BILL OF EXCEPTIONS. A written statement of objections to the decision of the court upon a point of law, made by a party to the cause, and properly certified by the judge or court who made the decision.
The object of a bill of exceptions is to put the decision objected to upon record for the information of the oourt having cognizance of the cause in error. Bills of exceptions are authorized by statute Westm. 2d (13 Edw. I.), c. 31, the principles of which have been adopted in all the states of the Union, though the statute has been held to he supeiseded in some, by their own statutes. It pro vides for compelling the judges to sign such bills, and for securing the insertion of the exceptions upon the record. They may be bronght by either plaintiff or defendant.
2. Where it lies. In the trial of civil causes, wherever the court, in making a de cision, is supposed by the counsel against whom the decision is made to have mistaken the law, such counsel may tender exceptions to the ruling, and require the judge to authenticate the bill, 3 Blackstone, Ccmm. 372 ; 3 Cranch, 300 ; 7 Gill & J. Md. 335; 24 Me. 420 ; 3 Jones, No. C. 185 ; 19 N. H. 372; including the receiving improper and the rejecting proper evidence, 1 III. 162 ; 9 Mo. 166 ; 6 Gray, Mass. 479 ; 17 Tex. 62 ; 41 Me. 149; and a failure to call the attention of the jury to material matter of evidence, after request, 2 Cow. N. Y. 479; and including a refusal to charge the jury in a case proper for a charge, 4 Cranch, N:1, 62 ; 2 Aik. Vt. 115; 2 Blatchf. C. C. 1 ; 5 Gray, Mass. 101; but not including a failure to charge the jury on points of law when not requested, 2 Pet. 15 ; 6 Wend. N.Y. 274; 1 Hoist. N. J. 132; 4 id. 153 ; 2 Blatchf. C. C. 1; 11 Cush. Mass. 123: 38 Me. 227 ; and including a refusal to order a special verdict in some cases. 1 Call. Va. 105.
3. An exception cannot be taken to the decision of the court upon matters resting in its discretion, 34 Me. 300. 15. id. 345 ; 5 Vt. 28 ; 7 id. 92 ; 13 id. 459 ; 6 Wend. N. Y. 277;
4 Pick. Mass. 302; 22 id. 394; 3 Ill. 78; 17 id. 339; 8 Miss. 164 ; 19 Vt. 457 ; 20 N. H. 121 ; 5 R. I. 138; nor in cases where there is a right of appeal. 4 Pick. Mass. 93. 10 id. 34; 13 Vt. 430 ; 1 Me. 291. See 19 Pick. Mass. 191.
In criminal cases, at common law, judges are not required to authenticate exceptions, 1 Chitty, Crim. Law, 622; 13 Johns. N. Y. 90; 20 Barb. N. Y. 567 ; 1 Va. Cas. 264; 2 Watts, Penn. 285 ; 2 Sumn. C. C. 19 ; 16 Ala. 187 ; but statutory provisions have been made in several states authorizing the taking of ex ceptions in criminal cases. Graham, Pract. 768, n • 2 Va. Cas. 60; 1 Leigh, Va. 598; 14 Pick. Mass. 370; 7 Mete. Mass. 467 ; 20 Barb. N. Y. 567. 4 Ohio, 348; 6 id. 16; 7 id. 214; 2 Dutch. N. J. 463 ; 5 Mich. 36; 29 Penn. St. 429.
4. When to be taken. The bill must be tendered at the time the decision is made, 6 Johns. N. Y. 279; 9 id. 345; 5 N. H. 336 ; 2 Me. 336 Harr. Watts, Penn. 69 ; 6 J. J. Marsh. Ky. 247 ; 2 Harr. N. J. 291; 1 Ark. 349; 2 id. 14; 8 Mo. 234, 656 ; 2 Miss. 572; 12 'La. Ann. 113; 4 Iowa, 504; 4 Tex. 170; and it must, in general, be taken before the jury have deliv ered their verdict. 8 Serg. & R. Penn. 211; 10 Johns. N. Y. 312; 5 T. B. Monr. Ky. 177 ; 11N. II. 251; 9 Mo. 291, 355; 3 Incl. 107 ; 17 Ill. 166. See 7 Wend. N. Y. 34i 9 Conn. 545.
In practice, however, the point is merely noted at the time, and the bill is afterwards settled, Buller, Nisi P. 315; T. Raym. 405 ; Salk. 288. 8 Serg. & R. Penn. 216 ; 11 id. 270; 5 N. II. 336; 3 Cow. N. Y. 32; 7 id. 102. 5 Miss. 272; 2 Swan, Tenn. 77 ; 21 Mo. 122; see 13 Ill. 664; 3 A. K. Marsh. Ky. 360 ; 1 Ala. 66 ; 2 Dutch. N. J. 463 ; but in general before the close of the term of court, 3 Ifumphr. Tenn. 372 ; 8 Mo. 727 ; 1 Watts & S. Penn. 480; 6 How. 260 ; see 18 Ala. 441 ; 9 Ill. 443; 5 Ohio St. 51; and then must appear on its face to have been signed at the trial. 9 Wheat. 651 ; 2 Sumn. C. C. 19; 6 Wend. N.