Dwight v. Badgley

The complaint alleges that the defendant is indebted to the plaintiff in the sum of $1,997.50 upon an account, for certain goods purchased, services rendered and moneys advanced between certain specified dates; that payment of said sum has been duly demanded, but that no part thereof has been paid.

A bill of particulars, showing the account between the parties, follows the complaint in the printed case, by which it appears that, the amount claimed by the plaintiffs is due to them.

“ That the market price of such merchandise at the maturity of the contracts was, at the times of making the contracts, contingent and uncertain; and that the contracts were mere wagers on the future market price thereof, and contrary to the statute.”

The learned justice before whom this cause was tried, at the conclusion of the evidence of both parties, directed a verdict in favor of the plaintiffs for the sum of $2,357.05, which verdict the defendant’s counsel moved to set aside, as contrary to law. He also moved for a new trial upon the minutes and upon the exceptions taken and upon all the grounds stated in § 999 of the Code of Civil Procedure.

This motion being denied, the defendant’s counsel excepted.

We will consider the exceptions taken by the defendant’s counsel in the order in which they appear in the case. On the cross-examination of Mr. Hodge, the broker of Dwight & Gillette, through whom the sales and purchases for the defendant were effected, the witness was asked this question: “Was that wheat ever delivered to Mr. Badgley ?”

It appeared by his previous testimony, .that prior to the transactions involved in this action the witness had other transactions with Mr. Badgley, the defendant, on account of the firm of Dwight & Gillette, the plaintiffs.

We think the ruling of the learned justice was correct.

In this case it is sought to stamp a transaction as illegal, as being in contravention of the provisions of the Revised Statutes against wagers or gaming. The statute is penal in its nature, and the burthen of proof is upon the defendant to establish the illegality of the contract. Story v. Salomon, 71 N. Y., 420 .

Even if the parties had been guilty of entering into illegal contracts prior to the transactions upon which this action is based, as the plaintiff is entitled to the strictest proof in this case, we think that proof of former transactions alleged to be illegal, not embraced within the times specified in the bill of particulars, was not competent

The next exception was to the exclusion of the question at page 12, folio 36 of the case, as follows:

“ Q. At the time of making these contracts for the purchase of this wheat -and corn, was it not your intention and the intention of Mr. Badgley, to adjust the differences between the market price in buying and the market price in selling ?”

The exception to the ruling at page 13 of the case, as to what was the general custom as to the delivery of the wheat or corn, cannot be sustained for the reason that no such custom is pleaded, and because no evidence had been given tending to show that the parties had any knowledge of such custom, nor that any general custom existed in relation to such transactions as are involved in this controversy.

The establishment of the existence of a general custom by evidence should have preceded the question which was put to the witness, and before such custom was established the witness could not properly be called upon to give a statement as to what the custom was. Harris v. Tumbridge, 93 N. Y., 93 .

The observations just made apply with equal force to the exception on page 16, upon disallowing the questions to the defendant Badgley, as to his transactions with the plaintiffs prior to December 30, 1886. The question put to the defendant at page 16, folio 48 of the case, as to his intention and understanding that none of the grain should be delivered to him, but that the difference in the market price should be adjusted between the parties, should we think have been allowed. While the answer to it would not have conclusively shown what the intention of the plaintiffs was in entering upon the course of dealings with the defendant referred to by the witness, it involved an answer which the defendant was entitled to have presented to the jury; and which might have aided them in determining what was the real intention of the parties. Peck v. Doran & Wright Co., 10 N. Y. Supp., 401 ; 32 N. Y. State Rep., 405; Kenyon v. Luther, 4 N. Y. Supp., 498 ; 19 N. Y. State Rep., 32, and cases cited.

The case of Kenyon v. Luther, supra, decided by the general term of the fourth department, is directly in point

That was an action brought to recover for commissions earned and losses sustained by plaintiff under a contract with the defendant for the sale of a large amount of wheat. The defense set up was that such contract was intended as a cover for a gambling transaction, and that it was illegal and void under the statute. Upon the trial the defendants were asked directly whether they intended at the time to purchase or hold any wheat; or to sell any wheat; or whether it was their intention- to tender or call for the grain, or were to settle the difference between the price at which it was sold and the market price at the future day.

The questions calling for the intention of the defendants were objected to by the plaintiff’s counsel and the objections were sustained. Upon appeal, it was held that the exclusion of the questions was error, that the defendants were entitled to show what their intention was, and that such evidence should have been submitted to the jury.

■ For the error of the learned justice in excluding this question, we are of the opinion that the judgment should be reversed, and a new trial ordered, with costs to appellant to abide event.

Although I agree that it was error to exclude the question as to what the defendant’s intentions were, such error in no way injured the defendant, because in the absence of proof that the plaintiffs had a similar intention, the defendant’s intention would not make the contract void. It is true that an attempt was made to prove what the intention of the plaintiffs was, but not by competent evidence.

The defendant not' sustaining any injury by the exclusion of the question relating to his own intention, the judgment should not be reversed because of that error. I think, therefore, that the judgment and order should be affirmed, with costs.

If the as to the defendant’s intention had been answered, it might have been followed by further evidence indicating the intention of the plaintiffs to have been the same. But without an answer to this question it would be useless to offer to make such further

If the answer had been taken, the defendant might also have been in a position to submit the further inquiry to the jury from the course of the dealings concerning the subject in controversy, whether that was not also the intention of the plaintiffs. By excluding the answer the defendant was not only deprived of this position but the evidence, if it could have been given, of the intention of- the plaintiffs, was rendered wholly inoperative. In this class of cases all pertinent evidence should be received, to discover the true nature of the transactions. The design generally is to avoid exposure and evade the law, and that should be prevented when it can be done by receiving in evidence all pertinent answers having the effect of disclosing the true nature of the transactions. I agree with Mr. Justice Lawrence that there should be a reversal of the judgment and a new trial.