Case Name: Northrop against Minturn
Court: New York Supreme Court of Judicature
Jurisdiction: New York
Decision Date: 1816-01
Citations: 13 Johns. 85
Docket Number: 
Parties: Northrop against Minturn.
Judges: 
Reporter: Johnson's Reports
Volume: 13
Pages: 85–85

Head Matter:
Northrop against Minturn.
A note given for the use of a billard table, is not illegal, unless it appear to whom the note was given kept a tavern (1 N. R. L. 178, 179.)
ERROR, on a certiorari to a justice’s court.
Minturn brought a suit against Northrop, on a promissory note given by Northrop to Minturn, for 25 dollars. The defence was, that the note was given for a gaming debt. In support of the plea, the defendant below produced a witness, who swore, “ that, at the time when the note was given, Minturn admitted that 8 dollars of the note was for a ball-bill, and the residue for the use of a billiard table: but that he knew nothing of Northrop’s gaming.”
There was a verdict and judgment for the plaintiff below, foF the whole amount of the note.

Opinion:
Per Curiam.
Supposing the true construction of the evidence to be, that part of the consideration of the note was for the use of a billiard table, in playing billiards at the house of Minturn ; yet, as there is no evidence that Minturn then kept a tavern, it was not an unlawful contract; there being no evidence that it was for money lost at play.
The judgment below must fee affirmed.