground alone decree it to be a for • feitqre. A rigid adherence to the letter of the second agreement, in saying that it annuls the first, and that Quigley should repay the six hundred dollars and interest, and cancel the other bonds, would be the exaction of the pound of flesh by a Shy • lock, and the enforcing of a hard and unconscientious bargain, at which the feelings of every honest mind would revolt. Shorts?s counsel profess not to go so far. But these facts are disclosed to us in the bill of exceptions which comes up with the writ of error; and this necessarily introduces the preliminary question, whether such bill could legally be taken in the present instance. That a writ of error would lie on the final judgment of an inferior jurisdiction, there can be no doubt; but that for every order of the court, whether before or after judgment, a bill of exceptions might be tendered, I utterly deny. It is most generally taken under the statute of Westm. 2. on the trial of an issue by a jury; but it will not lie upon every opinion of the court delivered in the progress of the cause, as in discharging on common bail, or directing the quantum of bail. Suppose the Court of Common Pleas should order on the trial of an action, under circumstances of the most peculiar hardship and seeming injustice, or postpone it under the like circumstances, should refuse to discharge a freeholder from his arrest,'or to set aside an execution, it cannot be pretended that these and such like interlocutory decisions would be good grounds for tendering bills of exceptions. The law confides the exclusive order and direction in such cases to the legal discretion and judgment of the court, having jurisdiction over the subject matter; and courts of error will not deem themselves at liberty to review the same. I remember one instance wherein the propriety of dissolving a foreign attachment and of sustaining a domestic attachment in Cumberland county was attempted to be questioned in the Supreme Court on a writ of error, but was refused in bank, though the facts had been stated by consent on the record. If the law does not support the bill of exceptions, the ground of complaint of the plaintiff in error fails him; and. there being-no error in the record, properly so called, the judgment must of course be affirmed. Smith J. and Bb.ackenb.idge J. concurred with the Chief Justice. Judgment affirmed.