Case Name: LAWSON v. PERRY
Court: Supreme Court of Ohio
Jurisdiction: Ohio
Decision Date: 1833-04
Citations: 1 Wright 242
Docket Number: 
Parties: *LAWSON v. PERRY.
Judges: 
Reporter: Reports of cases at law and in chancery, decided by the Supreme court of Ohio, during the years 1831, 1832, 1833, 1834.
Volume: 1
Pages: 246–247

Head Matter:
*LAWSON v. PERRY.
Assumpsit — implied in law — release by a witness — competent witness — color of parties — costs.
A part owner of a boat who has become insolvent and assigned Ills interest, reserving a right to the residuum of his effects,' if any, is incompetent as a witness for his co-partner.
Quere, if a release by him to the party calling him, will make him competent?
Where a man is employed in a particular business, but nothing is said about the wages, the law implies a promise to pay the common wages for such service.
That a party to a suit is a colored man no otherwise affects it than to impose upon the jury the obligation to avoid its influence.
If the situation of the parties be such that the plaintiff must rely upon the books . of the defendant, a jury should require of the defendant more perfect proof of his defence.
If a plaintiff in assumpsit recover less than 150 dollars he recovers no costs.
Assumpsit, for wages as steward of the steamboat Pioneer. The plaintiff proved the service and the common rate of wages. The defendant proved certain payments, and then called Austin as a witness, who admitted that he had been part owner of the Pioneer, but having failed he had assigned his interest to Perry, having now no interest except in the residuum, should there be any.
Hawes, for the plaintiff, objected that the witness was interested.
H. Wright then took from the witness a release to Perry.
Hawes still objected.

Opinion:
COURT.
He seems directly interested.
COURT. We willreject the evidence, and the question as to the release can be mooted hereafter if the defendant desire it.
WRIGHT, J. to the jury. The plaintiff claims for wages as steward of the Pioneer. If he has satisfied yon of the service, the law raises the presumption that he was to have commonwages, which In this case is admitted to be $25 a month. He will be entitled to recover at that rate during the time he was employed, unless the defendant shall have shown you by affirmative testimony some understanding between the parties inconsistent with the presumption of law. The defendant is also to show you the payments, if .any. You have nothing to do with the color of the plaintiff, except to take care not to be influenced by the circumstance that he is not •of your color. The relation of the parties is no otherwise material than to ascertain if from the nature of the employment the plaintiff must of necessity rely upon the defendant's officers and books for his accounts. If so, it imposes upon the defendant a stronger obligation to show to you by clear evidence the precise transaction and payments.
Yerdict for the plaintiff, $94.50.
Defendant moved for a new trial, which was overruled, and judgment entered on the verdict without costs.