Case Name: William J. Tripp, Resp't, v. Edward Kirmes, App'lt
Court: New York Court of Common Pleas
Jurisdiction: New York
Decision Date: 1888-05-18
Citations: 16 N.Y. St. Rep. 600
Docket Number: 
Parties: William J. Tripp, Resp’t, v. Edward Kirmes, App’lt.
Judges: 
Reporter: New York State Reporter
Volume: 16
Pages: 600–600

Head Matter:
William J. Tripp, Resp’t, v. Edward Kirmes, App’lt.
(New York Court of Common Pleas, General Term,
Filed May, 18, 1888.)
Evidence—Former declarations of a witness may be shown to contradict HIS TESTIMONY ON TRIAL.
Admissions and declarations of an agent of a party to an action, regarding the subject-matter of the action are competent to contradict evidence1 given by him on the trial.
Appeal from a judgment entered on the verdict of a. jury.
J. O. Miller, for resp’t; Smith & Bowman; for appl’t.

Opinion:
Bookstaver, J.
The question, whether or not, time was-of the essence of the contract, was distinctly raised by the pleadings, and also by the evidence given under them. That, question was left to the jury under proper instructions by the court; as was also the question whether there had been a waiver of this stipulation of the contract.
The jury found on both of these questions, in favor of the plaintiff; and we think there was not only sufficient evidence to sustain the verdict, but a decided preponderance of evidence in favor of it.
This being the case, the questions relating to a substantial performance of the contract, the sufficiency of the notice, etc., cease to be of any importance; and plaintiff's right to recover back the money which defendant admitted he had received, and the failure of the latter's counterclaim, follow as a matter of course.
The only question left to be considered, is whether the testimony as to the admissions and declarations of Fisher, in regard to defendant's charges against the plaintiff, were properly received in evidence.
The defendant, himself, testified that Fisher was his agent, and the foreman engaged on the work in controversy, and the person whose duty it was to keep time, and the one from whom he took the number of hours, and " nearly all the items," charged plaintiff; and this was also testified to by Fisher himself a witness called by plaintiff.
We think the testimony complained of was competent in contradiction of the witness, Fisher, who had previously testified to a different state of facts.
The judgment should be affirmed with costs.
Allen and Daly, JJ., concur.