{ "id": 5223576, "name": "Allen C. Story v. William W. De Armond", "name_abbreviation": "Story v. De Armond", "decision_date": "1898-05-26", "docket_number": "", "first_page": "74", "last_page": "87", "citations": [ { "type": "official", "cite": "77 Ill. App. 74" } ], "court": { "name_abbreviation": "Ill. App. Ct.", "id": 8837, "name": "Illinois Appellate Court" }, "jurisdiction": { "id": 29, "name_long": "Illinois", "name": "Ill." }, "cites_to": [ { "cite": "148 Ill. 276", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill.", "case_ids": [ 3059228 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill/148/0276-01" ] }, { "cite": "25 Ill. App. 586", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. App.", "case_ids": [ 4937200 ], "pin_cites": [ { "page": "590" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-app/25/0586-01" ] }, { "cite": "35 Ill. App. 230", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. App.", "case_ids": [ 5008385 ], "pin_cites": [ { "page": "242" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-app/35/0230-01" ] }, { "cite": "136 Ill. 499", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill.", "case_ids": [ 2992232 ], "pin_cites": [ { "page": "510" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill/136/0499-01" ] }, { "cite": "134 Ill. 247", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill.", "case_ids": [ 5437830 ], "pin_cites": [ { "page": "254" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill/134/0247-01" ] }, { "cite": "90 Ill. 307", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill.", "case_ids": [ 2758264 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill/90/0307-01" ] }, { "cite": "118 Ind. 125", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ind.", "case_ids": [ 1373163 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ind/118/0125-01" ] }, { "cite": "28 Ill. 30", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill.", "case_ids": [ 5203681 ], "pin_cites": [ { "page": "43" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill/28/0030-01" ] }, { "cite": "33 Ill. 375", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill.", "case_ids": [ 5212209 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill/33/0375-01" ] }, { "cite": "2 Johns. 62", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Johns.", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "5 Pick. 291", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Pick.", "case_ids": [ 2033082 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/mass/22/0291-01" ] }, { "cite": "10 Pick. 275", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Pick.", "case_ids": [ 2014253 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/mass/27/0280-01" ] }, { "cite": "9 Cush. 560", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Cush.", "case_ids": [ 9455037 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/mass/63/0560-01" ] }, { "cite": "16 Ill. 364", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill.", "case_ids": [ 2588783 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill/16/0364-01" ] } ], "analysis": { "cardinality": 1062, "char_count": 27914, "ocr_confidence": 0.571, "pagerank": { "raw": 5.932688705549613e-08, "percentile": 0.3703364559092055 }, "sha256": "5ef094d41d5dab2d4422b2c6e0b097d3178f07ab305d5813c75132dc6941b977", "simhash": "1:268de5fc727b6fa2", "word_count": 4788 }, "last_updated": "2023-07-14T16:36:43.320990+00:00", "provenance": { "date_added": "2019-08-29", "source": "Harvard", "batch": "2018" }, "casebody": { "judges": [], "parties": [ "Allen C. Story v. William W. De Armond." ], "opinions": [ { "text": "Mr. Presiding Justice Adams\ndelivered the opinion of the court.\nThis is an appeal from a judgment rendered in an action of assumpsit by appellee against appellant for clerkly services alleged to have been performed by the former for the latter. The declaration contains a special count averring a contract to pay appellee for his services $75 per month, and the common quantum meruit count. The appellant pleaded non-assumpsit only, and the court, by agreement of the parties, appointed George F. Westover sole referee and the cause was referred to him. The referee made a very full and clear report of his findings, which is insufficiently abstracted, but which appellee\u2019s counsel has, to the great convenience of the court, set forth in his printed argument.\n\u2022 The following brief synopsis of the referee\u2019s report is contained in the abstract:\n\u201c Plaintiff entered employment July 31, 1885, at a salary .of $75 a month, and continued at that salary until discharged November 16, 1894. That the plaintiff received the total sum of $5,549.97, and is chargeable with $81.53 interest on certain money which he held belonging to one of defendant\u2019s clients, leaving balance of $2,731, amount due, including interest to date of report, $3,022.64, and recommends judgment for said amount.\u201d\nThe court, on' exceptions filed by appellant, disallowed the interest and entered judgment for $2,731.\nAppellant filed twenty exceptions to the report, all of which, except exception 14, objecting to the allowance of interest, were overruled. Exception 10 is as follows :\n\u2022 \u201c 10. That the referee at the time of . the reference and hitherto, and the plaintiff, maintained confidential relations, and the plaintiff has been a clerk of said referee during the whole period of said reference, and the said referee has been and remained strongly prejudiced against defendant, which facts were wholly unknown to defendant at the time,\u201d etc.