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You are here: BAILII >> Databases >> Scottish Jury Court Reports >> Leven v. Young and Company. [1818] ScotJCR 1_Murray_350 (17 March 1818) URL: http://www.bailii.org/scot/cases/ScotJCR/1818/1_Murray_350.html Cite as: [1818] ScotJCR 1_Murray_350 |
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Page: 350↓
(1818) 1 Murray 350
CASES TRIED IN THE JURY COURT.
No. 33
Present, The Three Lords Commissioners.
L.2000 assessed as damages to a pursuer for the loss of his office, in consequence of the unfounded and groundless statements by the defenders.
This was an action of damages, for a ground-less and malicious charge made against the pursuer, to the Treasury, and to his superiors iii the Board of Excise, by means of which he was deprived of his office of Collector of Excise in the county of Fife; and also for circulating false and calumnious charges against him in public companies, and in the newspapers; and for having maliciously used inhibition in an ill-founded action brought against him.
Defence.—Separate defences were given in for the different parties.
Messrs Young and Company, and Mr Pitcairn, denied having given the information, and
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“What loss and damage the pursuer has sustained by being dismissed from the office of Collector of Excise, on the 13th day of August 1807, in consequence of the unfounded and groundless complaints of the defenders?
What damage the pursuer has sustained, independent of the loss arising from his dismissal from said office, by the calumnies contained in the 1st, 2d, and 4th articles of the principal and supplementary libels found relevant and proven, viz. 1st, The said William Young and Company, or the said William Young and John Young, the said Alexander Pitcairn, and the said George Young, with the concurrence of certain members of the Town Council of Burntisland, over whom they had an influence, secretly transmitted to the Lords Commissioners of the Treasury in London, and to the Commissioners of
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“The damages claimed are L.20,000.”
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The defenders had presented a memorial to the Lords of the Treasury, containing various accusations against the pursuer. Upon this an order was made on the Board of Excise to investigate the matter; and in consequence of these accusations, and the investigation which followed, the pursuer lost his situation. The letter from Mr Pearson, Secretary of Excise, announcing his dismissal, was dated in August 1807, and it was only in January 1817 that he had a promise of being re-appointed.
Mr Campbell, who is since dead, was employed as Collector from 1807 to 1809. At that time a considerable part of the revenue of Collectors arose from the interest of the public money remaining in their hands. Afterwards they were arranged in different classes, and had fixed salaries of L. 600, L. 500, &c. per annum. At this time a new collectorship was created, and part was taken from Fife, which reduced it to one of the second class, with a salary of L. 500 per annum.
Messrs Young and Company brought an action against the pursuer for the sum alluded to in the second issue, as improperly uplifted by him, from which he was assoilzied by the Court of Session, and the decision was affirmed on appeal, with L.70 costs. After
Page: 354↓
“7th February 1817.—The Lords, having resumed consideration of this petition, and also of the petition for Alexander Pitcairn and George Young, and having advised the same, with the answers thereto, they find, that the 1st, 2d, and 4th articles of the principal and supplementary libels are relevant and proven: Find, that the pursuer's dismissal from office proceeded from the unfounded and groundless complaints stated by the defenders against him, whereby he sustained a grievous injury, and a severe loss in point of income: Repel the defences pleaded for the defenders, William Young and Company, as also the separate defences pleaded for the said Alexander Pitcairn and George Young: Find the whole defenders, in both actions, conjunctly and severally liable to the pursuer in damages: But, before answer as to the amount of damages, appoint the pursuer to lodge, within ten days, a specific condescendence of the same, for the consideration of the Court: Find the whole defenders in both actions liable, conjunctly and severally, to the pursuer in the expences of process; allow an account thereof
Page: 355↓
to be lodged; and remit the same, when lodged, to the auditor, to tax and report.”
The pursuer accordingly lodged a condescendence, in which he stated the damages from his loss of office at more than L.6000, besides his claim for solatium.
The answer to the condescendence was ordered to be withdrawn; and, before sending the case to have the issues prepared, two passages were struck out of that subsequently put in.
