Case Name: Wood against Stoddard, qui tam, &c.
Court: New York Supreme Court of Judicature
Jurisdiction: New York
Decision Date: 1807-02
Citations: 2 Johns. 194
Docket Number: 
Parties: Wood against Stoddard, qui tam, &c.
Judges: 
Reporter: Johnson's Reports
Volume: 2
Pages: 194–194

Head Matter:
Wood against Stoddard, qui tam, &c.
In error on certiorari. The plaintiff below brought an action to recover of the defendant below, a sum received by him for excessive interest, under the act for preventing usury, one moiety of which is directed to go to the use of the poor of the town where the offence is committed, and the .other moiety to the person prosecuting. The cause was tried in the town of Scipio, where the usurious sum was received. The constable and jury were inhabitants of the same town. The defendant below, challenged all the jurors as being interested. The justice, before whom the cause was tried, overruled the exception, and a verdict was found for the plaintiff.
In an action qui tarn, under the act for preventing- u* sury, -which gives a moiety of the sum to be recovered to the poor of the town where the offence is committed, & the other moiety to the person prosecuting, it is a good cause of . challenge against the jury that they are inhabitants of the town. Ju* rors must be free from all exception, and wholly disinterested.
Henry, for the plaintiff' in error.
Cada, contra.
L. JV*. F vol. 11. p. 58, 52.

Opinion:
Per Curiam.
The relaxation of the rule, as to questions of interest, has never been extended to jurors. They must be omni exceptione mayores ; free from every objection, and wholly disinterested. The judgment be- . low must be reversed.
Judgment reversed.