\nFive affidavits were read by appellant in support of his exceptions, and Mr. Westover, the referee, was called and testified o.rally. on behalf of the plaintiff in opposition to exception 10.\nThe evidence pro and eon is too lengthy to be recited, even in substance, in this opinion. We have carefully read and considered the affidavits read on behalf of appellant as they appear in the abstract, and also the testimony of the referee in the record, and are of opinion that the court ruled correctly in overruling exception 10. above quoted. The exception contains two charges: First, that at the time of the reference and hitherto, the plaintiff maintained confidential relations with, and has been a clerk of the referee during the whole period of the reference. Second, that the referee has been and remained strongly prejudiced against appellant, which facts were wholly unknown to appellant at the time, etc.\nThe appellant, in his affidavit, says : \u201c After the report was made, deponent accidentally learned for the first time that plaintiff had been in Westover\u2019s employ and had attended to business for him during the entire year.\u201d This is hearsay. Appellant does not state, as of his own knowledge, that appellee had been in the referee\u2019s employ. He says he so learned. Westover, the referee, testified that he did not remember of appellee having ever been in his employ; that he certainly had not been since his discharge by Mr. Story (which the evidence shows was November 16, 1894, more than six months before the suit was commenced); that he may have sometimes asked De Armond, when he was going to court for Story, to answer to some case on general call, or something of that kind, as a courtesy, never anything more. Referred to in the affidavit of Mr. Story and attached thereto is a card, of which the following is a copy:\n\u201c To the Chicago Law Institute :\nI hereby certify that W. W. De Armond, Esq., the bearer, is an assistant in my office; that he is not practicing law except as employed by me; that he is a suitable person to have access to the rooms \u00f3f the institute; that he is authorized, until further notice, to receipt for books in my name, for mjr exclusive use; and that I will pay any fine or damages which may arise through him to the said institute.\nGeorge F. Westover.\nI hereby agree to use the library for Geo. F. Westover and myself exclusively, and in no case draw any of the books in the library, except at the request and for the personal use of the said Geo. F. Westover.\nW. W. De Armond,\nChicago, Jan. 13, 1896.\u201d\nThis is printed, with the exception of the names, the word \u201cassistant,\u201d the date \u201cJan. 13,\u201d and the figure \u201c6,\u201d showing that it is a form used by the Law Institute for the withdrawal of books by non-members of the institute on the certificate of members. Mr. Westover testifies on cross-examination, that \u25a0 he probably signed such a card (the original was not produced on the hearing), but that he knew nothing of. the contents of it, and never did; that he recollected that De Armond had some cases which he had turned over to him long before, and that after he left the office, he consulted with him about questions of law arising in the cases, and that very likely he signed the card in connection with those cases.\nWhile it is doubtless true that the signing of the card in question was not strictly in accordance with the rules of the Law Institute, we do not think the circumstance sufficient to overcome Westover\u2019s sworn statement that appellee was never in his employ.\nThe referee, in his testimony, denies that he was at all prejudiced against or entertained any ill-feeling toward appellant, and denies all knowledge of any estrangement between them.\nWe can not discover in the proceedings before the referee any evidence of unfairness, partiality or prejudice on his part. On the contrary, the proceedings seem to have been conducted, in so far as he was concerned, with the utmost fairness and impartiality.\nThe evidence is that both appellant and appellee had long been acquainted with Mr. Westover; that before the reference, each of them applied to him to procure, if possible, a settlement of the case; that they both expressed a willingness to leave the matter to him; that he declined to act as arbitrator between them, giving as a reason that an arbitrator\u2019s decision, if wrong, could not be corrected on review, but consented to act as referee, because, on review, errors, if any, could be corrected. The parties had been in the same office with Mr. Westover for four or five years, the appellee during that time being appellant\u2019s clerk, and the referee a quasi partner of Mr. Story under the firm name of Story, Westover & Story. Thus, each of the parties had ample opportunity to know the relation which existed between the referee and the other, and with such knowledge, each,, doubtless, having confidence in the ability and integrity of Mr. Westover, chose him as referee. But even though each so chose him from a less honorable motive, namely, because he supposed or hoped he would be more friendly to him, this would not change the aspect '< of the matter. Each having known the relations of the other to the referee before and at the time of consent to the reference, neither can now be heard to urge such previous relation as a ground of objection to the report.