THE LIBRARY
OF
THE UNIVERSITY
OF CALIFORNIA
LOS ANGELES
SCHOOL OF LAW
A TREATISE
GENERAL PRACTICE
CONTAINING
RULES AND SUGGESTIONS
WORK OF THE ADVOCATE
PREPARATION FOR TRIAL, CONDUCT OF THE TRIAL
AND PREPARATION FOR APPEAL
BY
BYRON K. ELLIOTT
AND
WILLIAM F. ELLIOTT
Authors of a Treatise on the Law of Roads and Streets and of a
Treatise on Appellate Procedure
VOLUME 11
INDIANAPOLIS AND KANSAS CITY
THE BOWEN-MERRILL COMPA^'Y
m
COPYHIGHT 1894
Br
THE BOWEN-MERRILL CO.
T
9
PRESS OF
CAELON & IIOLLENBECK,
INDIAN AI'OLIS.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Book II
THE ADVOCATE'S WORK IN COURT
TRIAL PRACTICE
VOLUME II.
CHAPTER XVI.
APPEARANCE.
PAGE.
§ 472. Definition — What constitutes 603
473. Autliority to appear 604
474. General appearance 607
475. Effect of a general appearance 609
476. Special appearance 612
477. Effect of special appearance 613
478. Withdrawal of appearance 614
CHAPTER XVIL
CONTINUANCE.
479. When continuance is advisable 616
480. Bad policy to ask many continuances 617
481. Continuance discretionary with court 617
482. Causes for continuance 618
483. Time for making application — Rules of court 621
484. Application — How made — Affidavits 621
485. Admissions may justify denial of application 623
486. Conditions — Payment of costs 624
487. Error in refusing continuance — How saved or cured 625
(iii)
LLItiU
IV TABLE OF CONTENTS VOL. II.
CHAPTER XVIII.
CHANGE OF VENUE.
PAGE.
§ 488. Causes for 626
489. Who may have 628
490. Number of changes allowed 629
491. Duty of court to grant 629
492. To what county 630
493. When application must be made 631
494. Rules of court as affecting time of making application 632
495. Excuses for not making application in time 633
496. The application— Affidavits. 634
497. Notice of application 635
498. Objections — Waiver 636
499. Order granting change 637
500. Perfecting the change — Costs — Transcript 637
501. Effect of change — Jurisdiction 638
602. Change of judge 639
503. Saving questions for appeal 641
CHAPTER XIX.
IMPANELING THE JURY.
504. Right to jury trial 642
505. Number of jurors 643
506. Waiver of right to jury 644
507. Right to impartial jury 645
508. Qualifications of jurors 645
509. Selecting the jurors — Generally 646
510. Manner of questioning jurors 647
511. Purpose of examination 648
512. Objects to be kept in view 649
513. Peremptory challenges — Right to be carefully exercised 650
514. Examination to discover reason for peremptory challenge 650
515. Prejudice — Examination with reference to particular case 651
516. Challenging the array 652
517. Principal grounds of challenge for cause 653
518. Disqualification on account of interest 653
519. Lack of statutory qualifications 655
520. Disqualification because of relationship. 655
521. Disqualification because of personal hostility or bias 656
522. Disqualification because of pending lawsuit 658
523. Disqualification because of dependence on party 658
524. Disqualification on account of opinion 659
525. Trying grounds of challenge 661
TABLE OF CONTENTS VOL. II. V
PAGE.
§ 526. Examination of juror on voir dire <^)62
527. Peremptory challenges— Number (>63
528. When right to challenge nmst be exercised 004
529. AVaiver of objections to jurors 605
530. Grounds of challenge must be specific 006
531. Excusing jurors 667
532. Saving questions for appeal 667
CHAPTER XX.
THE RIGHT TO OPEN AND CLOSE.