The pleadings in the Court of Session cannot be given in evidence in proof of facts, but reference may be made to them to explain the meaning of the issue.
The pursuer gave, in evidence, different documents; the counsel were asked for what purpose the summons, condescendence, &c. were put in. No very distinct answer being given, the
Page: 356↓
If a public Board objects to the production of a paper in its custody, it is matter of discretion with the Court whether they will compel production of it.
In the course of the trial, the Deputy Comptroller of Excise was called on to produce an account of the money paid into the Excise by Mr Campbell during the time he was Collector in Fife.
Page: 357↓
If no objection had been made, then the document would have been produced of course; but, being stated, we must decide. I do not wish to overrule the objection, but wish rather that it should be withdrawn, as not necessary to be taken in this instance for the sake of the public service.
This was done accordingly, and the document was produced.
Keay, in opening the case for the pursuer, said,—This is an action of damages by the pursuer for reparation of a grievous injury. Having been deprived of a lucrative office by the unfounded, groundless, false, and malicious statements of the defenders, he has brought the present action to recover the emoluments of that office, and to obtain damages for the
Page: 358↓
The first issue is matter of arithmetical calculation, and the Court having found damages due, and that the pursuer is entitled to reparation from the defenders in consequence of their being the cause of his dismissal, the Jury have only to ascertain the amount. We shall prove the office to have been worth L.1800 during the two first years; but, to render the question more simple, the pursuer has limited his claim to L.600 per annum; and during the subsequent years he is entitled to the same sum, and to the allowance from Government for the payment of Chelsea pensioners.
We shall prove that the pursuer is very high on the list of collectors, and that it is customary to promote them according to seniority. We shall also prove that several collections of the first class have become vacant since he lost his situation, and there is no doubt he would have got one of them.
Fife is now a second rate collection; but, at the time the pursuer lost his office, it was one of the best in Scotland.
The second issue is a matter of feeling, not of calculation; but even here the Jury are not entitled to inquire whether damages are
Page: 359↓
Jeffrey,for the defenders, stated,—When this case was entire, it was a most proper case for a Jury. In the shape in which it now comes it is a most perplexing one. If, however, we are allowed to get at the evidence which we call for, we shall to a considerable extent diminish the sum of overwhelming damages claimed against us. The statement which followed showed that the pursuer did not consider this a mere matter of calculation. The sum and substance of the pursuer's claim is founded on the memorial to the Treasury, and in it he is not accused of doing any thing illegal or in violation of the duties of his office, nor does it pray for his dismissal from office, but merely his removal to some other quarter. It was in consequence of the investigations instituted, not on the statements in the memorial;—it was on a report by Messrs Bonar and Grant to the Excise, and on one by them to the Treasury, neither of which
Page: 360↓
We are undoubtedly bound by the final interlocutor of the Court of Session, but it does not find that he was kept out of office by the complaints of the defenders. You will not be disposed to give an extensive interpretation to its terms. Though damages are found due, none may be proved; he may have been turned out in consequence of the memorial, but he may have been kept out by facts discovered the day after.
Before assessing the damages, you must determine the degree of malice, &c.; and in mitigation of damage, I am entitled to prove that what I stated was true.
Before calling any witness, Mr Jeffrey asked the opinion of the Court whether they would order production of the papers by the Excise,
Page: 361↓
Clerk.—We must object to their producing any thing refused by the Court of Session. Much has been stated without proof, but I leave this with the Court.
It is the part of the Court to do away the impression made by the statements that are not proved.
Jeffrey.—If I had reason to expect, (and on my own view of the law I certainly would expect,) that these documents would be admitted, I would produce them without fear of the reply; but as this seems doubtful, and though it is taking a great responsibility, I rather decline calling evidence.
Page: 362↓
In finding damages due, the Court of Session have only done what they were clearly entitled to do; they have not gone beyond their jurisdiction, and we must take care that we do not go beyond ours. It has been said by the defenders' counsel, you will not do your duty if you do not look beyond the issue. When you know your duty, I have no doubt you will perform it; and it is my business to explain it to you. We are here limited to a narrow sphere. The express terms of the interlocutor exclude us from inquiry into any thing but the amount of the damages, and it would be unconscientious if we were to go into the other inquiry; this duty being imposed upon us, we are not to inquire whether it is properly imposed upon us or not.