\nIn Van Blaricum v. The People, 16 Ill. 364, a juror who had formed and expressed an opinion was accepted on the panel without objection, and this was assigned as error, but the court overruled the assignment, saying: \u201c If the parties chose to have their cause tried by a prejudiced juror, it was not for the court to refuse them the right.\u201d The same is true in the case of an arbitrator. Morse, after stating matters which would disqualify an arbitrator, among them prejudice against one of the parties, says:\n\u201c But the parties may, if they choose, waive the objection which might exist on any of the preceding grounds. They are at liberty to select a person interested, or a person prejudiced, a relation, or an enemy of either of them. Judge Cushing said, in Strong v. Strong, 9 Cush. 560 : \u201c If indeed parties in controversy choose to waive the rights of impartial trial, and purposely and avowedly select as arbitrators persons having formed opinions on the subject-matter, or known to have partialities for and against the respective parties, the court, without commending, will not set aside the award merely because of the character of the arbitrators.\u201d And Chief Justice Shaw said, in Fox v. Hazelton, 10 Pick. 275: \u201c Volenti non fit injuria. If parties are content to submit questions in controversy to those who are known to have formed and expressed opinions upon the subject-matter, or who are known to have partialities or prejudices for or against the respective parties, an award made by such arbitrators is binding.\u201d As it often happens, each party selects some one in whose favorable opinion he reposes confidence, and it is trusted that the opposite prejudices will balance each other. Awards made by such referees can not be impeached.\u201d\nThe rule is the same if a party, knowing of the alleged disqualification, proceeds with the hearing without objection, and omits to object until after the report is made.\nWhile the affidavits charge prejudice generally, .there is nothing in appellant\u2019s or any of the affidavits showing when the prejudice, if any, came to appellant\u2019s knowledge.\nMorse recognizes that there is a distinction between such a reference as the one under discussion and a submission to arbitration, and says : \u201c Indeed, the language of the courts in rendering their adjudications has nearly always been so lax, that the distinctions- properly existing between the various descriptions of reference and submission have become hopelessly confused.\u201d Morse on Arbitration and Award, 49. On a submission to arbitration under the statute, the arbitrators are judges, and their award is final, and the court can not review it on the merits. It is beyond the province of the court to pass on the merits of the controversy. On the other hand, the province of a referee is substantially the same as that of a master in chancery; the reference to him is to report the evidence to the court with his conclusions of law and fact, (Stats. E. 117, Sec. 1,) and his conclusions are not final, because the court, on exceptions being taken to the report, can hear and determine the entire controversy on the merits, and the judgment, when pronounced, is the judgment of the court and not of the referee.\nIt is objected that permitting the referee to testify orally on the hearing of exceptions to his report was error. This question is not argued, appellant\u2019s counsel merely citing the following cases, none of which is in point:\nIn Ward v. Gould, 5 Pick. 291, affidavits of the arbitrators giving a meaning to their report which the words used did not convey, were read. The court held that it could not, for the purpose of construing the report, consider the affidavits.\nIn Newland v. Douglas, 2 Johns. 62, the testimony of arbitrators was offered to prove a mistake in their award, in other words, to impeach the award. The testimony was held inadmissible.\nIn Pullman v. Pensoneau, 33 Ill. 375, the court say: \u201cAs a general rule arbitrators will not be permitted to give evidence to impeach their award.\u201d\nIn Stone v. Atwood et al., 28 Ill. 30, 43, a bill was filed to have an award corrected on account of an alleged mistake, and testimony tending to prove the mistake having been introduced by the complainant, one of the arbitrators was called and testified on behalf of the defendant. This was assigned as error. The court say: \u201c Like a juror, he can not be called to impeach his award, but like him, he can be called to sustain it. That was the purpose and office of the testimony of the arbitrator called by Atwood.\u201d\n\u201c In proceedings under a bill in equity, seeking specific performance of an award concerning the dissolution of a partnership, the arbitrators were permitted to testify concerning what matters were presented before them, and even whether or not they had decided all the matter referred.\u201d Morse on Arb. and Award, 361, citing Hawksworth v. Brammall, 5 Ill. & Cr. 281.