Case ID: misc_22/html/0737-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "Giegerich, J.", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

James S. Morgan, Respondent, v. Henry M. Enright et al., Appellants.
    (Supreme Court, Appellate Term,
    February, 1898.)
    Trial — Weight of evidence.
    A justice of a District Court of the city of New York can determine, better than the Appellate Court, the weight which should be attached to the testimony of witnesses and his conclusion will not be disturbed unless he has made a mistake, or has been influenced by bias, passion, prejudice or corruption, or has manifestly neglected to deliberate upon the whole testimony.
    Appeal by the defendants from a judgment of fhé District Court in the city of New York for the eleventh judicial district, rendered by tire justice thereof, without a jury. ,
    
      The nature of the aetion and the material facts are stated in the opinion.
    Albridge C. Smith, for appellants.
    Dillon & Barrett, for respondent.
   Giegerich, J.

The action was brought to recover the sum of $144, alleged to have been loaned by the plaintiff to the defendants between the' 2d day of June, 1897, and the 12th. day of August, 1897. The pleadings are in writing. The defendants answered separately, but the answers are similar in all respects, each admitting that no part of the sum sued for has' been. paid,, while- denying each and every allegation of the complaint.

At the trial there was a sharp conflict of evidence upon the issues thus raised, which the justice resolved.in plaintiff’s favor by rendering judgment against the defendant May McKenzie En-right for $164.37, damages and costs, but dismissing the complaint as to the defendant Henry Enright,

The justice, having had the witnesses before him and observed their conduct and demeanor while testifying, was undoubtedly better able to judge of their credibility and determine the weight to be attached to their testimony than is this appellate court, and we should not disturb his conclusion, unless the evidence is of such a convincing character as to clearly indicate that there was a mistake on the part of the justice; or that he had been influenced by bias, passion, prejudice or corruption; or that he had manifestly neglected to deliberate upon the whole testimony. Dempsey v. Paige, 4 E. D. Smith, 218, 219; Lynes v. Hickey, 4 Misc. Rep. 522. A close scrutiny of the record does not lead to such a conclusion.

Although decided in his favor, Mr. Enright has joined his wife in an appeal .from the judgment rendered,, which, evidently, is due to an oversight. His codefendant essays to reverse the judgment solely upon the facts; but as we cannot discover any ground for disturbing the justice’s determination, the judgment should be ■affirmed, with costs. - _

Beekmah, P, J., and Gildersleeve, J., concur.

Judgment Affirmed, with costs.