Dickinson v. Gray

Mr. Justice Sears delivered the opinion oe the Court This is an action brought upon a contract in writing, alleged by appellees (plaintiffs in trial court) to have been, changed in some particulars by a later oral agreement. The controversy of fact was as to whether such modification was made. One of appellees testified that it was; and one of appellants testified that it ivas not changed. There ivas no other evidence upon the subject. The contract Avas performed by appellees upon the terms of the alleged modification, and not in accordance with the requirements of the original writing. The cause was tried by the court ivithout a jury. It is contended by counsel for appellants that, there being but two witnesses, one of Avhom affirmed and the other of whom denied, the fact in controversy, there could not, as a proposition of law, be any preponderance of the evidence. We do not understand this to be the law. In Durant v. Rogers, 87 Ill. 508, the court say: “ It is a rule, that the jury shall be the sole judges of the credibility of witnesses. They see them on the stand, mark their demeanor, perceive many small matters which escape less observant eyes, and are in the best position to judge of their credibility, and they have an undoubted right to find in favor of one when weighed against that of the other.” If the jury may so do, why not as well the court, when finding upon issues of fact submitted ? But there is another sufficient reason why this appeal can not avail. The abstract shows a judgment for appellees, but it does not show that appellants excepted to the finding of the court, or the judgment.' It is the rule that the court will not go to the record for information. Gibler v. City of Mattoon, 167 Ill. 18. And if we were to disregard the rule and look to the bill of exceptions itself, it would be found that upon the court finding for appellees, appellants entered a motion for a new trial, and excepted to the overruling of the same. In a trial by the court without a jury, this was unnecessary. Sands v. Kagey, 150 Ill. 109. But it will not be found from the bill of exceptions that appellants excepted to the finding and judgment, and this was necessary to entitle them to have the cause reviewed upon appeal. In Illinois C. R. R. Co. v. O’Keefe, 154 Ill. 511, the court says: “ In this State the rule is settled that an appellate tribunal can not inquire into the sufficiency of the evidence to support .a judgment unless there is an exception to the finding and judgment when tried by the judge without a jury, or a motion for new trial and exception to the overruling of the same, when a trial is had by jury. See Firemen’s Ins. Co. v. Peck, 126 Ill. 493, and cases cited.” Force Mfg. Co. v. Horton, 74 Ill. 311. The judgment is affirmed.