\nIn Robinson v. Shanks et al., 118 Ind. 125, cited by appel-. lant\u2019s counsel, a motion was made to set aside an award on the ground that one of the parties had, pending the arbitration, counseled and advised the arbitrators, induced one of .them to go to \u2022 his house, remain there all night and partake of his hospitality, and also induced two of them to go with him to the hotel and dine at his expense. Affidavits were filed in support of the motion, and on. the hearing of the motion the court permitted the arbitrators to be examined as witnesses in open court. The referee was not examined with reference to the ground of his conclusions, or as to any matter which had been before him as referee, but merely in reference to the charges of prejudice and partiality made against him by appellant, and we are of opinion that his testimony was properly admitted.\nIt is objected that the referee was not sworn. As to whether he was or not, the record is silent. The proceeding by reference is strictly statutory, and the statute, chapter 117, does not require that the referee shall be sworn. In support of this contention, appellant relies on chapter 10 of the statute in relation to arbitrators, which requires that arbitrators shall be sworn, but the statute in relation to arbitrators does hot, in any respect, govern the proceeding under chapter 117 in respect to referees. Counsel for appellant contend that either chapter 117, in force July 1, 1872, is repealed by chapter 10, in force July 1, 1873, or if not, the statute must be construed together as being in pari materia, and that so construing them, the reference to a single referee was unauthorized, inasmuch as chapter 10 provides for a reference to three arbitrators. We think it sufficiently apparent, from a mere inspection of the two statutes, that they provide for distinct and independent proceedings, that there is no repugnancy between them, and that the proceedings under each statute must be considered solely with reference to the statute under which they purport to be. In Morey v. Warrior Mower Co., 90 Ill. 307, the court recognizes both statutes as being in force, as they undoubtedly are. Even if the law required that the referee should be sworn, the omission to comply with such requirement would have to be considered waived by appellant. The record shows that he was present the first time appointed for taking testimony before the referee, that there was an adjournment till another time by his request, and that he authorized the referee to proceed in his absence, if he should not appear at the time to which the adjournment was had; also, that appellant appeared by attorney, from time to time, before the referee, and cross-examined and examined witnesses, in addition to which it does not appear when appellant first learned that the referee was not sworn, if such is the fact. See Pardridge v. Ryan, 134 Ill. 247, 254.\nIf the law required the referee to be sworn, the presumption would be, in the absence of evidence to the contrary, that he was sworn (Garrity v. Hamburgher Co., 136 Ill. 499, 510), and there is no evidence on .the record that he was not sworn.\nIt appears from the record that February 2, 1897, the court, on the motion of appellant,- referred back to the referee his report filed prior to that date, with directions to receive, hear and pass on such objections as might be presented to him by the parties, or either of them, within ten days from that date, and to make such corrections or amendments of his report as he might deem advisable. Appellant now objects to this order made on his own motion, and to the action of the referee, which was strictly in accordance with the order. To put the matter plainly, appellant requested the court that a certain thing should be done, the court acceded to his request, and the thing was done, and now he complains of it having been done. It is clear that he can not be heard to make such objection. Appellant contends that the referee\u2019s power was exhausted when he made his report, and the court was powerless to refer it back to him. By the very terms of section 1 of the statute the court has power to refer a cause back to the referee. Aside from the statute, we are of opinion that the power of the court to refer back was ample. \u201cThe appointment of a referee in a common law controversy stands upon the same reason as the reference to a master of a similar controversy in chancery, and the proceedings founded on a similar necessity should be similar.\u201d Pardridge v. Ryan, 35 Ill. App. 230, 242.\nIn Cumberland v. North Yarmouth, 4 Greenl. (Me.) 459, it was objected that the referee had no power to make a second report after recommitment. The recommitment was by order of the court. The court (lb. 464) overruled the objection, saying, among other things: \u201cEecommitments of reports made under a rule of court, or under a submission before a justice, in regard to which the Common Pleas has, by statute, the same power as it has over its own rules, have been uniformly made, both in this court and the Common Pleas, whenever, in the opinion of the court, the purposes of justice required such a course.\u201d Cases having been cited in support of the position that the referees having made their report, their power was exhausted, the court distinguished between the cases cited and the case then at bar, saying: \u201c But all. these were cases of submission to arbitrate out of court, in some of which they were expressly restricted as to time, and in others their power was held to be at an end after it had been once exercised.