In the first issue there are two subjects of consideration, 1 st, The loss and damage; 2 d, That this was occasioned by the unfounded and groundless complaints of the defender. It
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The information is found by the interlocutor to have been given falsely and maliciously, but, in estimating the amount of the damages, you must consider the extent of the malice and falsehood from the evidence as it stands.
Of the action for repetition or paying back the alleged overpayment, you can only look at the final judgment, giving it against the present defenders with L. 70 costs.
The advertisement is found by the interlocutor to be calumnious; but as the pursuer has produced it, we do not think we go beyond
Page: 364↓
The issue proceeds upon a finding which excludes us from considering any thing but the amount of the damages on account of his dismissal; but nothing appears in it as to his being kept out of the office. I have considered the interlocutor on which the issues are founded particularly, in order to take care that we do not go farther than it was the intention of the Court we should, and the issues are framed precisely in terms of the interlocutor.
This was an office during pleasure, and not, as has been stated by the pursuer's counsel, ad vitam aut culpam. You will consider the damages as an indemnification for a civil injury, not as a punishment for an offence.
His Lordship then commented on the terms of the different documents, and stated, Though the Jury must hold the memorial as the cause of the dismissal, they must, referring to the documents put in proof, consider the degree of malice. The advertisement is in general quite correct, but towards the conclusion it mentions the duties “illegally exacted,” which is a libellous expression, and the question for the Jury is, whether this will entitle the pursuer to a large solatium.
Page: 365↓
A bill of exceptions was tendered to two parts of the charge.
1 st, Because although the interlocutor of the Court finds that the dismissal of the pursuer proceeded from unfounded statements by the defenders, and although the defenders neither adduced nor tendered evidence to show that his continuance out of office was to be ascribed to any other cause, yet his Lordship directed the Jury that they were not bound to hold that the loss of office down to the present day was owing to these statements.
2 dly, Because, although the interlocutor finds the defenders' statements to be groundless and unfounded, and finds also the first, second, and fourth articles of the condescendence proved, yet his Lordship directed the Jury to consider the memorial of the defenders to the Treasury, and their advertisement, and Mr Pearson's letter, as circumstances which the Jury were entitled to take into consideration in assessing the damages.
As to the second, I did not state the documents as qualifying the findings of the
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You cannot except to my statement in fact or observations upon it. If I have misstated any part of the evidence, I am ready now to correct it. It is only to a direction in law, or to the admission or rejection of evidence, which is a direction in point of law, that a bill of exception applies. Your redress, in this state, of things, is by a motion for a new trial.
Clerk said,—The nature of the error is, that your Lordship has misconstrued the interlocutor. We except to the introduction of any thing tending to limit the findings of a final interlocutor.
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Verdict,—“The Jury find for the pursuer two thousand pounds damages.”
Counsel:
Clerk,
Moncreiff,
Cockburn, and
Keay, for the Pursuer.
Jeffrey and
Cuninghame, for the Defenders.
Solicitors: (Agents, John Tait, junr. w. s. and Jus. Stuart, w. s.)
March 9.
Vass v. Board of Customs, Feb. 20, 1818.
Eight days before the trial, Cuninghame moved for an order on the Board of Excise to produce, 1 st, The report by their solicitor of the investigation made on the complaint by the defenders; 2 d, The minutes of the Board and their Communication to the Treasury; 3 d, The answer from the Treasury; and insisted, The Board cannot dispute. the power of the Court to compel the production in modum probationis, and in this case the Court of Session only refused it as a bar to the action. The Treasury agreed to produce whatever was considered material by the Court.
There can be no doubt of the relevancy now, and the other party have drawn their evidence from the same quarter.
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In the present case, however, it is not necessary to decide that point, as it is stated that these papers are required, 1 st, For information; 2d, As evidence.
