7 Kan. 184 | Kan. | 1871
The opinion of the court was delivered by
The defendant in error, Frederick GL Wolff, and one Joseph Kellam, bet two hundred dollars each on a horse-race, each betting on his own horse, and deposited the money with the plaintiff in error, James S.. Cleveland, as a stakeholder. The horses were to run five heats, but before the last heat was run, and before it was determined which of the parties had won, or would win, the said Wolff became dissatisfied, refused to let his-horse run the last heat, demanded of the said stakeholder his part of the said money, and notified him not to pay it to any one else. The last heat was run by Kellam’shorse alone; Kellam was declared to be the winner, and the stakeholder paid all the money over to Kellam. Wolff’ then sued the stakeholder for the money he had deposited with him.
The only question that has been raised in this court,, or that was raised in the court below, is, whether the stakeholder is liable. At common law, all betting or wagering contracts, which affected injuriously the interests, feelings, or character of third persons, or led to indecent evidence, or were contrary to public policy, or tended to immorality, or a breach of some law, were held to be void; and such is now the law. Formerly, in England, it was supposed that a great proportion of the wagering contracts were not subject to any of said objections, and were therefore not void, but valid. Such is not the case in this country, and at the present day. Now, as a rule, all betting or wagering contracts are considered as inconsistent with the interests of society, at variance with the laws of morality, against public policy 7
The judgment of the court below is affirmed.