The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-07-19
Mr.. BRIGGS LOSS,
Some judicial Doctrine on an inter
csting subject.

Some judicial DOCTRINE oh N
esting Subject.
The New York Times. under the heau,
ing Responsibility Of Hotel hecPo'''
prints the followng' spt.t
~ ord Mrs Albert S. Briggs. or hlon-
mond va while stopping az the ioO-
Marlborough I'm this city, In NoFoulo'
1893 had silverwaro ana a solu
stolen from a trunk while they We
semi a few hours from thelt i'pi"- ~"
his suit against Louis =. 1000 we
district Mr.. Briggs recovered judgment
for Tho value of the articles stolen, ana
that Judgment has been affirmed on ap-
noal Tho defendant urged that ne
should not be held liable, because ihe
ulatntiF did not comply with the notice
required by the statute, posted in COM
spicuous places on the premises anu
ala not give the articles into his actual
custody for deposit .n the office safe. III
referring 10 tho fact that the courts or
this state have undeviatngly adhered no
the salutary rule of the common ia"
visiting upon am innkeoper the stringent
liability of an insurer Justice LeventritJ
giving the opinion of the Appellate Iefin'
said:
"lt is true that inns arc no longer few
or FAR apart. that open violence has been
curbod. and that We now seldom near vt
Che solitary traveller. compelled to seek
shelter in lonely finn. murdered for nus
goods or that his host 10 whose protS
tiou he has been obliged 20 conhde his
person and his property has either alone
or I'm c0llusion with his servants betrayed
his trust We may concode that a high
or standard OF morality obtains to-day,
or al least. that there is It's outward
show The hotel Keepers calling is as
honorable as any in orr modern COM
mercial order. and individual betrayals
off trust are indeed rare. While the pro-
nrlotors and managers Of our modern
inns are men Of character and integrity.
whose skill. ingenuity, and business re-
sources have made our travel and hotel
life a convenience and pleasure, where
formerly &C. was a discomfort and a hard
ship. Yet it must be remembered mat inc
unprinciuled compete with the honest,
that the vocation Is omen 10 ALL In many
other respects however, the conditions are
unchanged Protection against fraud
and depreciation still underlie the pubic
policy which Will not permit.an lnnkeeler
20 avoid his extraordinary responsibility
except by the act of God, The public ene-
my. or the negligence Of his guests. Nio-
lence has given place only 20 stealth, me
armed r0bber Co the sneak thief The
very organization and development of
the hosiery OF the present afford oppor-
unities 90 the dishonest. and cores
poudmeiy expose the guests TO risks
which prohibit any modification Of the
rules.
"In the mammoth hotel of to-day with
les numherless rooms. its army of ser-
wants. it's incessant stream of arriving
ana departing trausients. the property Of
the guests is az the mercy of many poo
plo Ills own room is necessarily access
sible 90 a. number Of the employees of the
hotel whose fraud or neglect may SUBJ
iect him to Joss. He cannot prevent the
injury and after he had suffered 10 he
Is p0werle-s CO. detect or prove guilt The
stranger disappears and the servants
protest Ignorance and innocence. While
at times it may seem harsh TO cast the
CONSEQUENCES ON the nnkeeper. yet ms
between him and bis guests De should
bear the burden. DE has the selection of
his servants. be should Doe answerab'e
for their honesty and for their vigilance
I'm guarding against the dishonesty Of
others He dictates his compensation.
and he secures 10 log the lien on the goods
Of hts guest: he enjoys special privileges
aud he should grant special immuniues.
and even We're this not so. considerations
NJ public policy wh.sS in the interests ~
commercial prosperity and social well
fare. require that intercourse iu and bee
tween cities and towns be- fun, free. and
secure. preserve and roaiirm the Wis
dom Of the ancient rule"