There are very few instances in which the Court ought to interfere to assist a party in obtaining information; he ought to come into Court able to make out his case by his own information, and by his own strength.
The next question is, whether we are to order them to be produced as evidence. We are here to decide this under authority of the Act of Sederunt 9th July 1817; and we are of opinion, that, if here, they could not be used as evidence. Evidence must be upon oath; there must be an opportunity of cross-examination; they must be subject to all the tests, and be under all the solemnity with which evidence is given.
None of these muniments, without verbal testimony, would be sufficient to prove the cause of dismissal; and the verbal testimony is as good
Page: 369↓
We are here sitting as if there was a Jury impannelled and the case opened. We must, therefore, look to the issues in considering the propriety of our decision. If, under the first issue, we are to try whether the statements were groundless and unfounded, then parol testimony is the proper evidence. If, on the contrary, the Court have decided this, then these muniments are not receivable. The same observation applies to the two first articles of the second issue. The last article is positive, but the motion before the Court does not apply to it.
As this is the first instance of our acting under the Act of Sederunt, it is of consequence that it should be understood that we consider our decision on this point as subject to review by a bill of exceptions, which may be carried to the last resort. The Act of Parliament contemplates the production of written evidence as done in presence of the Jury. But as the Act
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It is not to be understood that the Court have any doubt of their power to compel any haver to produce evidence. As they decide upon the competency of a question to a witness, so they must decide if a document is to be produced; but, in deciding this with reference to a public Board, they will often have to exercise much discretion, as well as to attend to strict law.
Jeffrey, for the defenders, requested to know if it was necessary now to present his bill of exceptions, and have it discussed before the trial.
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Parties were called, on the following day, to hear an alteration in the terms of the order, which the
14th May.
At the first sittings after the vacation, the Court was attended by counsel, with a view to adjust the bill of exceptions by the pursuer.
It is of consequence to attend to the distinction between the technical and the common meaning of misdirection. Observations on dence, however erroneous, are not misdirection; the only misdirections are stating as law to the Jury what is not law; rejecting competent, or admitting incompetent evidence; or, as is alleged to be the case here, directing them to consider matter excluded by the issue.
The grounds of the exception are, that I
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The difficulty here is, that the evidence was given by the pursuer; and that, if it was not correctly stated at first, still the Jury, before making up their verdict, heard the discussion, and saw the feeling of the pursuer's counsel on the subject. I doubt if it can be put in shape to do any good, and think it would be better to let the matter be discussed, on an application for a new trial.
One point in the bill of exceptions it is material to observe upon. It is said I directed the Jury to consider, whether the pursuer was entitled to damages on account of his continuance out of office, though no evidence was offered by the defenders to show that his continuance out of office was to be ascribed to any other cause, &c. If the defender had offered this evidence, it would have been rejected; and this statement, therefore, cannot be allowed to enter into the bill. I felt most anxious not to go beyond the issue; and am only anxious to have things correctly done; and, in a case which will probably go to the
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In all cases, it is of importance to separate the law from the fact; and it is only by keeping them quite distinct that we can ever arrive at any degree of accurracy in practice.
Mr Clerk gave up the bill of exceptions, with a view of applying for a new trial on the general grounds.
22d May.
Cockburn, in the Court of Session, obtained a rule on the defender to show cause why a new trial should not be granted.
9th June.
Jeffrey, showed for cause, that in cases of tort, no new trial would be granted in England on the ground of the verdict being contrary to evidence; that the Jury gave the value of the office at the time the pursuer lost it; that the issue was limited to the loss occasioned by his dismissal from office, not his being kept out of it.
l0th June.
Keay argued,—The verdict is contrary to evidence; and it is essential to justice to grant a new trial. On the first issue, we proved the loss to be more than L.5000, and the Jury were bound to find that sum.
This is a question of evidence; evidence was led, and the Jury went against it. On
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3 Black. Com. 388.
