Case ID: ny-st-rep_3/html/0578-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "Larremore, Ch. J. \n      Daly, J.", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

Samuel M. Roosevelt, et al., App’lts, v. Kilian Strohkoefer, Resp’t.
    
      (New York Common Pleas, General Term,
    
    
      Filed December 7, 1886.)
    
    1. Appeal—Decision bendbbed on conflicting evidence.
    Where a case has been decided by a justice upon conflicting testimony the result should not be disturbed on appeal. Where a justice rendered a decision in the defendant’s favor: Beld, that it must be assumed that he believed the defendant’s version of his dealings.
    3. Peincifal and agent—Dealings with agent—Undisclosed principal.
    The evidence on defendant’s part showed that while G. showed his card, disclosing that he was plaintiff's salesman, he did so merely as a 'reference as to his responsibility, that he dealt exclusively for himself, that he made no sale, in the strict sense of the word, but offered to supply goods in payment for clothes, that he stated he sold for others besides plaintiff, and owned goods of his own, that defendant did not know the goods came from plaintiff, no hill or invoice coming with them, and that the clothes were made and delivered after the goods were received. Beld, that this was a case in which Gr. appeared to he acting on his own account, and disclosed no principal save himself, and defendant was entirely justified in his dealings with him as such.
    
      J. Travis King, for app’lt; Fred. Hennessey, for resp’ts.
   Larremore, Ch. J.

We suggested upon the argument, after a cursory examination of the return, that the case was decided upon conflicting testimony, and the result should not be disturbed upon appeal. That suggestion, after .a more careful examination of the record, has strengthened into a conviction that the judgment rendered should not he disturbed.

Evidence was offered on the part of the plaintiffs of an admission of liability by the defendant and an express promfte to pay. The justice had the right to refuse to accept this testimony as controlling, and we cannot say from the case as presented, that there was any gross error ov mistake in his conclusion.

Judgment affirmed, with costs.

Daly, J.

As the justice found in defendant’s favor, we must assume that he believed the defendant’s version of his dealings with Grunwig. The evidence on defendant’s part showed that while Grunwig showed his card, disclosing that he was salesman for plaintiffs, he did so, not to announce the capacity in which he dealt, but as a reference as to standing and responsibility; that he dealt exclusively for himself, because he came to defendant to order a suit of clothes for himself, and afterwards an overcoat and pantaloons, agreeing to pay for the latter garments in wine; that he made no sale in the strict sense of the term, but offered to supply goods in payment for clothes; that he stated that he sold for other parties than plaintiff and also had wines of his own; that he did not offer to give the goods of plaintiff in payment; that defendant did not know that the goods he received from Grunwig came from the plaintiff, no bill or invoice being received with them, and that the clothes were made and delivered after the wines were so received. Here was a case in which Grunwig appeared to be acting on his own account, and disclosed no principal save himself, and defendant was entirely justified in his dealings with him as such. Plaintiffs could have protected themselves by delivering a bill with their goods, for this would have been express notice to defendant of a sale by them, but defendant says they sent no bill, and the justice might believe him.

The judgment should be affirmed, with costs

Van Hoesen, J., concurs.