Court Opinion

ID: 8839351
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-11-26 16:35:35.273148+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:05:09.541238
License: Public Domain

Lacombe, J.,
(orally.') There certainly is no question here for the jury, as there is no conflict of testimony. Words not technical, words of common speech, are within the judicial knowledge; and when found in a statute their interpretation is for the court. Marvel v. Merritt, 116 U. S. 11, 6 Sup. Ct. Rep. 207. It is claimed by the defendant, firstly, that this case is taken out of the operation of this act by the use, in the proviso of the fifth section, of the words “professional artist;” this lady, with whom ho contracted in Paris to perform labor or service here, and whose passage he paid, being, as he claims, a “professional artist,” within the meaning of that proviso. It is well settled by authority (Maillard v. Lawrence, 16 How. 251,) that the popular and received import of words furnishes the general rule for the interpretation of public laws. Under this rule, defendant’s contention is unsound. Milliners, dress-makers, tailors, cooks, and barbers (some of whom, no doubt, call themselves “artists”) are not “artists,” within the popular and received import of that word. In the excepting clause or proviso, therefore, there is nothing to relieve the defendant from the operation of this statute. He further contends, however, that he brought this lady to this country as a skilled workwoman, to perform labor upon a new industry, not established in the United States either on the 26th of February, 1885, or on the day when he brought her here. Upon that branch of the case the testimony is wholly insufficient, in my opinion, to establish any such proposition. There is only a single witness called, who has only been in this country for six years, and whose business has been wholly confined to the city of New York. I shall therefore direct a verdict for the government for the full amount, $1,000.
The jury rendered a verdict for the plaintiff in accordance with the direction of the court.