Grand Court of Calanthe v. Baskin

Smith, C. J., delivered tbe opinion of tbe court. Tbis is a motion to docket and dismiss for tbe reason that tbe record in tbe cause bas not been filed in tbis court. Tbe judgment appealed from was rendered on the 28th day of May, 1914, and tbe appeal was perfected by tbe filing of an appeal bond on tbe 4th day of July, following.' Tbe record therefore was returnable to tbis court, under sections 4902 and 4906 of tbe Code, on tbe third Monday of January, 1915. [754] It has been made to appear that the reason the clerk ■of the court below has failed to file the record is that the stenographer has not filed with him a transcript ■of the evidence, though the time within which he is required so to do expired some time since. This dereliction of duty on the part of the stenographer is no ■excuse for the failure of the clerk to file the record in this court on the return day. Under section 69' of the ■Code, when construed in connection with chapter 111, Laws of 1910, as it must necessarily be, when the stenographer’s transcript of the evidence has been filed and ■dealt with as provided in this last-mentioned statute, •or the time within which this can be done has expired .and an appeal has been perfected by the filing of an appeal bond, it then becomes the duty of the clerk to make and certify to this court a transcript of the rec•ord in the case; that is, the record on file at the time ■the transcript is made. If the stenographer’s transcript of the evidence has not then been filed, the record as it then exists should nevertheless be certified to this court. Should the stenographer’s transcript be after-wards filed with, and certified to this court by, the clerk ■of the court below, the question as to whether or not it Is then properly a part of the record will arise only in •event a motion is made by appellee to strike it from the record. > Since the failure of the clerk below to file the record ■on the return day has not operated to materially prejudice the rights of appellee, a writ of certiorari will be Issued to the clerk of the court below directing him to send up forthwith whatever record in the cause he may have on file in his office. In event the stenographer’s transcript has not yet been filed with him, his compliance with this writ will not prevent him from thereafter certifying to this court such transcript in event it should thereafter be filed, and whether or not it is then properly a part of the record will arise only in event a motion [755] is made by appellee to strike it from the record as hereinbefore set forth. Motion overruled, and certiorari awarded. Overruled.