Case ID: njl_68/html/0077-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "Garrison, J.", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

WILLIAM H. WILSON v. JOHN L. ADAMS.
    Argued February 21, 1902
    Decided June 9, 1902.
    A new trial will be granted when the defendant’s demeanor before the jury and his deportment when out of court, as shown by the proofs taken on a rule to show cause, satisfies the court that he was shamming when in the presence of the jury.
    
      On plaintiff’s rule to show cause.
    Before Gummere, Chibe Justice, and Justices Van Syokel, Garrison and Garretson.
    For the plaintiff, William E. Morrow.
    
    
      For the defendant, Joseph M. Roseberry.
    
   The opinion of the court was delivered by

Garrison, J.

This is the plaintiff’s rule to show cause. The verdict was for a part of the claim for which suit was brought. The defence interposed at the trial was the mental incapacity of the defendant. The defendant was not. called as a witness, but he was in the court during the trial and was confronted by testimony which, if uncontradicted, should have established his liability beyond the amount allowed by the verdict. It was not contradicted. The defendant’s demeanor when before the jury and his deportment when out of court being shown to us by the proofs taken under this rule, we are satisfied that the defendant was shamming in the presence of the jury and that the verdict was improperly affected thereby.

A new trial is granted.