533. Importance of the right to open and close 669
534. Its advantages and disadvantages 070
535. When defendant should assume the burden 071
536. Dangers in assuming l)urden 073
537. Right and duty correlative 674
538. Who has the right to open and close — General rule 675
539. When the rule applies— Damages 675
540. Right where several issues or defendants 676
541. How defendant may acquire the right — Admissions 676
542. How plaintiff may prevent defendant from acquiring the right . . . .677
543. Effect of failure to offer evidence— Waiver 678
544. Special proceedings 678
CHAPTER XXI.
THE STATEMENT OF THE CASE.
545. Importance of opening statement 681
546. Of what it should consist 682
547. Its leading purpose 684
548. Anticipating the defense 685
.549. Repetition 685
550. Arguing too soon 687
551. Perspicuity and clearness 687
552. How to secure clearness 688
553. Virtue of plain statement 688
554. Attention of jury must be aroused 689
555. Suggestive statement 690
556. Evidence should not be overstated 691
557. Presenting a tenable theory 691
558. Keeping statement within proper limits — Discretion of court 692
559. Exceeding proper limits — Saving and curing error 692
CHAPTER XXII.
SEPARATING AND LIMITING NUMBER OF WITNESSES.
560. When advisable to ask for a separation of witnesses 694
561. Discretion of court to order separation 694
VI TABLE OF CONTENTS VOL. II.
PAGE,
§ 562. To whom the order applies 695
563. Effect of disobedience of order by witness 696
564. Right to limit the number of witnesses 697
565. Constitutionality and effect of statutes prescribing number of wit-
nesses 698
566. Limitation must be reasonable — Right of parties to testify 698
567. Objections and exceptions — Waiver 699
CHAPTER XXIII.
DELIVERY OF THE EVIDENCE.
568. Importance of good impression in beginning 700
569. Orderly arrangement of evidence 701
570. Natural order should be adopted 702
571. Attention to details 703
572. Discretion as to order of introducing evidence 704
573. Proper order of introducing evidence — Departure from 704
574. Evidence in anticipation of defense 705
575. Evidence in rebuttal 705
576. Evidence irrelevant at time introduced upon promise to make
relevant 706
577. Evidence should not be introduced piecemeal 706
678. Re-opening the case 707
579. Keeping incompetent evidence from jury 707
580. Objections should be made only to harmful evidence 708
581. Objections should be supported 709
582. Written objections 709
583. Objections to leading questions 710
584. Objections must be specific 711
585. Objection where question is proper but answer incompetent 713
586. Objections where there are several parties 713
587. Offer of evidence after objection 713
588. Trial of competency of witnesses — Preliminary exainiiiation 715
589. Extent and method of preliminary examination 716
590. Interposing questions to determine competency of evidence 717
591. Exception to ruling on objection 718
592. Effect of irrelevant evidence — Opening door for adversary 719
593. Withdrawing evidence 719
594. Striking out evidence 720
595. Quantity of evidence 722
CHAPTER XXIV.
THE examination-in-chii:f.
596. The oath or affirmation 723
597. Inspiring witness with confidence 724
598. Introductory questions 725
TABLK OF CONTENTS VOL. II. Vll
PAGB.
•§ .")iW. Manner of asking questions 726
(iOO. Witness should be permitted to testify in his own way 726
Wl. Leave to ask leading questions 727
<J02. Calling attention to omissions 728
()03. Rebuking a witness 728
(504. Errors to be avoided 729
(i05. Repetition 730
t)0(). Cross-examining one's own witness 730
()07. Fixing dates 730
608. Witnesses who prove too much 732
609. Hostile witnesses 733
610. Unfavorable answer — How to avoid its effect 735
611. Questions should be pertinent and relevant 735
612. Compound questions 736
613. Leading questions 736
614. Assuming facts 737
615. Examination should be confined to known facts — Memoranda 737
616. Matters of opinion 738
617. Examination of experts 739
618. Examination of deaf and dumb witnesses 741
619. Interpreters 741
CHAPTER XXV.
THE CROSS-EXAMINATION.