\u201d\nHaving thus disposed of the objections which, if sustained, would exclude consideration of the report, some, if not all of which have, perhaps, received more attention than they deserve, we will next consider the objections which go to the proceedings before the referee and to his conclusions. It is objected that the finding of the referee that there was a contract between the parties for the payment by appellant to appellee of $75 per month, as compensation for the latter\u2019s services, is contrary to the evidence. This finding was based mainly on the testimony of appellee and Witherell, and two documents introduced in evidence by the appellee, marked Exhibit \u201c B\u201d and Exhibit \u201c 0,\u201d respectively.\nThe referee found that appellee\u2019s employment by appellant commenced July 31,4885, and terminated November 16, 1894, and no fault seems to have been found with this finding.\nApril 1, 1886, one Bailey, William 0. Witherell, and appellant, entered into a 'sort of partnership, by the terms of which the net profits of the business were to be divided between them in the proportion of three-fifths to appellant, one-fifth to Bailey and one-fifth to Witherell. The partnership was dissolved by the retirement of Bailey, January 20, 1887. Appellant, Witherell and Bailey met together for the purpose of ascertaining the net earnings, etc., of the partnership up to the date of dissolution, and the amount then due each partner. Appellee, being appellant\u2019s clerk, was present and assisted in the computations. Exhibit \u201c B \u201d consists of six sheets or leaves, on which are set down figures showing the gross earnings, the total expenses, including expenses paid and liabilities remaining unpaid, the profits, the share of the net profits of each partner, the state of the account of each partner, and the amount due him January 20, 1887. In the list of liabilities or expenses remaining unpaid, which list is in the handwriting of Mr. Bailey, is the following: \u201cDe Armond, $620.\u201d The gross amount of earnings was first figured at $7,761.57. The amount of liabilities unpaid, including the liability to De Armond of $620, was set down by Mr. Bailey at $812.29. This was deducted from the gross earnings, $7,761.57, leaving the balance $6,949.28, and from this last amount was deducted the expenses which had been kpaid, $1,660.05, leaving net profits to be divided $5,257.23. The last three amounts are set down on page 2 of the exhibit in Mr. Story\u2019s handwriting, showing that he adopted the figures, and the partners, appellant, Witherell and Bailey, settled on the basis of the net income ascertained as above stated. Appellee, cross-examined by appellant in person with regard to Exhibit \u201c 0,\u201d was questioned and answered as follows : Q. \u201c In whose handwriting are the figures not included in the red or blue lines? \u201d A. \u201c They are in Mr. Story\u2019s handwriting.\u201d This evidence is not abstracted. Original Exhibit \u201c B \u201d has been certified to us in conformity with a rule of the court, and we have examined it, and find that the figures on page 2 of the exhibit \u201c not included in the red or blue lines,\u201d are the figures finally agreed on and accepted as a basis of settlement, showing gross income, gross expense and net income. These figures are in six lines, and are alluded to in the printed argument of appellant\u2019s counsel as \u201c six words,\u201d and are admitted to be in appellant\u2019s writing.\nFrom the date when the partnership commenced, April 1, 1886, to the date of its dissolution, January 20, 1887, was nine and two-thirds months. Appellee testified that during that time he received only $105. Add to this $620, the admitted liability to him, and we have $725, which, for nine and two-thirds months, is at the rate of $75 per month.\nFrom January 31, 1887, until February, 1890, the appellant and Mr. Witherell continued in business under an arrangement by which the latter was to receive a proportion of the profits of the business. Exhibit \u201c B \u201d is a statement of the account between them which was accepted by both as a basis of settlement. This statement contains certain items of credit in favor of Mr. Story, one of the items being, \u201c By due De Armond, $1,260.77,\u201d and the referee finds from the evidence as to the sum paid appellee during the three years from January 31,-1887, till February 1,1890, that the amount of such sums added to the $1,260.77 remaining unpaid, showed appellee\u2019s compensation for the three years to have been in the aggregate (within some cents) equal to $75 per month.\nAppellant now objects to the introduction in evidence of Exhibits \u201c B \u201d and \u201c C,\u201d alleging that they were not competent evidence, and in addition that there are certain erasures on Exhibit \u201cB\u201d whichi should have been explained. It may be observed that one would naturally expect to find erasures and figures crossed out on sheets used in figuring the condition of such a business as that of appellant and his partners, extending through nine months. Appellant personally cross-examined appellee before the referee in regard to both exhibits, and no objection was made to their introduction in evidence, nor was any explanation called for, nor any motion made to exclude them. It is very clearly shown by the report of the referee, that there is no erasure on Exhibit t; B \u201d which affects in any way the conclusion that the liability of $620 to appellee was deducted from the gross income of the partners, and that it was charged by appellant against Bailey and Witherell and acceded to by them. Appellee testified that Story agreed to pay him $75 per month. Appellant, however, denies that he so agreed.