Brackett v. Cunningham

Collins, J. Upon the ground that the testimony produced on the trial of this action clearly established that plaintiff and the witnesses Whitman and Dodge were copartners in business, at least as to defendants, the latter strenuously contend, upon appeal, that the verdict was not justified by the evidence, and that a new trial must be granted. The question as to whether the alleged partnership actually existed, as claimed by defendants and denied by plaintiff, was undoubtedly made the principal one upon the trial by all concerned, and the jury were so informed by the learned judge presiding, in a full and accurate charge, to no part of which did either party except. We are unable to say that the verdict was not justified by the evidence, for the settled case does not purport to contain all thereof. 1. It has been held repeatedly in this court, the most recent case being Mead v. Billings, 40 Minn. 505, (42 N. W. Rep. 472,) that, where a determination of the appeal depends upon an issue of fact, the settled case must show affirmatively that all of the evidence pertaining to the issue is presented. In this instance the certificate is palpably insufficient and défective, for in it the judge merely states that “the within is allowed and signed as the settled case,” and the omission referred to is not elsewhere supplied. It is not absolutely necessary that the essential fact be made to appear in the certificate signed by the judge, but it may be made apparent otherwise in the [500] settled case. Coleman v. Reierson, 36 Minn. 222, (30 N. W. Rep. 811.) 2. Defendants excepted to several rulings made by the court upon the trial, relating to the admission or exclusion of certain testimony. But two of these rulings need be referred to. The court was right in refusing to allow appellants to show that all of the cattle about which this controversy arose were purchased with the profits of prior, but similar, transactions between plaintiff and Whitman and Dodge. The fact that profits sufficient to pay for all these cattle had been made by the parties would have no more tendency to prove the existence of a partnership between them than would evidence that a greater or less sum had accumulated as profits. Furthermore, it had already been shown that the business was profitable; and, just before the question was asked which led to the ruling complained of,'the exact amount of these profits had been stated by the witness. The court was also right when excluding that page of defendants’ ledger, offered in evidence by them, upon which appeared an account with Whitman. We know of no rule of evidence which would permit the defendants to establish the fact that plaintiff was a member of the alleged firm by entries made in their own books, in an account kept with another person. Again, if the rule were otherwise, we have no means of determining the relevancy or irrelevancy of the offered testimony. The entries in question have not been made a part of the record on this appeal. Order affirmed.