Glendenning v. Sprowls

Opinion by

Mr. Chief Justice Bell,

This was a trespass action for personal injuries; the facts concerning the accident are, on this appeal, unimportant. The jury found defendant guilty of negligence and awarded plaintiff a verdict of $18,000. Defendant appealed from the judgment which was entered on the verdict and asks a new trial on the grounds (1) that the verdict was excessive, and (2) that the trial Judge was guilty of misconduct. We shall consider only the second contention.

It is admitted by all parties that while the jury was deliberating, the trial Judge, without the knowledge of either…