Gott v. Adams Express Co.

Gray, J. 1. By the practice act, either party to a civil action may file interrogatories to be answered on oath by the adverse party, and may read his answers at the trial as evidence. Gen. Sts. c. 129, §§ 46, 74. The right to file such interrogatories to any person other than a party to the suit is limited by the statute to the case of a corporation, in which case the opposite party is allowed to examine the president, treasurer, clerk, or any director or other officer, in the same manner as if he were a party to the suit. Gen. Sts. c. 129, § 50. The plaintiff, in order to be entitled to file interrogatories to Hoey as an officer of the defendants, was bound to prove that the defendants were a corporation ; and the proof upon this issue and for this purpose, as upon any question preliminary to the competency of evidence, must be made to the satisfaction of the presiding judge. No such proof having been offered, the judge rightly refused to order the interrogatories to be answered. 2. The plaintiff on the trial sought to charge the defendants as a corporation. A denial of the legal incorporation of an association sought to be so charged is not matter of abatement only, but may be made by answer on the merits. Greenwood v. Lake Shore Railroad Co. 10 Gray, 373. The plaintiff did not in his writ or declaration allege in terms that the defendants were a corporation, but only that they were “ a company having a place of business at Boston.” If this was a sufficient averment that they were a corporation, it was met and put in issue by the denial in the answer of each and every allegation in the declaration. Boston Relief & Submarine Co. v. Burnett, 1 Allen, 410. If it was not a sufficient averment of the incorporation of the defendants, this essential fact was not alleged at all, and, not being alleged, was not admitted by the answer. Tarbell v. Gray, 4 Gray, 444. Jones v. Andover, 10 Allen, 22. Oliver v Colonial Gold Co. 11 Allen, 283. In either' aspect, it might be denied by the defendants at the trial, and the plaintiff was [322] bound to prove it; and, having offered no evidence oí it, he iould not maintain his action. Judgment on the verdict for the defendants.