The Mabey/Opinion of the Court

by Samuel Nelson

United States Supreme Court

77 U.S. 419

The Mabey

No excuse is shown in the papers, on which the motion is founded, why the witnesses named, and proposed to be examined, were not examined in some one of the courts below before the hearing there. The affidavit simply states that the testimony of these witnesses is material, as advised by counsel.

This is not in accordance with the practice of the court. Some excuse, satisfactory to this court, should be shown for the failure to examine them in the courts below, such as that the evidence was discovered when it was too late to procure such examination, or that the witnesses had been subpoenaed and failed to appear, and could not be reached by attachments, and the like. ^[1]

Many of the cases bearing on this subject are cases of amendment in the appellate court by adding new allegations and giving new proofs. ^[2] But they involve the practice applicable to motions simply to examine witnesses in the appellate court. There can be no substantial amendment in this court; but if the pleadings or evidence are so defective that no decree can be founded upon them, and the case appear to have merits, the court will reverse the decree and remand the cause to the court below with directions to permit amendments and further proofs. ^[3]

It is quite apparent, if commissions were to be allowed by this court to issue as a matter of course, on a formal application under the twelfth rule, without requiring any excuse for not taking the evidence in the usual way before the courts below, the privilege would be open to great abuse, disturbing the orderly proceedings in courts of admiralty. Instead of taking proofs in the cause in the courts below, and there thoroughly trying it, much of the evidence could safely be omitted, relying on the new evidence in this court. There is no hardship upon the parties in guarding against this abuse with great care and strictness, as they have two opportunities to procure the attendance and examaination of the witnesses before they come here on appeal: first, before the District Court, and again before the Circuit.

MOTION DENIED.

Notes

1. The Boston, 1 Summer, 328, 331; Coffin v. Jenkins, 3 Story, 108; The William, 7 Irish Jurist, 354; Jarvis v. Chandler, 1 Turner & Russell, 319.
2. Parsons on Shipping, 2 vol., pp. 429, 430, 431, and note; Conklin's Admiralty, pp. 418, 419; Lamb v. Parkman (2d Circuit, per Curtis, J., 21 Law Reporter, 589.
3. Brig Caroline, 7 Cranch, 496-500; Mary Anne, 8 Wheaton, 380.