191 F. 504 | 1st Cir. | 1911
This was a suit for an injury by an automobile owned by the defendant. The verdict was for .the plaintiff, and the defendant below sued out this writ of error. We will continue to call the parties plaintiff and defendant.
The plaintiff testified that she was riding in a wagon and the automobile came up behind and collided with her wagon; so there was sufficient to go to the jury on the question of negligence on the part of whoever was operating the automobile. As to the .ownership of the automobile by the defendant, and as to whether or not it was being operated in his behalf, the defendant claimed there was no proper evidence, and moved the court to direct a verdict in his behalf, which motion was refused. •
“A. T am Hablo for the accident. It was my automobile. T am not trying to dodge the responsibility. He said that bis automobile was a new or comparatively new one, and Ms son and a man named Connor took it out to run ir and find some defect that was in the automobile. They were coming along Mechanic street, and they were both listening for a defect.”
If the facts were as thus stated by the defendant, there could be no question as to the ownership of the automobile, or as to the fact of its being operated in his behalf, or of the further fact that, in connection with the negligence which wc have stated, the court could not properly take the case from the jury. It is claimed, however, that the statement was made by the defendant as a matter not within his own knowledge. The admission of the statement, however, is in conformity with universal practice; and it is enough to say that, when a person charged as a defendant makes a statement under circumstances like those at bar, whether of his own knowledge or not, it is for him to ascertain the facts, and he makes himself responsible for what he says in reference thereto.
The judgment of the Circuit Court is affirmed, with interest and costs.