Hayes v. Huffstater

65 Barb. 530 | N.Y. Sup. Ct. | 1873

By the Court, E. Dabwiu Smith, J.

The questions arising upon this appeal are purely questions of fact. There are no exceptions upon questions of law. The exceptions taken by the plaintiff’s counsel are to the findings of the referee upon the evidence, with the general exception to the conclusions of the referee upon the law, that the defendant is entitled to judgment dismissing the complaint.

Besides exceptions to the report embraced in the judgment roll there, are appended, at the foot of the case, four requests to the referee to find in a particular manner upon questions of fact, with a statement that the referee refused so to find, and the plaintiff duly excepted. It does not appear that these requests were made before the submission of the case to the referee; and I should presume they were requests made upon the settlement of the case, when the referee had no longer the power to accede to and give effect to them in the decision of the cause.

The action is brought to recover moneys received and obtained by the defendant upon three checks, one of $128, dated May 28,1870; one of $75, dated June 1,1870; one of $61, dated June 7, 1870 ; and for the amount of two promissory notes obtained by the defendant and negotiated by him and paid by the plaintiff; one dated June 28 for $200, and one dated July 12 for $500.

The referee finds that the check for $128 was given to the defendant on the 29th of May, 1870, when the plaintiff was fully competent to know what he was doing ; that the same was given for an old bill for liquor, and that the defendant declined to let tie plaintiff have any liquor until this bill was paid.; and that on the same evening the defendant lent the plaintiff $55 in cash, which he wanted to pay to workmen; and that the other check and the said notes were given to cover this $55,' and in payment and settlement of the defendant’s bill for liquor.

The plaintiff’s claim to recover these moneys thus paid rests upon the allegation that they were obtained from him when he wa's in such a state of r ebriation as to be incapable of business, or of knowing what he was doing, or the force of his acts.

If a man is deprived of his property under such circumstances it would be a clear fraud, and the money may doubtless be recovered. But if a man voluntarily pays a debt- or claim made against him for liquor or other property sold, he cannot, ordinarily, maintain an action for the recovery of the money paid.

The referee, in respect to this question, finds, “that all of the said checks and notes were signed and delivered in the. morning of the respective days upon which they bear date, and that although the plaintiff was laboring under the effects of excessive drinking, yet he was, at the time, comparatively sober, and of sufficient capacity "to know and understand what he was doing, and responsible for his acts.” Upon this finding it seems to me impossible to invalidate his acts, or treat them otherwise than as binding upon him.

In looking into the case I have sought, with considerable diligence, to find some legal ground that would warrant the court in directing a new trial of' the cause. It seemed to me, at first view, that it was incredible that this plaintiff could, in the space of about forty days, ■ drink or .consume the quantity of liquor charged to him by the defendant and paid for by the plaintiff, consisting of 176 bottles of Hennesey brandy, 15 bottles of whisky, 315 drinks of whisky, and 487 drinks of ale and porter. But the case shows that the'plaintiff had many companions in his drink, and that during his debauch he furnished the liquor for all who would drink with him, at the defendant’s house and his own. During the period that he gave himself up to drink and intoxication, lasting some six weeks, the proofs show that the plaintiff was at the defendant’s house most of the time, drinking and inviting many others to eat and drink with him, and that he usually invited all present to drink, and one day called up, as one witness testified, as many as 25 or 30 persons to drink at a time, and that he took and sent for bottles of brandy and drank the same with his companions, at his own house; and when expostulated with by the defendant, and told that his bill would be so big that he would grumble when called to settle it, would reply that that was none of the defendant’s business, and said, “I can pay my bills, and if I can’t I will sell a house and lot.” ■

[Fomin Department, General Term, at Buffalo, June 3, 1873.

Mullin, Taleott and M. D. Smith, Justices.]

This case is not that of a poor man, stripped by the acts and contrivance of "a liqnor dealer, of his little property to the ruin of his family, bnt of a rich man dissipating a portion of his wealth with profuse prodigality.

The findings of the referee, that the notes and checks aforesaid were given in the morning of the day, and when the plaintiff was sober, and before the drinking business of the day had begun, is fully warranted by the proofs; and I do not see that any of his essential findings are in conflict with the evidence.

In this view, I see no other course that can be taken than to affirm the judgment.

Judgment affirmed.