2 Wilson's Rep. 206 and 248.
4 Durnf. 651.
1 Strange, 425.
2 Strange, 940. Barnes, 153 and 436.
2 Sir W. Black. Rep. 942.
1 Wilson, 298.
7 Durnf. 529.
In England, new trials were formerly refused on the ground of excessive damages as well as on the ground of their being too low; but the Courts now grant them in cases of excessive damages; and every reason for granting a new trial when the damages are excessive, applies equally when the damages are too small. Lord Mansfield was of opinion that great latitude should be allowed in granting them; the reluctance to grant new trials arose from their having come in the place of a writ of attaint; and, from many civil suits being in form criminal, and no second trial will be granted to the Crown against the defendant. In support of these positions, he referred to a number of authorities. *
2d July.
Three of the Judges concurred in opinion that the first issue was nearly, though not strictly, matter of account; and that it was essential to justice to grant a new trial. They did not consider themselves bound by the principles
_________________ Footnote _________________ * See Grant's Summary of the Law relating to New Trials, pages 192, 210, 220, 226–7, 233, and 239.
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One Judge, who had been Lord Ordinary in the case, was of a different opinion, and considered this a complex case, of which the Jury were the proper judges. He had felt it difficult to fix the amount of damages, though he felt no difficulty in finding damages due. As this was thought a proper case for an issue, he was of opinion that the verdict ought to be conclusive.
The Court accordingly granted a new trial, and recommended to the presiding Judge in the Jury Court to direct the Jury to return separate findings on each issue.
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NEW TRIAL.
PRESENT, THE THREE LORDS COMMISSIONERS.
1818. July 15.
L.1800 assessed for the loss of office, and L.200 as solatium.
Of this date, the second trial proceeded, and the pursuer rested his case on the same grounds as at the former trial, only he did not produce the memorial to the Lords of the Treasury.
Cockburn opened the case for the pursuer; and, in the course of his speech, stated, That the defenders had secretly transmitted a memorial accusing the pursuer of perverting his office to purposes of burgh politics, and of having been guilty of fraud and theft, by overcharging the trader, and not accounting for the proceeds of his collection.
Jeffrey.—You cannot prove this, and ought not to state it.
Cockburn.—I am entitled to fair play, and ought not to be interrupted by an averment that I cannot prove this. All statements are
Page: 377↓
A number of documents, and parts of the proceedings in the Court of Session, were put in evidence, one of them the answers to the condescendence, from which certain articles were ordered to be expunged.
Jeffrey, for the defenders, objected,—These articles have no longer any existence. If they had been on a separate paper, they would have been withdrawn.
Moncreiff, for the pursuer.—We put in evidence the answers lodged by the defenders. We do not require them to be read in proof of facts stated, but to make the interlocutor ordering them to be expunged intelligible.
This being an averment of the party, is not
Page: 378↓
Jeffrey.—It has been held that the condescendence, &c. are not before the Jury, which shows they are not binding on the party. We are entitled to have the whole document read, or they must now admit that I am entitled to read it without giving them the right to reply. When the case was last here, I was allowed to read from a printed report of the former question between the parties, as the counsel for the pursuer had referred to it.
Jeffrey, Then suggested that the pursuer was bound to produce the memorial referred to by Mr Cockburn.
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Cockburn.—We are not bound to produce the memorial, as the interlocutor proves all that I stated with regard to it.
In order to shorten the proceedings, Mr Jeffrey stated, That it was unnecessary for the pursuer to prove minutely the value of the office. As his defence rested on a different ground, he admitted that the gross emolument of the office was as stated by Mr Cockburn.
Jeffrey.—The Court of Session having granted a second trial, does not throw any stigma on the former verdict, as the Jury who returned it heard the evidence, which the Court did not. This is purely a question of damages, which is practically a penal action, and must be viewed with leniency to the defenders, as in a criminal case.
We are confident the interlocutor finding
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It is by artfully withholding our memorial, which did not even pray for his dismissal, that he hopes for a better verdict. The former Jury thought L.2000 sufficient.
Moncreiff.—Mr Jeffrey is not entitled to state this. We abstained from stating what took place at the former trial, as, on consultation, we thought it improper.