620. Object of cross-examination 743
621 . Cross-examiner's position 744
622. Actual and apparent cross-examination 744
623'. When apparent cross-examination is advisable 745
()24. AVhen advisable not to cross-examine 746
625. Purposeless cross-examination 748
626. Timid witness — How to cross-examine 749
627. Bold and unscrupulous witness — How to cross-examine 750
628. How to distinguish untruthful witness 750
629. Course where testimony is false 752
630. Good temper must be preserved 752
631. Order of cross-examination 753
632. Coloring testimony 755
633. Perils of cross-examination 756
634. Reluctant witness — How^ to treat 758
635. Adverse witness — How to cross-examine 758
636. Explanations — When to cross-examine for 759
637. Detection of falsehood — Keeping knowledge from witness 760
638. How to show that testimony is false 760
639. Cross-examination as to time and place 761
640. Witness who does not remember — How to treat 762
641 . Cross-examination as to motive 763
642. Facts should be separated from inferences 764
yiii TABLE OF CONTENTS VOL. II.
PAGE.
§ 643. Interested and prejudiced witnesses— How to treat 766
644. Assumption that witness is mistaken 766
645. Sources of error 767
646. Error in perception — Cross-examination to discover 767
647. Error in memory — Cross-examination to discover 769
648. Error as to identity 770
649. Hypothesis— Cross-examiner should form 772
650. Danger in asking too many questions 774
651. Expert witnesses— Classes of 775
652. Cross-examination of professional experts 776
653. Duty of opposing counsel 778
654. Leading questions 779
655. Unfair assumptions 779
656. Questions calling for criminating answer 780
657. Compound questions 781
658. Extent of cross-examination— Latitude allowea 782
659. Objections— When to be made 784
CHAPTER XXVI.
THE RE-EXAMINATION,
660. Object of re-examination 785
661. Clearing away obscurities 785
662. Restoring confidence 786
663. Asking for explanations 787
664. Sustaining corrupt or impeachable witness 788
665. Bringing out entire transaction 78&
666. Treatment of favorable new matter developed on cross-examination. 789
667. Explaining discrepancies 790
668. Eliciting new matter 790
669. Recalling witnesses for re-examination 791
670. Objections— Use and abuse of 792
CHAPTER XXVII.
IMPEACHMENT OF WITNESSES.
671. Impeachment of party's own witness— (General rule 794
672. Exceptions to the rule 795
673. Right to impeach witness of adverse party 797
674. Impeachment by proof of contradictory or- inconsistent statements . 798
675. Laying the foundation for impeachment by contradictory state-
ments 800
676. Impeachment by evidence of character or reputation 802
677. Specific acts of immorality 804
678. Laying the foundation for proof of bad character 804
679. Cross-examination of impeaching witness 805
680. Corroborating and sustaining witnesses 806
TAliLE OF CONTENTS VOL. II. IX
CHAPTER XXVIII.
INSPECTION AND VIEW.
AGE.
§ 681. Inspection of person — In what cases 808
682. Inspection and physical examination in criminal cases 809
683. Physical examination of plaintiff in personal injury cases 809
684. Order for inspection of person — How enforced 810
685. Inspection of chattels 811
686. Experiments and practical tests 811
687. View by jury — Discretion of court 813
688. Object of the view 813
689. ]\Ianner of proceeding — Irregularities 814
690. Photographs and diagrams 816
CHAPTER XXIX.
THE ADDRESS TO THE JURY.
091. Right to be heard in argument 818
692. Number of speakers and order and time of argument 819
693. To what argument should be coufined — ?^Iisconduct of counsel 819
G94. Reading from books in argument 822
695. Misconduct of counsel— How taken advantage of 823
696. Purpose of the address 824
697. Argument must be adapted to the case 824
698. Earnestness and determination are essential 825
699. Diction — Ornament and embellishment 826
700. ^Making the cause speak 829
701. Illustrative anecdotes 829
702. ^Making jurors think they could have presented the case equally well.830
703. Advocates in the Beecher-Tilton case 831
704. Advocate must be sincere and straightforward 831
705. Sacrifice of self 832
706. Influence and effect of vanity 832
707. Power in words 833
708. Examples of the power of words 835
709. Art of putting things 836
710. Tact and sagacity 838
711. Elements* and virtues of the art of putting things 840
712. INIethod — AVhat determines 841
713. Facts are the principal materials of the address 841
714. Arrangement and treatment of the facts 842
715. Other elements of the address 843
716. Hume's method that of the advocate 843
717. Mere assertions of no value 844
718. Overstating confidence in case 845
719. Danger in exaggeration — Arousing hostility 845
X tablp: of contents — vol. ii.
