Case Name: Thomas Doyle, App'lt, v. The Rector, Wardens and Vestrymen of Trinity Church Corporation in the City of New York, Resp'ts
Court: New York Court of Appeals
Jurisdiction: New York
Decision Date: 1890-01-28
Citations: 28 N.Y. St. Rep. 972
Docket Number: 
Parties: Thomas Doyle, App’lt, v. The Rector, Wardens and Vestrymen of Trinity Church Corporation in the City of New York, Resp’ts.
Judges: 
Reporter: New York State Reporter
Volume: 28
Pages: 972–973

Head Matter:
Thomas Doyle, App’lt, v. The Rector, Wardens and Vestrymen of Trinity Church Corporation in the City of New York, Resp’ts.
(Court of Appeals,
Filed January 28, 1890.)
Evidence—Hearsay.
In the trial of an action for injuries to a well caused "by the explosion of a torpedo it is error to allow a witness to testify “ that he was informed the torpedo was exploded a short distance below the-surface of. the’ rock.’.”
Appeal from a judgment of the general term in the second judicial department, affirming a judgment entered on a Verdict-directed at circuit. .. ' " ■-
L. A. Fuller, for app’lt; S. P. Nash, for resp’ts.
Reversing 44 Hun, 628, men.

Opinion:
Follett, Ch. J.
It was error to permit Mr. Cruger to testify that some one told him that one of the torpedoes was exploded ¿just below the surface of the rock and so injured the well. The fact, if relevant, as it was deemed to be to the question whether exploding the torpedo at this point was a negligent act, should have been proved by competent evidence, or not at all. It was error to rule as a question of law that Foth acted, and was actually or apparently authorized to act as the agent of Button in employing Seagul to explode the torpedoes; which question should have been submitted to the jury as one of fact. For these errors, the ¿judgment should be reversed and a new trial granted, with costs . to abide the event.
All concur.