Case Name: Frank D. Crim, Ex'r., et al., Resp'ts, v. Rufus G. Starkweather et al., App'lts
Court: New York Supreme Court, General Term
Jurisdiction: New York
Decision Date: 1891-02-20
Citations: 36 N.Y. St. Rep. 314
Docket Number: 
Parties: Frank D. Crim, Ex’r., et al., Resp’ts, v. Rufus G. Starkweather et al., App’lts.
Judges: 
Reporter: New York State Reporter
Volume: 36
Pages: 314–315

Head Matter:
Frank D. Crim, Ex’r., et al., Resp’ts, v. Rufus G. Starkweather et al., App’lts.
(Supreme Court, General Term, Fourth Department,
Filed February 20, 1891.)
1. Reference. '
Wliere the findings of a referee are fairly sustained by the evidence this court will not interfere.
2. Same—Refusals to find.
Where a referee has found the main issue against the appellant, the refusal of the referee to make certain findings of fact requested by him and justified by the evidence, but which would not have changed the result, is not ground for a reversal of the judgment.
Appeal from a judgment, entered in Herkimer county on the report of a referee, in favor of the plaintiff for $16,919.06.
John D. Kernan, for resp’ts; George W. Smith, for app’lts.

Opinion:
Martin, J.
This action was to recover the amount of five drafts sent to the National Park Bank of New York by the plaintiff's testator and credited to the firm of Grim & Starkweather. With interest the drafts amounted to the sum of $16,213.81. That the plaintiff's testator advanced the amount represented by these drafts and that that amount was placed to the credit of the firm of Crim & Starkweather at the Hational Park Bank and used by the firm is not disputed by the appellant. The defendant was a member of the firm of Grim & Starkweather. William T. Grim was also a member of that firm and was a son of the plaintiff's testator.
The claim of the defendant was, that the deposits which were placed to the credit of the firm of Crim & Starkweather were not loaned or advanced to that firm, but were loans or gifts to William T. Crim. This was the principal issue litigated on the trial.
The evidence on the part of the plaintiff tended to show that the money in question was advanced upon requests made by telegrams signed by the firm of Grim & Starkweather, and that the money was advanced to that firm and not to William T. Crim individually. On the other hand, the defendant introduced evidence of the admissions and statements of the testator and other evidence which tended to show that the moneys in question were loaned or advanced to William T. Grim individually.
As upon this issue there was a conflict in the evidence, a question of fact was presented for determination by the referee. He found that this money was advanced and loaned to the firm at its request and deposited to its credit. We think that finding was fairly sustained by the proof and have no reason to suppose that the referee was not guided in his decision by a conscientious and intelligent judgment based upon the evidence given before him. In reviewing the determination of a trial court on questions of fact, where the evidence is conflicting, an appellate court is not warranted in reversing, even when in its opinion a contrary conclusion should have been reached. Baird v. Mayor, 96 N. Y., 567. We think the finding of the referee was justified by the evidence, and that it should be sustained.
It is urged by the appellant that the referee erred in refusing to find several of the requests proffered by him. Many of those refused were requests to find mere evidentiary facts. If, however, we were to assume that the requests were proper and should have been found, still, if the refusal was not prejudicial to the appellant, the judgment should not disturbed. Matter of Hicks, 14 N. Y. State Rep., 320; Woodman v. Penfield, 6 N. Y. Supp., 803, 804; 25 N. Y State Rep., 297. It is quite manifest that when the referee had found the principal issue against the defendant that his refusal to find the defendant's requests, so far as he was required by the evidence to do so, could not have been prejudicial to him. We think the judgment appealed from should be affirmed.
Judgment affirmed, with costs.
Hardin, P. J., and Merwin, J., concur.