PAGE.
§ 720. Argument should seem intrinsically strong 846
721. Explanation— Nature and use of 847
722. Explanation in civil cases 850
723. Comparison as an aid to explanation 850
724. Explanation by examples 851
725. Refutation of explanation 853
726. Examples that appear to explain, but do not 856
727. Partial explanation given as complete 857
728. Description as an element of the address 859
729. Narrative part of the address 862
730. ]Masters of narrative 864
731. Essentials of narrative 865
732. Effect of theory on narrative 866
733. Ultimate purpose of narrative 868
734. Tracing effect to cause 868
735. Rhetorical invention 870
736. Use of circumstances 871
737. Groundwork and materials of invention 872
738. Molding the materials into form 875
739. Probability is essential 876
740. Appeal to experience 877
741. Natural acts— Motives 880
742. Unnatural acts — Reasons for 880
743. Acts apparently unnatural must be made to appear natural 881
744. Probability established by assigning adequate cause 882
745. Importance of probability 883
746. Order of narrating facts 884
747. Dealing with the parties and witnesses 886
748. Making too many points 887
749. Repetition — How far an element of strengtli 889
750. Extent and manner of refutation 890
751. Attacking adverse hypothesis 892
752. Use of analysis in refutation 893
753. Advocate should present his own case before refuting opponent's
argument 893
754. Indirect attack 894
755. Suggestive method 895
756. Stratagem of attacking few points 896
757. Admissions — When advisable 897
758. Commenting on testimony and witnesses 897
759. Conflict in testimony — How treated 899
760. Mistakes of witnesses — How caused and treated 900
^61. Commenting on testimony of admissions 903
762. Course where witness is discredited 904
763. Showing the motive of corrupt witness 905
764. Other matters to be shown where witness has sworn falsely 908
765. Discussing crediVjility of witnesses — Opportunity to know 908
766. Imperfect recollection of witness 910
TABLE OF CONTKNTS VOL. II. XI
PAGE.
§ 7()7. Silence and omission of important mutters 'HU
7()S. False witnesses deal in generalities '•*!-
7()lt. Behavior of witness on the stand— Comments on 912
770. Interest of witness 91''j
771. .Meaning and use of the maxim, "false in one false in all." 914
772. I'se of incidental matters t(j suppijrt witness 91(i
77.!. Number of witnesses — Effect of 910
774. Immaterial inconsistencies 917
77.1. Relative force and value of positive and negative testimony 918
776. Commenting on inconsistencies or differences in statements made
at different times 920
777. Use of presumptions 921
778. Applying the law to the facts 92^
779. Consequences— Argument from 924
780. Persuasion— Appeal to passions 926
781. Pathos— Use and abuse of 926
CHAPTER XXX.
ARGUMENT OF QUESTIONS OF LAW.
782. Importance and nature of argument 929
783. Preparation of argument 930
784. Matter and style 930
785. Elementary principles 931
786. Strategy 933
787. Superiority of oral arguments 934
788. Prolixity to be avoided 93o
789. Reason and eloquence 936
790. Considering the nature of the cause 938
791. Statement of facts 939
792. Statement of questions involved 940
793. Method — r>ivision of argument. 940
794. Referring to authorities 942
795. Points in the case 943
796. Discussion of judicial decisions — Principle 944
797. Precedent — Stare decisis 948
798. Attacking judicial decisions 951
799. Applying legal principle to particular case. . 955
800. Use and abuse of maxims! 956
801. Effect of harsh operation of general rule in particular instance . . . .958
802. Showing case to be within exception to general rule 960
803. Course where no precedent is found 962
804. Extending precedents to new cases 963
805. Consideration of consequences 965
806. Discrimination — Denying application of rule to particular case. . . .966
807. Arguing for the application of the rule 967
XU TABLE OF CONTENTS VOL. II.