\nWilliam Q-. Witherell, formerly in business with appellant, was called as a witness by appellant, and testified on his direct examination: \u201c Mr. De Armond has asked me and tried to have me recollect these things. I told Mr. De Armond I had an impression he was getting $75 per month, but I don\u2019t know how I got it. I don\u2019t know how I heard it, but I thought he was getting $75 per month there, and that Mr. Story also got him a position in a night school, and he was to make from $12 to $15 a week there.\u201d This witness also testified that, at the time he left, there was an item charged as due to Mr. De Armond, about $1,200, so he thought that Story charged him with a certain amount for salary due De Armond, and he made no objection to it. This the witness testified from memory, thus corroborating Exhibit \u201cC,\u201d in which the item is $1,260.77.\n\u201cReferees, while performing the functions of a jury, are the judges of the credibility of the witnesses and the weight of the evidence, and their findings and conclusions of fact are entitled to the same consideration the verdict of a jury receives.\u201d Butler v. Randall, 25 Ill. App. 586, 590; opinion adopted by Supreme Court in Butler v. Cornell, Adm\u2019r, et al., 148 Ill. 276.\nSuch being the rule, the finding of the referee that appellant contracted with appellee to pay him $75 per month, can not be set aside unless manifestly contrary to the weight of the evidence. We can not say that the finding either as to the contract, or the amount the appellee is entitled to recover, exclusive of interest, is against the weight of the evidence. It certainly is not manifestly so. Quite a number of witnesses testified that such services as the appellee performed for appellant were worth from $75 to $150 per month, and the referee, under the quantum meruit count, and without reference to the count on the contract, might well have found from the evidence that appellee was entitled to recover $75 per month.\nOther objections are urged, none of which we consider ground for reversal. A motion of appellee to strike from the abstract and from appellant\u2019s argument certain photographs, was reserved till the hearing. The photographs being in the abstract were doubtless intended by appellant as reproductions of certain documents introduced in evidence, copies of which are in the transcript of the record. Without passing on the question whether the photographs are or not correct representations, the motion will be overruled.\nThe judgment will be affirmed.", "type": "majority", "author": "Mr. Presiding Justice Adams" } ], "attorneys": [ "Story, Russell & Story, attorneys for appellant.", "Wm. W. De Armond, attorney for appellee; John P. Ahrens, of counsel." ], "corrections": "", "head_matter": "Allen C. Story v. William W. De Armond.\n1. Referee\u2014Objection to Sis Report.\u2014Where the parties to a suit appoint a referee by agreement, each knowing the relations of the other to him before and at the time of his appointment, neither can be heard to urge such previous relation as a ground of objection to his report.\n2. Same\u2014Objections to be Waived, Partiality, etc.\u2014If parties in controversy choose to waive the rights of impartial trial, and purposely select as a referee a person who has formed opinions on the subject-matter of the controversy, or known to have partialities for or against the respective parties, the court, without commending, will not set aside his report merely because of the character of the referee.\n3. Same\u2014When the Report Can Not be Impeached.\u2014If a party, knowing of the alleged disqualification of a referee, proceeds with the hearing, and omits to object until after the report is made, he can not have the report impeached for such disqualification.\n4. Same\u2014Proceeding Without Being Sworn\u2014Waiver.\u2014Where the law requires that a referee should be sworn, the omission to comply with such requirement will be considered as waived by thes party proceeding without objection.\n5. Same\u2014Presumptions as to Qualification.\u2014Where the law requires a referee to be sworn, the presumption is, in the absence of evidence to the contrary, that he was sworn.\n6. Same\u2014Judges of the Credibility of Witnesses.\u2014Referees, while performing the functions of a jury, are the judges of the credibility of the' witnesses and the weight of the evidence, and their findings and conclusions of fact are entitled to the same considerations as the verdict of the jury.\nAssumpsit, for clerk\u2019s services. Trial in the Superior Court of Cook County; the Hon. Theodore Brentano, Judge, presiding. Judgment for plaintiff on referee\u2019s report. Appeal by defendant.\nHeard in this court at the March term, 1898.\nAffirmed.\nOpinion filed May 26, 1898.\nStory, Russell & Story, attorneys for appellant.\nWm. W. De Armond, attorney for appellee; John P. Ahrens, of counsel." }, "file_name": "0074-01", "first_page_order": 76, "last_page_order": 89 }