Case Name: James L. Miller, Respondent, v. Isaac A. Lawrence, Impleaded, Appellant
Court: New York Court of Common Pleas
Jurisdiction: New York
Decision Date: 1895-06
Citations: 13 Misc. 130
Docket Number: 
Parties: James L. Miller, Respondent, v. Isaac A. Lawrence, Impleaded, Appellant.
Judges: 
Reporter: New York Miscellaneous Reports
Volume: 13
Pages: 130–132

Head Matter:
James L. Miller, Respondent, v. Isaac A. Lawrence, Impleaded, Appellant.
(New York Common Pleas — General Term,
June, 1895.)
The owner of hotel premises cannot be held liable for services rendered upon the employment of the landlord in removing ashes and garbage unless the landlord acted as his agent in procuring the service or the owner in some manner guaranteed the debt.
In an action for such services brought against the owner and the landlord, the lease of the premises is competent to show the relation of the defendants to the premises.
Appeal by the defendant Lawrence from a judgment rendered in the District Court of the city of New York for the second judicial district in favor of the plaintiff.
Bowers c& Sands, for' appellant.
Alexander FineUte, for respondent.

Opinion:
Bookstaver, J.
The action was brought to recover for work, labor and services in removing ashes and garbage from the Sherman Square Hotel by one John Wenzer, who after-wards assigned his claim to the plaintiff. The defendant Wilson did not appear, and the defendant Lawrence answered by a general denial. It is not contended that Wilson and Lawrence were copartners or in any wise interested in a joint enterprise. The defendant Lawrence was the owner of the Sherman Square Hotel. Elijah N. Wilson, sued as Edward N. Wilson, was the proprietor of that hotel under a lease, and it was he and not Lawrence who employed Wenzer, as testified to by the latter. Hence, the only way in which the defendant Lawrence could have been liable for the debt owing to Wenzer was either because Wilson was his agent or because he had hired Wenzer himself, or in some way guaranteed Wenzer's debt. But there is an entire failure of proof on both of these questions. It is true that plaintiff's counsel, in some of his leading questions put to Wenzer, coupled the defendant Lawrence with Wilson in such a way as to enable the witness to testify that they both had promised to pay him for his work, when in reality only Wilson, the lessee, had made such a promise. The son of the' defendant Lawrence was called on behalf of the defendant, and distinctly testified that life, as agent of his father, had not employed Wenzer or promised to pay him; and it further appeared from the evidence that the defendant Lawrence was not known to the assignor of the claim until long after the work had been done. To show conclusively the relation of the defendant Lawrence to the premises and the work done by Wenzer, the lease of the premises to Wilson was offered in evidence, but excluded. This, we think, was error. It raised no question of title to the Sherman house, but, if admitted, would have shown conclusively that Wilson was in possession of the property and' alone answerable for work that he had engaged Wenzer to do.
The judgment should be reversed and a new trial ordered, with costs to the appellant to abide the event.
Bischoff and Pryor, JJ., concur.
Judgment reversed' and new trial ordered, with costs to appellant to abide event.