CHAPTER XXXI.
FALLACIES AND ARTIFICES.
PAGE.
§ 808. Fallacy— Definition 969
809. Weak argument should be avoided 970
810. How to expose fallacies 972
811. Finding the fallacy 974
812. Principal classes of fallacies 975
813. Illicit assumption 975
814. Illicit assumption in analogical reasoning 977
815. Fallacy of examples 978
816. Fallacy of confusion 978
817. Incomplete discrimination 979
818. Non cmisa pro causa 983
819. Verbal fallacies 984
820. Fallacy of equivocation 987
821. Begging the question — Vicious circle .• 988
822. Fallacy of experience 991
823. Fallacia accidentis 994
824. Incomplete division 995
825. Dilemmas 997
826. Incoiijiplete enumeration 998
827. Incomplete induction or imperfect generalization !»99
828. Non sequitnr 1001
829. Mistaking the point in dispute 1002
830. Objections to proposition may not overturn it 1003
831. Artifice of stating some facts and suppressing others 1003
832. Suppressing a material factor 1004
833. Artifice of covert assumption 1005
834. Asserting deduction as a fact 1006
835. Artifice of referring to authorities not in point 1006
836. Artifice of stating objections to one's own argument 1007
837. Artifice of stating propositions of adversary and then refuting them. 1007
838. Dissecting and i-efuting probabilities separately 1008
839. Artifice of repeating same argument in different forms 1009
840. Shifting ground 1009
841. Artifice of evasion 1010
842. Artifice of praising opposing counsel 1012
843. Mingling false propositions with true 1012
844. Artifice of insinuation 1013
845. Supposed cases 1015
84(5. Insinuating disavowals 1015
847. Unprofessional tricks 1016
848. Forensic tactics 1017
849. Consultation with jurors 1018
850. Fairly stating and refuting objections in advance 1018
851 . Artifice is seldom successful 1018
TABLfc; OF CONTENTS VOL. II. XIU
CHAPTER XXXTI.
WITHDRAWING THK CASK FlIOM THE JURY.
PAGE.
§ 852. Right to withdraw the case from the jury 1020
853. Determining the Hne of action 1022
854. Cases that may be taken from the jury 1023
855. Demurrer to the evidence 1024
856. Nature of a demurrer to the evidence 1025
857. Intendments against the party who demurs 1026
858. What the demurrer admits 1027
859. What the demurrer waives 1029
860. Party upon whom the burden of proof rests can not demur to the
evidence 1029
861. Demurrer withdraws favorable evidence 1030
862. Demurrer where presumption makes a prima facie case 1030
863. What the demurrer must contain 1031
864. Waiver of the right to demur. 1031
865. Effect of denmrrer on the right to subsecjuently introduce evidence . 1032
866. Cross-examination of adverse witness not a waiver of the right to
demur 1033
867. Withdrawal of the demurrer 1034
868. Joinder in demurrer 1034
869. Assessment of damages 10.34
870. Judgment on demurrer 1035
871 . .Saving the (jucstions 1035
872. Risk in demurring to the evidence 1036
873. Reasons making a demurrer expedient 1036
874. Reluctance of judges to disturb verdicts 1037
875. Cautious cross-examination necessary where a demurrer to the
evidence is resolved upon 1038
876. Compulsory nonsuit 1039
877. Nonsuit where there are several parties. 1040
878. Test for determining when motion for nonsuit should be sustained .1041
879. When motion must be made 1042
880. ^Motion must specify grounds 1042
881. Introducing evidence after motion for nonsuit — Waiver 1043
882. Error in ruling on motion — How saved and reviewed 1043
883. Voluntary nonsuit or dismissal 1046
884. Time of taking nonsuit 1048
885. Voluntary nonsuit not appealable 1049
886. W^ithdrawing a juror 1050
887. Directing a verdict— Effect 1050
888. When instruction directing verdict must be requested — Waiver.. . 1051
889. When verdict will be directed 1053
890. When not directed 1055
XIV TABLE OF CONTENTS VOL. II.
