Knight v. Donnelly
| Decision Date | 01 February 1909 |
| Citation | 115 S.W. 1050,135 Mo.App. 105 |
| Parties | MILLARD F. KNIGHT et al., Appellants, v. JEROME DONNELLY et al., Respondents |
| Court | Kansas Court of Appeals |
Appeal from Jackson Circuit Court.--Hon. Thomas J. Seehorn, Judge.
AFFIRMED.
Judgment affirmed.
Laughlin & Kenworthy for appellant.
(1) In Wilson v. Railroad, 53 Mo.App. 342, the clerk of the court allowed and taxed as costs mileage in favor of certain witnesses who had in writing accepted service of the subpoenas. Subpoenas were regularly issued and the witnesses attended the trial. Cemetery Assn. v. Dalton, 53 Mo.App. 345; McHoney v. Kerwin, 56 Mo.App. 462; State ex rel. v. Seibert, 130 Mo. 222.
Warner Dean, McLeod & Timmonds for respondents.
(1) No instructions having been asked or given, and the only exception being to the judgment, there is nothing before this court for review. Wilson v. Railroad, 46 Mo. 36; Clark v. Transfer Co., 127 Mo. 255; Dickson v Elevator Co., 44 Mo.App. 498; Mathewson v Kilburn, 183 Mo. 110. (2) In the absence of instructions, and of particular rulings, the presumption will be indulged that the judgment was proper. Currey v. Bank, 100 Mo.App. 532; Dobbins v. Humphrey, 171 Mo. 198. (3) The so-called subpoena was null and void. Lucas v. Brown, 127 Mo.App. 645. (4) The attendance of the witness was voluntary. State ex rel. v. Wilder, 196 Mo. 418.
This is an appeal from the action of the court in retaxing costs. The plaintiffs recovered judgment. One of the plaintiffs' witnesses, Mrs. D. D. Lewis, claimed $ 57.70 as fees, $ 30 of which was for twenty-four days' attendance at $ 1.25 a day and $ 27 for 554 miles traveled by her; and the full amount was taxed by the clerk in her favor. The defendants filed a motion to retax said costs on the ground that as the witness had not been subpoenaed her appearance as a witness was voluntary, and that she was on the witness stand a part of one day only. The court on hearing sustained the motion and rendered judgment retaxing the witness' fees so as to allow for $ 1.25 only.
It was shown by the evidence that the witness resided at Detroit, Michigan. Plaintiffs' attorney at Kansas City wrote to her a letter requesting her to come to the trial, stating that he would send her a subpoena; that she could accept service on the same when she arrived inside of the State of Missouri; that her fees from that point to Kansas City would be sufficient to pay her fare from Detroit; that the amount would be advanced to her; that he would get some one to pay her the money; and that on these representations the witness consented to come. The case did not come to trial for several weeks after her arrival in Kansas City, but witness remained until it did and testified in the case during one day only.
It was shown that plaintiffs' attorney had in his office a printed, blank subpoena, having the name of the clerk printed thereon, but not having the signature of the clerk or any of his deputies. The attorney filled in the blank spaces, name of witness, title of the cause, date for attendance, party on whose behalf she should attend, dated and...
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