auditors

AUDITORS, practice. Persons lawfully appointed to examine and digest
accounts referred to them, take down the evidence in writing, which may be
lawfully offered in relation to such accounts, and prepare materials on
which a decree or judgment may be made; and to report the whole, together
with their opinion, to the, court in which such accounts originated. 6
Cranch, 8; 1 Aik. 145; 12 Mass. 412.
     2. Their report is not, per se, binding and conclusive, but will become
so, unless excepted to. 5 Rawle, R. 323. It may be set aside, either with or
without exceptions to it being filed. In the first case, when errors are
apparent on its face, it may be set aside or corrected. 2 Cranch, 124; 5
Cranch, 313. In the second case, it may be set aside for any fraud,
corruption, gross misconduct, or error. 6 Cranch, 8; 4 Cranch, 308; 1 Aik.
145. The auditors ought to be sworn, but this will be presumed. 8 Verm. 396.
     3. Auditors are also persons appointed to examine the accounts
subsisting between the parties in an action of account render, after a
judgment quod computet. Bac. Ab. Accompt, F.
     4. The auditors are required to state a special account, 4 Yeates, 514,
and the whole is to be brought down to the time when they make an end of
their account. 2 Burr. 1086. And auditors are to make proper charges and
credits without regard to time, or the verdict. 2 S. & R. 317. When the
facts or matters of law are disputed before them, they are to report them to
the court, when the former will be decided by a jury, and the latter by the
court, and the result sent to the auditors for their guidance. 5 Binn. 433.