CHAPTER XXXIII.
INSTRUCTING THE JURY. PAGE.
§ 891. Province of court and jury '. 105b
8t)2. English rule in Federal courts 1059
893. What may be considered as a part of the charge 1060
894. Written instructions 1060
895. Preparing the instructions 1061
896. Requesting instructions 1063
897. Compliance with request — Modification of instructions requested 1065
898. Essential elements and limits of charge 1065
899. Instructions must be pertinent IO69
900. Disputed facts should not be assumed 1068
901. Instructions as to weight or credibility of evidence 1069
902. Giving undue prominence to particular evidence 1071
903. Cautionary instructions 1072
904. Construing instructions 1075
905. Withdrawing and correcting instructions 1076
906. Additional instructions— Recalling jury 1077
907. Excepting to instructions 1078
908. When erroneous instruction is not fatal 1081
CHAPTER XXXIV.
SPECIAL INTERROGATORIES.
909. Practice and object of submitting interrogatories to jury 1083
910. When advisable — Caution to be observed 1084
911. When a matter of right— Discretion of court. 1087
912. Form and manner of submitting 1088
913. Must be requested in due time 1088
914. Request must be conditional upon return of general verdict â– .1089
915. Interrogatories must be material and call for facts 1090
916. When refusal is not available error 1090
917. When interrogatories may be withdrawn 1091
918. Interrogatories must be fully and fairly answered 1092
919. Objections to interrogatories 1093
920. Remedy where answers are uncertain or evasive 1094
921 . Answers must be signed by foreman 1095
922. When they control the general verdict 1095
923. Presumptions and intendments 1097
924. Motion for judgment on special finding— New trial 1097
CHAPTER XXXV.
SPECIAL VERDICTS.
925. Definition and nature 1099
926. Right to special verdict 1100
927. When advisable 1100
TABLE OF CONTENTS VOL. II. XV
PA(iE.
§ 928. When not advisable 1 lUl
929. May prevent defeat where judge is unfavorable 1102
930. Preparation of special verdict 1 102
931. Special verdict must find the ultimate facts 1103
932. Construction— Presumptions and intendments 1106
933. What it must find to support judgment 1106
934. Motion for judgment— Exceptions 1107
935. Remedy where verdict is defective— Fe?»>e de now— New trial.. . .1108
CHAPTER XXXVI.
THE VERDICT AND ITS INCIDENTS.
936. Receiving the verdict 1110
937. Recording the verdict 1111
938. Polling the jury 1112
939. Form of the verdict 1113
940. Construction of verdict lll''>
941. Presumptions in aid of verdict lllo
942. Verdict must conform to issues 1116
943. Sealed verdict 1116
944. Chance verdict 111^
945. Compromise or quotient verdict 1119
946. Objections to verdict 1120
947. Amending the verdict 1121
948. Discharge of jury— Coercion 1 122
949. Attacking and sustaining verdict 1124
CHAPTER XXXVII.
TRIAL AND FINDINGS BY THE COURT.
950. Legislative power to provide for trial by the court 1126
951. Trial by the court 1127
952. Request for trial by the court 1129
953. Request where case partly for court and partly for the jury 1130
954. AVaiver of right to trial in a particular mode 1131
955. Conduct of trial by court 1132
956. Trial by court— Admission of incompetent evidence 1132
957. Misconduct of the court 1133
958. Case agreed or special case 1134
959. Statement of facts in a case agreed or special case 1135
960. Statements of facts in special case or agreed case different from
statements of evidence 1135
961. Agreed case 1136
962. The principal elements of an agreed case 1137
963. Fictitious cases 1137