Litts v. Goss

MaRShall, J. We are unable to see any questions for consideration in this case except such as appertain to whether the findings of fact are against the clear preponderance of the evidence. We cannot review questions of fact as a court of original jurisdiction. One had best not, without most careful consideration of the matter, incur the burden of an appeal to this court where the only real complaint is that the trial court erroneously decided as to the credibility of witnesses and the weight and preponderance of the evidence, the only basis for such complaint being the appearance to the defeated party, from the record alone, that the decision should have been different. There is left to- be reckoned with, two very important elements which are generally of' sufficient weight to sustain the trial court in case the evidence is conflicting, viz.: the presumption which must be indulged in in favor of the correctness of the findings because407 of the superior advantages of the trial' court for determining the credibility of witnesses and the wide difference between mere and clear unmistakable preponderance of the evidence. When the scales of justice are weighted down on the side of the respondent by these two elements, which appellant from his partisan position is not wont to measure accurately, if at all, the probative character of the evidence in behalf of the latter must necessarily he so strikingly superior to that of the former as to leave only a shadowy ground, if any in reason, in support of the decision complained of to warrant a reversal. True, the finding of a trial court is not quite as conclusive as that of a jury, hut the difference is not so significant as to permit of an attack upon the former with much greater hope of disturbing it than a. challenge of the latter. The law in this regard has been so often stated that a discussion of it now at any great length would be out of place. We may well repeat what was said in Endress v. Shove, 110 Wis. 141, 148, 85 N. W. 651, 653: “It must be well understood by the profession that although in theory there is a new trial here on questions of fact, where the trial below was by the court and a bill of exceptions containing the evidence is preserved to support exceptions to the findings, the principle has become so firmly .established, that such findings must be regarded as verities in the case unless overcome by a clear .preponderance of the evidence, that such trial is in fact far different from an original trial. The presumptions indulged in, in favor of such findings, are not easily overcome, so it may happen — we venture to say it does happen in some cases — that a judgment of affirmance is rendered where a reversal would occur if such presumptions were left entirely out of consideration. That cannot be helped. The judicial policy of the court and its interpretation of the statute governing the subject are firmly intrenched in our system. They cannot be varied . . . even if we were to say that the evidence in the record, looking at that alone, impresses us contrary to the conclusions reached by the trial court. There would still be left that in 408 surmountable difficulty to a reversal — absence of such, clear preponderance of evidence against the findings as to convince us to a reasonable certainty that the trial judge decided wrong. It must not be lost sight of in this class of cases that there is a wide range between mere preponderance of evidence and that preponderance necessary to overcome the decision of a trial judge on controverted questions of fact.” By the Oourt. — The judgment is affirmed.