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Jeffrey.—The Jury may believe, or not, that L.2000 was given, as I shall show that the pursuer is not entitled to more than half that sum.
The former question between the parties was decided in 1812; he is not entitled to claim beyond that date; at all events, he cannot claim beyond the date of his summons in 1813. What he has lost was not, as stated, the value of a free annuity, but the sum for which this office would have sold, with all the risk, labour, and responsibility attached to it.
Those who deprived the pursuer of his office are perfectly able to repair the damage they have done. The only question here is, the sum the defenders are to pay for giving the information.
Page: 382↓
The judgment sending the case for trial shows that it was formerly tried; and, in compliance with an advice contained in that judgment, I would request you to give separate and distinct damages on each issue. We cannot refer to, or form our opinion upon what took place at the former trial, as all that the judgment granting a new trial shows, is, that you are the second Jury on this case. At present you are to find what is alleged and proved; what has been said or alleged and not proved, must not in this trial influence your opinion.
It is necessary to attend particularly to the terms of the first issue; it requires this Court to try what loss and damage the pursuer has sustained by being dismissed from his office. The question of loss is a mere writ of inquiry, and if there were no ingredients to qualify it, a dry matter of account. But damage by loss of office may not be mere dry matter of account, so as to exclude all qualifications and observations on the nature of the case.
In considering the two issues separately, it is necessary to consider the loss of money as distinct from the solatium, and to take care that damages are not given twice; first in the question
Page: 383↓
We must suppose there was sufficient to warrant the terms of false and malicious, applied by the Court to the information given by the defenders. We also find, from Mr Pearson's letter, that the pursuer was not dismissed on account of interfering in politics, but for taking interest from the trader. [His Lordship then went through the evidence, both written and parol, in detail, and observed upon the pecuniary deductions stated by Mr Jeffrey,]—We consider the allowance for Chelsea pensioners as not properly part of the office of collector, but we see by the evidence that they have in fact been united. You are to consider whether they are so united as to make that allowance a deduction or not. The terms of the issue are for dismissal from his office of Collector of Customs, and this may be said not to be part of that office.
It is said that the calculation of the value of the office must stop at the date of the summons in 1813. This is the only question of law in the case, and is a difficult question, but, as there is no limitation in the issue, as it does not limit the time to a particular day, we cannot direct
Page: 384↓
In considering this question, in one view of the case put by Mr Cockburn, that you are to consider the value of a certain annuity for a certain period of time, you must attend both to the nature and tenure of the office. It was a laborious office, and it is too much to say, because the pursuer has lived eleven years, that you are to give him the value of an annuity for that time. You are to consider the value of a laborious office of this nature, and make allowance for all the probable gains and reasonable deductions.
It was not an office during life or good behaviour, of which a man cannot be deprived except by the sentence of a Court of Justice; but he was dependent on the will of his superiors, and might be dismissed from it at their pleasure. But, on the other hand, this sort of office is always held during good behaviour, and kept generally, and indeed with few exceptions, for life, not removeable like the political officers of the state. It is material to attend to this in considering its value as compared to an annuity, and likewise the responsibility attached to it, and that it is laborious.
These show this not to be a mere matter of
Page: 385↓
The second issue is not sent here as questionable, but the malice and falsehood are decerned by the interlocutor. If the case had been sent without this finding, the pursuer must have proved a case sufficient to infer malice, but being found, it throws the proof of any facts that would lessen the degree of malice on the defenders, and they have led no evidence.
I have to repeat, that with the former trial you have nothing to do; you must not allow it to operate upon your verdict, but must find from the evidence which has been laid before you, separating the damages as to each issue.
When there is actual loss proved, as matter of account it is a debt, and you must find it, whatever may be the consequences; but the
Page: 386↓
Verdict,—“Find for the pursuer on the first issue damages L. 1800, and on the second issue L. 200.”
Counsel:
Moncreiff,
Cockburn, and
Keay,for the Pursuer.
Jeffrey,
J. A. Murray, and
Cuninghame, for the Defenders.
Solicitors: (Agents, John Tait, jun. w. s. and Jas. Stuart, w. s.)