Case ID: liquor-tax-rep_3/html/0366-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

Third Appellate Department,
    May, 1904.
    Reported. 95 App. Div. 620.
    Patrick W. Cullinan, as State Commissioner of Excise of the State of New York, Appellant, v. John Devlin and The Fidelity and Casualty Company of New York, Respondents.
    
      William G. Yan Loon, for appellant.
    The motion to direct a verdict in favor of the plaintiff should have been granted; proof of knowledge of gambling by the certificate holder is immaterial. (Cullinan v. Parker, 84 App. Div. 296, affd. 177 N. Y. 573; Lyman v. Shenandoah Social Club, 39 App. Div. 459; Cullinan v. Kuch, 177 N. Y. 303; Cullinan v. Sisto, 87 App. Div. 631; Lyman v. Gramercy Club, 39 App. Div. 661; Lyman v. Kurtz, 166 N. Y. 274.) The verdict of the jury should have been set aside as contrary to law and against the weight of evidence. (Slater v. Dretcher, 55 N. Y. State Rep. 172; Cohn v. Goldman, 76 N. Y. 284; Tate v. McCormack, 23 Hun, 218; Kilpatrick v. Bank, 5 N. Y. Supp. 960; Young v. Sloane, 77 Hun, 395; Macy v. Wheeler, 30 N. Y. 231; Barrett v. Third Ave. R. R. Co., 45 N. Y. 628; Standard Oil Co. v. Amazon Ins. Co., 79 N. Y. 506; Bannon v. McCrane,45 N. Y. Superior, 517; Ludewan v. Third Ave. R. R. Co., 30 App. .Div. 520; Merchants’ Nat. Bank v. Barnes, 172 N. Y. 618; Goldsmith v. Ry. Co. 1 App. Div. 309; Bellow v. Same, 2 App. Div. 313; Reynolds v. N. Y. C. & H. R. R. Co, 20 App. Div. 339; Pierce v. Met. St. Ry. Co., 21 App. Div. 427; Fick v. Met. St. Ry.Co., 26 App. Div. 84; Kaare v. T. S. & I. Co., 139 N. Y. 369.)
    Verdict of jury showed mistake as prejudice, and should have been set aside. (Sweetman v. Prince, 62 Barb. 256, rev’d on other grounds, 26 N. Y. 224; Bigelow v. Earwitz, 40 State Rep. 580; Schmidt v. Brown, 80, Hun, 183; Coming v. Troy Iron Factory, 44 N. Y. 577; Macy v. Wheeler, 30 N. Y. 231; Beckwith v. N. Y. C. & H. R. R. Co., 64 Barb. 299; Heritage v. Hall, 33 Barb. 347; Matter of Lyman v. Veeder, 29 .Misc. 525.)
    The positive testimony that a fact occurred is entitled to more weight than negative testimony in relation to same fact. (Fealy v. Bull, 163 N. Y. 397; Culhane v. Railway Co., 60 N. Y. 133; McKeener v. Railway Co., 88 N. Y. 667; Elwood v. Western Union Tel. Co., 45 N. Y. 549; Kavanaugh v. Wilson, 75 N. Y. 179; Culhane v. N. Y. C. & C. R. R. Co., 60 N. Y. 133; Culhane v. City 
      
      of New York, 67 Barb. 562; Tolman v. Syracuse, 27 Hun, 325; Chapman v. Railway Co., 14 Hun, 484; Taylor v. L. I. Ry. Co., 16 App. Div. 1.)
    
      John H. Booth, for respondent Devlin.
    Certificate holder is liable for his own acts and those of his agent, but not for those of a stranger, committed without the knowledge or assent of himself or his agent. (Cullinan v. Niederstein, 88 App. Div. 6.) The jury was justified in finding that neither certificate holder or his agent knew that a portable slot machine had been placed on the office counter while they were elsewhere about the premises for a short time, or suffered it to remain and be operated upon there.
    
      Nadal & Carrere, for respondent The Fidelity and Casualty Co,
    Plaintiff’s motion for direction of verdict was properly denied. (McDonald v. Met. St. Ry. Co., 167 N. Y. 66.) The question of suffering or permitting “gambling” was properly left to the jury. (Gregory v. U. S., 17 Blatch, 325; Collinsville v. Scanlon, 58 Ill. 221.)
    The refusal to set aside the verdict wms proper. (Swalsky v. P. R. R. Co., 57 N. Y. Supp. 775; Cushman v. DeMaille, 46 App. Div. 379; Jarchover v. Dry Dock &c. R. R. Co., 54 App. Div. 238; Jenks v. Van Brant, 6 N. Y. Civ. Proc. 159; Suhrade v. Third Avs. Railway Co., 14 App. Div. 361; Silverman v. Dry Dock &c. R. R. Co., 69 App. Div. 22.)
   Judgment and order unanimously affirmed, with one bill of costs to respondents, with disbursements of both.

Ho opinion.