Butler v. Beech

Morrisoh, C. J.: On the 4th day of December, 1878, written articles of copartnership were entered into between plaintiff and defendant, for the purpose of carrying on the business of “ livery stable keepers, farmers, and stock-raisers,” and such copartnership continued in existence until the 1st day of May, 1876, when the same was dissolved by mutual consent. Disagreements having arisen in respect to the settlement of the accounts of the firm, plaintiff filed his complaint on the 8th day of March, 1877, praying that an account be taken of the dealings and transactions of the late firm. The case was referred to George C. Gibbs, the Court Commissioner, to take testimony and report findings ; and on the 5th day of December, 1877, Gibbs filed his report, from which it appears that there was due from the defendant to the plaintiff the sum of @4,510.75, and upon this report judgment was entered on the same day. Defendant made his motion for a new trial, which was denied, and the appeal is taken from the judgment as well as from the order of the Court denying the motion for a new trial.

The first point made on the appeal is, that error was committed in allowing plaintiff to introduce in evidence “ Exhibit A.” This exhibit purports to be a correct statement of the accounts between plaintiff and defendant, and was prepared by the witness Winslow, an expert in book-keeping. On cross-examination Winslow admitted in substance that he did not know that the books and papers from which “ Exhibit A” was made up were correct, and he further stated that the books had been changed by him at the instance of the plaintiff after the dissolution of the partnership.

If this had been the only evidence to justify the admission of the exhibit, it would have been error for the Court Commissioner to have admitted the same, for it cannot be doubted that the plaintiff had no right to alter the books after the dissolution of the partnership, and then offer in evidence such altered books in support of his case. But there is other evidence establishing the correctness of the books and papers from which the statement was prepared, and this, taken in connection with the evidence of Winslow, makes the statement prepared by him competent evidence in the case.

[30]The witness Winslow says: “ I obtained these items which I have placed in the books from the notes and papers that Mr. Butler holds, and the papers, from which said additional entries are made, are here tendered in evidence and speaking in this connection the plaintiff says: “ I think it is a correct statement of the account. It is to the best of my knowledge. It was made by Mr. Winslow and myself. We looked over the books and got up the statement the best we could. I am not an expert. I think the items stated in the account are correct.” The books were then offered, so that any item which the defendant wanted to examine could be turned to. The witness Winslow then testified as follows: “ My occupation is a book-keeper. This statement was obtained from Mr. Butler’s books and accounts and papers, kept by him for the firm of Beach & Butler.” Butler sa.ys: “ All the accounts he (Winslow) has put into the .books since we sold out, I have vouchers to show for them, notes and everything of the kind. I have vouchers to show for everything I have given myself credit for in that account.” And further on he continues : “ Perhaps both of us might have failed to keep correct accounts of the partnership, but I think I kept a correct account, or meant to. I have a record of all moneys paid to me, I think, and of all transactions, and these books contain a correct statement and are the records I have kept.”