Where parts of the record essential to the determination of an exception taken to a judgment are not properly authenticated so that they may be considered on appeal of the case, the judgment excepted to must be affirmed.

Associates Discount Company filed a suit, in the Civil Court of Fulton County, against T. J. Parrott for the balance due on a title-retention contract and note. The defendant filed a plea of res adjudicata alleging the cause of action had been adjudicated in a prior action in the Civil Court of Fulton County known as case No. 343,371. On the trial of the instant case, the entire record of case No. 343,371 was introduced in evidence, and on this evidence the judge passed an order sustaining the defendant's plea and dismissed the petition. The plaintiff excepts to that ruling.

The bill of exceptions states that the entire record of case No. 343,371 was introduced in evidence at the hearing. This evidence was not set forth in the bill of exceptions or in the brief of evidence. In Covin v. Cairo Banking Co., 24 Ga. App. 510 (2) (101 S. E. 304) it was held: "Thus, while the plea of res adjudicata, together with the alleged copies of the former proceedings attached thereto, is specified in the cross-bill of exceptions, and is set forth in this record, yet the record of the former suit, in which it is claimed that the questions here raised were determined, is not set forth in the bill of exceptions or in a brief of the evidence, nor in any way properly authenticated; and therefore the objection made to the consideration of the cross-bill must be sustained. Hodges v. Talbert, 135 Ga. 253 (3), 259 (69 S. E. 103). See also Cutts v. Scandrett, 108 Ga. 620, 623 (34 S. E. 186); Hall County v. Gilmer, 123 Ga. 173 (51 S. E. 307)."

It was also held in Kelley v. City of Atlanta, 141 Ga. 612 (1) (81 S. E. 869) " 'The court will not consider as evidence affidavits and documents specified in a bill of exceptions as material to a clear understanding of the errors complained of which are not incorporated in an approved brief of the evidence, but are brought to this court in the transcript of the record merely as independent papers under the certificate of the clerk that they are of file in his office.' Roberts v. Heinshon, 123 Ga. 685 (51 S. E. 589). And in such a case, where the questions raised for decision cannot be determined without a consideration of the evidence, the judgment of the court below will be affirmed."

In accordance with what is stated above the judgment of the lower court is sustained.

Judgment affirmed. Felton, C. J., and Nichols, J., concur.